New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06
HOUSE LOBBY HUNT
STARTS IN WRANGLE
Resolution Authorizing lnveSti-
cation Goes Over After a
Rather Lively Debate.
LEVY LEADS IN OPPOSITION
Succeeds in Having Provi-
sion for Committee Counsel
Stricken Out, but Fails
to Kill the Inquiry,
From The Tribune Bureau.l

From The Tribune bureau
Washington, July s.-The House hunt
for the "insidious lobby" began in earnest
to-day, when the Rules Committee re-
ported a resolution authorizing a broad
investigation of the Mulhau charges and
Of the activities of any organization or
person who does now maintain. or has
heretofore maintained, lobby for the
purpose of influencing legislation by Con-
gress."
Although sentiment in the House APP
peared almost unanimously in favor OF
the resolution, its adoption was delayed
until the session on Wednesday next. At
ter listening 10 debate on many trivial
amendments, Representative Mann the
minority leader, served notice that he
would make a point Of no quorum unless
those in charge of the resolution per-
fected it by 9:45 O'Clock. Debate was still
in progress at that hour. and Mr.. Mann
made his point of no quorum, explaining
that he was in favor Of the resolution,
but not Of so much needless talk.
With the exception Of a tiare-up over
Samuel Untermyer, counsel for the money
trust investigating committee, the debate
hinged on the need OF Immediate action
by the House, in view of the fact that
the Mulhal charges involved the names
Of several of its members, Jefferson NJ
Levy, of New York, was the only mem
Der who opposed the spirit OF the inves-
tigation. Mr. Levy said he was opposed
10 further Investigations by the House
and he thought the Steel Trust and
money trust" inquiries had been useless
Incidentally, Mr.. Levy succeeded IN
striking from the resolution a provision
that the lobby investigating committee
might employ counsel The New York
member scented a plan to engage Mr.
Untermyer, and he holly observed that
"the money trust investigation would
have been better handled II the commit
tee hadn't had counsel. The committee
had no business turning its work over "a
Mr. Untermyer."
Calls Trust Hunt Failure.
Mr. Levy said the money trust" COM
mittee had made a failure of its task, and
that no such trust existed. This idea was
vigorously combatted by Chairman Henry
Of the Rules Committee, who praised the
service Mr.. Untermyer had rendered,
Representatives Hay. Cox and Dies
Democrats. also asserted that the lobby
committee could get along without high
priced counsel and disapproved OF the
manner in which the money trust IN
vestigation had been turned over to the
attorney The Levy amendment to strike
out the provision for counsel for the lobby
committee carried, So to 81.
Mr.. Levy lectured his Democratic col
leagues for their investigating proclvi-
ties
Il am opposed to further investigations
by this House" said the New York Rep
resentative. THE honor and integrity OF
the membership of this House is far above
reproach, and we should take no notice
Of the INSCRIPTIONS and designing class
Of men who seek 10 defame the members
of this body Let us show our confidence
in the members of this body by refusing
an investigation.
"The investigation OF the Steel Corpo-
ration and the money trust has been the
cause Of distress In the financial and ousi'
ness world They have deprecated the
values of securities more than $1,OOO,OOO,.
600. The inquisitions have proved con
clusively that there was no just cause FOL
the claim that a money trust existed ono
that the United States Steel Corporation
purchased the Tennessee Coal and Iron
Company for no other purpose than stay
ing the panic Of 1907.
Investigations
proved disastrous to the public, but they
were the indirect cause Of the death OF
the greatest banker and philanthropist II
the world"
All Want investigation.
Mr.. Levy's opposition 20 an extended
lobby inquiry, however, was not shared
by other members, and, without regard
70 partisan Affiliations, practically the en-
tire membership OF the House indicated
directly or indirectly a desire TO start the
lobby chase Immediately.
During the debate Representative Kahn
of California, referred TO the action OF the
Department of Justice in ordering post
ponement OF the Caminetti-Driggs white
slave" cases.
'Tnefe are SOME dChOiiS vi 'iO pa ~
the executive branch Of the government
which should be inquired into along with
the lobbies." said Mr.. Kahn. I'VE saw
here in this House the other day the re-
narkable spectacle Of the majority at
tempting 70 stifle debate on resolution
which concerned the enforcement Of the
white slave law. You must face things
OF this character. We cannot hide oui
heads IN the sand, ostrichlike and i'm
agine that the public does not see what
we are doing"
The resolution reported by the Rules
Committee IS comprehensive, and permits
practically a limltless investigation Of all
Hobbies, past and present, in addition to a
specific inquiry into the activities OF Colo
mel NJ NJ Mulhall and the National Asso-
citation Of Manufacturers.