Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-06-03
|NS|.U0U} LOBBY
TRAIL IS COLD
SENATOR'S DENY ANY KNOWL-
EDGE or A BIG LOBBY AT
WASHINGTON.
NJ murray T13 ONLY ONE
Meal ster Lawyer OF Indian Contract
PANE, Is only Man Who Is
Called lobbyist by senators.

WASHINGTON, June 2.-The sem
ate struck out Dol.ly today Oh ,ne
trail Of the "insidous lobby" which
President W ilson declared is operat-
ing to modify the tariff bill. At the
rate of four senators an hour, the col
leagues OF the five men on the in, es-
tigating subcommittee stepped Ia
the witness chair, took the oath and
then told their stories OF senatorial
wealth or poverty or moderate cir
Cunstances Of business and profess
sional connections and Of their inter
est or lack of interest in the tariff
measure. Suspicion that the trail
might prove a winding one with many
a strange turning, brought out good
sized crowd that listened ntently to
these tales from senatorial lie. A.
Senator after senator denied knOwl-
edge Of the existence of an organ
lzed lobby, declared that improper
Influences had not been eXerted upon
him and that money to influence leg
islation never had appeared upon the
congressional horizon at the present
session, the crowd lost its appetite,
who looked for sensation went away
empty handed.
Senators who had served in con
gress for many years repeatedly tes-
tined during the all day session that
they belleN ed there was less personal
appeal to members of the two houses
now than at any tariff revision of re-
cent years. Nearly a dozen and q
half senators had been examined be-
fore the end of tonight's session. and
while they disclosed freely their p""
sonal affairs and the extent II their
property inveJments. the conn it-
tee found no evidence Of the use OF
senatorial outside influence to i'm
properly effect tariff legislation.
The majority Of the senators de-
clared they did not consider men who
legitln ately appeared before congress
to present arguments as lobbyists.
Eoth democratic and republican sem
ators expressed the opinion that the
Interested parties" had the right to
present their cases either to individ
uals or to committees Of either
house.
Name Mcsiurray.
men who have appeared to protest
against cut in sugar, wool, lead
meat, flour and similar duties, were
given by different senators, but the
only one referred to as a lobbyist"
was "a man named McMurray."
whom Senator Ashurst said he believ-
ed had attempted to influence action
In favor of the approval Of certain
Indian contracts in which he was in
terested. All senators who testified
today declared they, had no interest
in any business In any way affected
by legislation now or previously be-
fore congress.
Senator Clarke. of Arkansas said
he had no legal connection with any
Interests before congress; that he had
not sought to influence any one to
vote for anything. Once during the
present session. he said. he had in
vited three Louisiana rice exporters
to his office to discuss the effect OF
the proposed rice tariff on the prod
uct' Of Arkansas. As n result of that
conference, ne Sdlu, ne Hau not maze
any representation to other senator's
He declared he had not seen or come
into contact with any lobbying at
tho capitol.
Senator Purton of Ohio, said he
believed there were fewer executive
agents or representatives here than
during previous tariff sessions. He
declared improper Influences We're ex-
erted by bombarding senators with |
inspired kilograms" rather than by |
interviews with them. adding that |
commercial organizations and indi-
viduals often were led to send re-
quests to the senator's at the in |
stance of some person with n selfish |
motive.