Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-07-04
RAILROAD OFFICIAL.
BEFORE PROBERS
Judge R. S. Lovett Electrifies
Lobby investigators.
TELLS OF TELEPHONE CALL
Declares He Was Advised to Employ
Agent to Influence Legislation to
Ward Off Resolution Condemn
ing Dissolution Plan.

Washington, D. C.-Judge Robert
Scott Lovett, chairman of the eX-
ecutive board of the Union Pacific
railroad electrified the Overman lob
by inquiry committee by declaring
that men representing themselves to
be Representative d. j. Riordan of
New York and others had called him
by telephone from Washington to adj
wise the employment of Edward
Lauterbach, a New York attorney, as
an agent to influence legislation in
Washington and to ward off a resolu-
tion condemning the proposed disso-
luton plan for the Union Pacific rail-
road.
Tells of Interview.
Judge Lovett said he had no proof
that the man who called him by tele-
phone was Representative Riordan,
but he had a personal interview with
Lauterbach.
There was conspiracy to compel
us to pay big fee to some one" de-
clared Judge Lovett, land part of
this conspiracy was a newspaper cam
paign to arouse antagonism to us in
congress- 1t was when these reports
were printed that | gave out my in
terview."
Otto II. Kahn of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
was later approached, said Judge Low
EFT, and others matters than the rail
road reorganization were mentioned
as those on which influence might be
eXerted. One of these was the re-
opening of the money trust" investi-
CATION. 1t was intimated that Repre-
sentative Henry might be influenced
Judge Lovett said he paid no atten-
tion to this as he had known Repre-.
sentative Henry for many years and
did not doubt his honesty and SINGER
ity. One man also telephoned Lewis
Cass Ledyard along the same lines.
Ledyard investigated and found that
this man was not member of con-
gress, although he represented him
self to be.
"Who was that MANI" demanded
Senator Overman.
81 think you had better ask Mr.. Led
yard" replied Judge Lovett. His
identity was we'll established, although
by circumstantial evidence"
Judge Makes Explanation.
Senator Walsh asked what was
meant by common banking control.
Judge Lovett said that there was
some erroneous newspaper talk along
this line but that he presumed it re-
ferred to deep laid plot" by Kuhn,
Loeb & Co. to obtain control of the
Pennsylvania, Union Pacific, Southern
Pacific and Baltimore e Ohio rail
roads.
Reports of this kind, said Judge
Lovett, would tend to build up a be-
lief in the public mind that the bank
ers were endeavoring to evade the SUI
preme court decree that the Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific should
not be under common control. These
reports, which Judge Lovett said he
believed were inspired to provoke hos.
tility toward the railroads, might re-
suit, it was feared, in the introduction
of a resolution in congress condemn
ing the redissolution scheme now
pending before the department of jus.
tice. Judge Lovett first saw these
reports June 16. On the following day
he gave out the interview which
aroused the curiosity of Senator Nor
ris. On June 16 Lauterbach called
upon him.
"There have been no calls since my
statement" said Judge Lovett. "Im
portunities to employ counsel in
Washington to influence the dissolu
tion plan extended over a period OF
three months or more"