The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-05-28
CuMMINS WANTS
PROBE FOR LOBBY
Calls. on Senate to Take Up
Presidents Charges.
WANTS REPORT IN TEN DAYS

Small Army of Tariff Lobbyists
Thrown Into Confusion by Mr.. Viii
sons Sudden Attack.
Washington, May Ex-senator Cum
Minis presented to the senate a resolu-
ton to direct Vice President Marshall
to appoint five senators to investigate
President Wilson's charge that lobby
exists in Washington to influence leg
islation, especially the tariff bill, and
to report within ten days.
The resolution would direct the COM
mittee to report the names of lobby
lists who attempted to influence legis-
lation and the methods employed. Ii
the influence was shown to be exerted
on the tariff bill the committee would
be instructed to report upon the items
which 1.-The lobby" desired to have
changed.
Senator Cummins further proposes
that the committee take statements o.
Senators to whom any representations
concerning legislation had been made
IuS SC0oloh onu " ilAqoiAO fhto
the character of the representations
with a view of ascertaining whether
they were proper or improper.
The resolution also requests Presi
dent Wilson to furnish names of lob
| byists to whom he referred and any
other information in regard to the lob
| by in his possession.
The small army of tariff lobbyists,
which has been occupying Washing
ton since the Underwood bill passed
| the house was in state Of confusion
because of President Wilson's sudden
| and vigorous attack on the numerous
industrious and insidious lobby.
Many who assumed that the presi
dents statement referred to them-al
though he called none by name and
designated none personally, even By
inference-began issuing statements
and prepared interviews to justify
their activity.
Men, prominent for many years il
official life, including former Unitef
States senators, now identified witt
either sugar or wool interests ID Thu
organized effort against the Under
wood bill, were disconnected and were
busy Specializing on the probable st
feet of the presidents statement
Senator Simmons, chairman 81 tlll
| finance committee, reiterated h
statement that, in his estimation thl
| lobbyists were not getting very far a
their opposition to free wool and ffe4
sugar. He added that never had hs
seen 80 determined and so extensive
lobby. The expenses of the wool AMI
sugar Hobbies in Washington alone, Il
say nothing of the expense of litera
ture circulated and advertising
amounts to thousands Of dollars day
Opponents of the Underwood bill hat
expected a fight, but they were no
looking for it so soon of in such d.
rect, forceful way as the president
charge put it.
Some Democrats are inclined to sa,
that Mr.. Wilson's charges are axas
! gerated and unfortunate for bushes
men and others who have come Il
Washington to make an honest effor
to ward off what they regard as mis-
fortune. The president himself ae
/ knowledged that he did not refer f
the operations of lobby in corrnp
sense, except insofar as the facts Wer!
being misrepresented to the public AM
false impression created.
/ With the appearance of the state
ment it became apparent for the frs
time that Mr.. Wilson is to apply hi
"back-to- the-people" method in sees
ing federal legislation. He is going I!
take the voters into his confidence an
he is going to do it without any PR
liminary warning to his opponents
The president made it plain that b
was counting on public sentiment Z
force into line Democratic membeS
of congress disposed to vote agains
certain features of the BILL Thus tn
presidents statement was interpretel
not only as blow at the Lobbyists
but as move Indirectly to drive tn
threatening Democratic senators i'm,
line.