Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-09

! Washington, June S.-Neither Presi-
dent Wilson nor the Democratic man
ayers of the two branches of Congress
could estimate, tonight, what effect
the Senate's remarkable. the lobby in
vestisation' is to have upon the pro-
gress of the tariff bill the currency re-
I form plan, or other business of Con
gress.
In the SIX days of grilling to which
it has subjected senators themselves
the investigating committee has Sc
cured information and opened up chan
nels of investigation that are likel.
to have an important influence upof
the whole course of legislation in the
future. President Wilson's charges
that an unusually large Lobby was
engaged in trying to influence changes
in the tariff formed the basis for the
inquiry now under way; but it has run
far outside the scope of the tariff, an
has brought the Senate committee up
the edge of what is expected to be one
of the most searching inquiries ever
conducted into the question of "Lesis.
lative influences"
Progress on the tariff bill has not been
hndered, during the week, by the lobby
investigation, but it is believed, tonight.
that before the reconstructed Underwood
bill finally gets into the Senate for de-
bate the lobby investigation will nave
become a direct issue in the fight. None
of The alleged lobbyists has been guess
toned as yet but facts brought out by
senators on the witness stand, and the
course the committee mas determined
upon for the future, make it clear that
Congress viii be urged to consider a reg
istratioa law. requiring every lobbyist,
legislative agent or other person who
comes to Washington to influence legisla-
ton. to at once identify himself and the
interests he represents. and also tie con-
demnation, and possible prohibition oil
the present system of manufacturing
sentiment in IA state. TO influence thai
states senators or representatives, upof
any certain legislative matter.
The chief influence of the lobby i'll
quiry upon the present tariff revision
probably will come in connection With tht
sugar and wool fights. around which Will
wage much of the forthcoming tariff de-
bate in the Senate. Well organized and
extensive campaigns have been shown tt
exist on both sides of the sugar tarifl
question. and systematic activity by the
wool protective forces has been testified
to by many senator's.
President Wilson's friends in the
Senate are gathering material as the
hearing progresses To support his free
sugar stand by an effort to show that
Louisiana, Hawaiian and Porto Rican
cane growers and American beet SUI
gar manufacturers have exhausted al
possible means to arouse public sent1-
ment against free sugar. Fully as
vigorous a fight will be made on the
other side. to prove from the testi-
mony of the lobby hearings that cane
sugar refiners, particularly the red
eral Refining Co, have been the bone
and sinew of the free sugar campaign
and would lie the chief beneficiarlea
| if President Wilson's recommendations
| for free sugar in 1916 are carried OUT,
| Senators have talked freely OF theif
| ownership of properties or eommodi-
ties that might somewhat besaiiected
| by tariff changes. In the majority ot
| cases. however they have insisted