Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-22
Did NOt Talk
 with MuIhaII
SENATORS DENY TRUTH OF
 HIS ASSERTIONS
TWO OFFER TESTIMONY
Nelson and cIapp Have No RecoiIec- tion of ever Meeting Lobbyist MuIhaII Loses His Temper.

Washington, July 21-Two senators, Nelson and Clapp of Minnesota to- night took the stand before the com m1ttee of their colleagues investigating the lobby and denied the truth of statements made by Martin M Mu1- hall, former political worker. acceIer- ator of congressional opinion and all around field worker for the National Association of Manufacturers.
 MuihaIi Involves Nelson.
 In letters read into the record today Mulhall told of conversations with Sem ator Nedson--a member of the lobby conmIttee-in relation to the rejec- ton early in 1909 of bill amending the Sherman anti trust act by a sen ate sub committee of which MT. Nell son was chairman. Mulhau wrote to F. c. Schwedtman, secretary to Jaudes w. Van Cleave, president of the as- sociation that he had seen Senator Nelson and that the senator had told him what had transpired in his sub committee. lie SWore on direct ex- animation by Senator Cummins that MT. Nelson had suggested that the as- mittee's adverse report on the bill to the president (Mr. Roosevelt).
 MuIhaII Shifts and Changes.
 Questioned by Senator Cummins, Mulhall first swore he had been told by MT. Nelson what had occurred in the committee even to how it's mem berS voted on the proposed amend ment; pursued further he agreed that possibly he had not received such in- formation and then switched again and declared that if he had report ed that he had received such inform ation it must have been correct
 'I have no recollection of seeing MT. MulhaH or talking to him about this bill, and l certainly would not have talked to him about what transpired before the judiciary committee said Senator Nelson tonight Tt is posSi- ble that he may have stepped inside of my office and gotten them from my clerk. l have no recollection of ever meeting Mr. Mulhall or talking to him on these subjects or anything else. There is a possibility that I may be mistaken. l understand that MT. Mulhall had a mustache then and per haps that may account for the fact that I do not recognize him now"
 CIapp Does Not Remember MuIhaII.
 T have not the slightest recollec- ton of having ever seen Mulhall and certainly I have no recollection that Senator Nelson introduced him to me in his room.' swore Senator Clapp. Tt is very clear in my mind that if I had I would have recollected it." The Nelson matter came up when Sena- tor Reed introduced a letter dated January 29, 1909, from Mulhal to Schwedtman. T sent in my card to Senator Nelson of Minnesota. who made the adverse report as chairman to the senate upon the amendment of the Sherman law read the let ter The senator came out and took me to his room and gave me a eom- plete statement of what took place in the judiciary committee before they made their adverse report
 MulhaIl Shows Anger.
 Upon examination Mulhall said he became acquainted with Senator Nell son at the time he wrote the first letter Senator Nelson's report on your call; you do not mean to say that you influenced him?" asked Sem ator Cummings
 No, sir. not at all
 Senator Cummins pressed the wit ness as to the statement that Sen ator Nelson had given him information about what occurred before the bill was reported adversely. Mulhall was certain that he had got such informa- ton then but was mot clear on that and later showed signs of anger. "Y on don't expect me to remember complete details of conversations like that which occurred so Eong ago?'' he ask ed.
 ''I would be very much surprised If you did" said Senator Cummins dry ly.
 Opposed Amendment of Sherman Law Mulhall listened closely to every word Senator Nelson made in his statement.
 Senator Nelson reviewed the history of efforts to amend the Sherman act and said that he always had opposed such a proposal, believing that 1t was desired by the great interests and the trusts
 He told of President Roosevelt s message urging an amendment to this act, and said that hts report had been prepared with an idea of forestalling an administration bill on the subject The senator quoted from the opinion of the late Justice Harlan of the su- preme court in the Standard Oil case showing that he had referred to the 1 Nelson report on the proposed Sher- man law amendment.
 Watson For Taft's Cabinet.
 Aside from Senator Nelson, MulhaI's letters dwelt today largely with what 1 the National Association of Manu- faeturers was going to do for former Congressman James E. Watson of ! Indiana, toward getting him place 1 in President Taft's cabinet and how | the association began work for d tar 1 if commission.
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