Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-07
IOWA SENATOR TO INTRODUCE
BILL TO CURB MEN OF
EVIL DESIGNS. 81
SUCH MEN As MULhALl AND
LAMAR TO BE IMPOSSIBLE
lmnsrsonation Of Officials and At.
tempts TO influence Legislation I'm.
properly May Be Made Punishable
oHensss-Prison Penalty Provided
in Contemplate Law,

Washington, July Another week
OF thrilling lobby disclosures is prom
ised. The senate committee will COM
plets its inquiry into the Lamar-Lau-
serbach disclosures and the sugar and
wool Hobbies before proceeding with
the Mulhall charges.
Enough has bene disclosed to sug-
gest remedial legislation, and Senator
Cummins, Of Iowa, a member of the
senate investigating committee, will
introduce today bill drawn to pro-
hibit the Improvisation Of members of
to prevent attempts to influence legis-
lation Improperly.
Bars False Improvisation.
First of all. the bill would stfike at
and makep radically out Of the ques-
ton such a scheme Of impersonation
of members of congress as that in
which David Lamar, the Wolf OF Wall
Street" engaged. using the names Of
Representatives Riordan and Palmer
for the purpose of driving Robert S.
Lovett and other captains of industry
into the employment Of Edward Lau-
terbach.
Under the Cummins bill impersona-
ton over the phone or otherwise by
any person of a member of congress OK
other public official will be made fell
from three to five years, a maximum of
hot
Similarly. false impersonation Of any
one over the telephone in conversing
from one state to another will be made
a felony. representation Of another
party in writinug of course is taken
care of by the laws against forgery.
But thee lever Wolf took good care
not to make himself amenable to the
forgery statutes.
This section of the bill is doubtless
the one which Will attract most notice
because Of the fact that the Lamar
story is fresh in the public mind. The
bill, however, has several additional
sections.
Provides Prison Penalty.
One is intended to make a felony Of
falsely that a person is
acting in behalf Of or on the authority
Of a member Of congress or other Off
cial This applies not only to repre-
sentation over the phone, but orally or
or both il the punishment prescribed
in this case. as it is. in fact. for each
Of the offenses prescribe in the bill.
Another section covers the onense OF
falsely representing orally or in writ
ten or. printed matter. that the party
making the representation has brought
to bear any improper influence or pres
sure on a member Of congress or other
official Of the government with view
TO affecting legislation or official acts.
Another section applies to the actual
bringing of influence. other than that
which is right, just and proper. against
a member of congress or government
official.
Bans Lamars and MulhaIls.
Taken in its entirety, such legisla-
ton as proposed in the Cummins bill
would make the Lamars and the Null
halls extinct persons about the capital.
It would strike hard blow at various
phases of lobbying and efforts to exert
undue and unjust pressure on members
OF congress or to blacken the reputa-
lions of members of congress by false
assertions or the exercise Of improper
influence.
The bill will be referred to the judi
ciary committee and at the proper
time will be considered along with j
number Of other measures dealing with
the varied aspects Of the lobby.
The bill does not attempt to deal
r3+b +be aues$ion Of the registration OF
lobby lists or legislative representa-
tives. Nor does it deal with important
questions concerning the use of public
| itv by the lobby. No doubt the Over
man committee, witeIi - makes :. re-
port. will have much to say about the
proper and improper use of publicity
for the purposes Of affecting iesis-
!at.on.