Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-22
Mr.. Nolan Expresses Desire
to Meet Attorney Outside
Committee Room.
WAVES HIS PRIVILEGE
AS MEMBER OF HOUSE
Pawnbrokers' Counsel Details His
Connection With the So-Called
"Loan Shark" Legislation.

Representative Nolan, a member of the
House lobby investigating committee, to-
day during the hearing announced to
Henry E. Davis. and to the world at
large. that IL Mr.. Davis cared about
Ito meet Mr.. Nolan outside the COM
mittee room," Mr.. Davis could have Mr.
Nolan's assurances that all constitutional
privileges lowering around a Congress
man would be considered waived. Mr.
Nolan had fire in his eyes. and the
words were coming rapidly from his
lips. Mr.. Davis was sitting several feet
from him in witness chair. Before
any actual combat could take place
Representative Garrett slapped the
table with his hand two or three times
and reminded Mr.. Nolan that the COM
mittee was having hearing and was
not boosting an amateur ring event.
Mr. Nolan and Mr.. Davis have had a
verbal set-to on two occasions over a
George d. Horning. Mr.. Nolan wanted
Ito know why Mr.. Davis had given a re-
ceipt for 5000 when he had paid $500
Of this fee to p. S. Ryan. Mr.. Davis told
of the committee that the matter was
straight and above board land that all
the talk on the continent could not
change it,
Il am not SO sure about that" said Mr..
Nolan, and then offered to accept the
challenge to go outside.
Details His Professional Services.
Mr.. Davis told the committee today OF
his professional labors for loan brokers
in legislative matters between the years
1911 and 1913. He told the committee
that he had dealt principally with the
Senate side after the Dyer bill "a So
called loan shark" measure) had passed
the House, and had presented the pawn
brokers' side Of the matter at a public
hearing at the White House.
Under the Dyer bill the avenue to
small borrowers was closed" he told
the committee.
Mr.. Davis denied that detectives had
ever been employed by the pawnbrokers
Attorney Davis Makes Statement.
Mr.. Davis took the stand after Col
Mulhall and said he had known George
D. Horning about twenty years and had
been his lawyer for that space OF time.
Mr.. Davis said he was first consulted
about the loan shark" legislation In
he had personal knowledge of some
Of the loan Office laws and regulations
here, as he had compiled some of them
while he was assistant corporation
counsel for the District OF Columbia,
from 1885 to 1889. The act Of March
2. 1889. he said, regarding the regu-
lation Of pawnbrokers in the District
of Columbia is the best in the world,
and his chief work for Horning and
others was to bring the merits OF that
bill before members Of Congress-.
Because he saw a long campaign
ahead of him, he said, he asked MIR.
Horning for $4,000. This was in 1911.
Mr.. Davis said q lull occurred in the
ing until the Dyer bill and the pawn
brokers' amendment began to get pub
licity. Hornfng, he said. came to him
Gn 1919 and asked him to take care
of the bill. It had then passed the
House and was fairly on its way to
enactment.
1t was serious situation, he said, for
the pawnbrokers. who wanted to keep
themselves out Of the bill. They want
ed to keep the interest rate at per
cent a month.
1T never knew Representative Ben
Johnson even by sight until recently"
he said Il did know many Of the men,
bers of the Senate District committee.
and was especially friendly with Sem
ator Dillingham;"
Mr.. Davis outlined what he said to
Senator Dillingham; and to President Taft
the merits of the pawnbrokers' bill OF
1889 being the main topic
He called ON Senator Martin OF Vir-
ginia, Senator Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire, Senator Newlands. Senator
Townsend, Senator Pomerene, Senator
Curtis and others. Five or six weeks
were spent at this business in an en-
deavor to induce the Senate commit
tee on the District Of Columbia ito
give the pawnbrokers a chance" He
also saw Representative Bathrick OF
Ohio.
Sullivan and Hart Employed.
man named Sullivan. he said and
William Hart, confidential man of John
ER. Mclean, who has a wide acquaint-
ance," were recommended to him, and
Mr.. Davis said. ''he seized on them with
avidity to do the work Of calling on
congressman on the House side.
Each was paid $3.50, and each was
underpaid for what he did," Mr.. Davis
said.
II was told at the Capitol that it
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