Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-17
Miseellameuus &eading
GOVERNMENT FOUGHT SUGAR
Lobbyists Used Printing and Postal
Departments. Nn8!


Lobbyists Used Printing and Postal
Departments.
How the government printing Office
and the postoffice department helped
in the fight against free sugar through
the use of congressional 'literature''
circulating throughout the land was
brought out last Monday by the SEN
ate lobby Investigators. Truman @.
Palmer, Washington representative OF
the United States beet sugar industry,
on the stand the entire day and the
object Of a sweeping cross-examina-
ton, testified that more than 1900
900 copies of arguments in behalf OF
beet sugar had been turned out by the
government printing office, made pub
lie documents by order Of congress
and had ridden on the franks Of sem
ators and representatives to the ends
of the country, postage free. Sugar
At a Glance" prepared by him, he
said. had attained circulation Of
$4,000 copies under the frank Of SEN
ator Lodge. Reports Of the Finance
Committee" by the same senator, had
beaten the pamphlet by $4,000 copies.
The franks Of Senator Smoot, for
mer Senators Curtis and Dick and the
late Representative Malby, former
Representative Picket and Represent
tative Martin had swelled the total to
more than a million and half. The
printing of some Of this number had
been paid for by the beet sugar peo-
pie, the witness said, but the free pos
tage had saved them about $2S,00o.
Mr.. Palmer developed that Sugar At
a Second Glance" which he intimated
was. inspired by the Federal Sugar
Refining company, and which was an
argument in behalf Of free sugar, had
also been printed as public docu-
ment and circulated under the frank
ing privilege. He did not say, nor did
the committee ask, why the frank was
so used. 4s
Mr.. Palmer said that the beet sugar
men had spent about $160.000 in their
campaign against free sugar since
1902. About s5O,OOO had been used
since last November, and about $14,-
900 of that amount since the begin
ming of the present session OF con-
gress. Much Of it haS been spent in
publicity work." in printing, salaries
and a good sized sum in motion pic
lures. He said that the beet produc-
ers in his association were assessed
about five cents per ton, he thought.
The last assessment was made in
April, bringing in about $4,000, and
the previous one in February, about
$4,000.
Palmer said that when Senator
Lodge made a speech on sugar In July,
1912, the charts subsequently used In
Sugar At a Glance" were on the walls
Of the senate chamber. Senator Lodge
secured the permission Of the senate
to have them printed as a public doc
ument. Questioned by-members of
the committee. the witness said that
after the charts had been sent to the
government printing office and proofs
in black and white had been made OF
them, he had discovered they were not
suitable for publication. He had, there
fore, sent them to a private printing
concern and had them prepared In a
fashion he thought suitable. This, he
maintained, was done with the knowl-
edge of Senator Lodge and he consid-
cred that he was acting for the sena-
tor in the matter. ~
Members Of the committee express
ed surprise that any one should In any
way change something authorized to
be printed by the senate. They devel-
oped that the permission was secured
by Senator Lodge for printing on July
q and that one Of several issues OF
Sugar at a Glance" referred to an or
der of the senate on August 10 in the
same matter.
The second order referred to data
prepared by Truman G. Palmer and
purported to be signed by Charles G.
Bennett, then secretary Of the senate.
Mr.. Palmer said he supposed that the
order had been made, and that he got
it in the proofs Of the charts from the
printing office. The Congressional
Record Of August /, according to Sen
ator Cummins, showed no such order
nor did the Journal of the senate nor
the files in the document room.
"You substituted at the government
printing office for the document you
received from the clerk Of the senate
this privately printed copy?" said
Senator Reed.
81 don't think that is fair ques-
tion," said Palmer.
81 want to find out about this" said
Senator Cummins. 1T Is rather Sc
rious matter to forge signature OF
the secretary of the senate to an order
that never was made"
The committee finally dropped the
question with the expressed determi-
naIlON 10 pursue IL lul lhci anu ihFSo7
tigate Jocks and records of every sort
to get the information they seek. Sen
ator Lodge will be heard in explain
ton If he desires to appear.
Mr.. Palmer became indignant al
Senator Reeds efforts to find out ev'
erything done by the beet men II
Washington.
81 don't think business men arr
barred from the city of Washington,
he added. There is nothing disrepu
table in talking to senators and con
gressmen. They don't live in glass
houses. have been free to try to con
vert them and prevent the ruin which
l believe will result from the passag'
| of the bill in congress"
81 YEARS OLD, IN TREASURY 40