The Washington times., 1913-07-06
CUMM|NS HITS AT
LAMAR'S SYSTEM
Iowa Senator Will Introduce Bill
Tomorrow to Stop Sharp
Practices Of Lobby.
Continued from First Page.)

L NNoAshecu Al oii Id6SJ
fine and imprisonment. Similarly. the
impersonation over the phone of anyone
in conversing from one State to another
VIII be made a felony. Impersonation
of another party in writing. Of course, is
| already taken care of by the laws
! against forgery. But the clever "Wolf"
took good care not to make himself
amenable to the forgery statutes
For False Representation.
This section of the bill, aimed to break
| up tie Lamar system Of impersonating
members of Congress and other people
| over the telephone. is doubtless the one
which will attract most notice, because
, Of the fact that the Lamar story Is
just now fresh in the public mind. The
bill. however. has several additional sec
tions. One is intended to make felony
of representing falsely that a person Is
acting in behalf Of or on the authority
OF member of Congress or other on
cial. This applies not only to represen-
tation over the phone. but orally or
otherwise. An imprisonment penalty.
heavy fines. or both. Is the punishment
TO-. each Of the ofenses prescribed IN
the bill
One section covers the offense of
falsely representing orally or In written
or printed matter that the party max
ing the representation has brought to
bear any improper influence or pressure
on member of Congress or other ofYi-
cial of the Government with q view to
Affecting legislation or official acts. An
other section applies to the actual
bringing Of influence, other than that
which Is right, Just, and proper. against
member Of Congress or Government
official.
Blow At Lobby Practices.
Taken in its entirety. such lesisla-
ton as proposed in the Cumming bill
would make the Lamars and the Null
halls extinct specimens about the Cap
itol 1t would strike a hard blow at
various phases Of lobbying. and ef-
forts to exert undue and unjust pres
sure on members Of Congress or to
blacken the regulations of members
Of Congress by false assertions of the
exercise Of improper influence.
The bill will be referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee, and at the proper
time will be considered along with
number of other measures dealing
with the varied aspects of the lobby.
The bill does not attempt to deal with
the question Of the registration Of lobby
lists or legislative representatives. Nor
does II deal with important questions
concerning the use Of publicity by the
lobby. No doubt the Overman commit
tee, when 1t makes It's report, win have
proper use Of publicity for the purposes
Of affecting legislation.
Busy Week for Committee. 4
This week will be an extremely busy
one for the Senate lobby committee
Monday and Tuesday efforts win be
made to finish the Lamar-Lauterhach
inquiry. and the sugar and wool lobbies,
and then to 60 ahead with the charges
of Col Martin NJ. Mulhall.
The House situation as to q lobby in
vestigation Is left up in the air. due to
the fact that just about the time yes
terday afternoon when the House was
getting ready to adopt a resolution Of
Republican Leader Mann |
forced an adjournment by calling for |
quorum. The Rules Committee reported
out a sweeping resolution Of investfga- |
don, 1t was discussed and variously |
the clause providing for en-
ployment Of counsel was stricken out, |
and then Leader Mann kicked the whole |
bucket over by insisting on q quorum |
call. No quorum developed. ana the re-
up again Wednesday. At that time |
Henry will try to force a
record vote.
No Lawyer for Committee.
Several amendments Strengthening
The House lobby resolution were
adopted with Indications that there
ire less than a dozen members of the
House opposed tc the inquiry. The
as reported by the Rules
Committee was changed in one ma
erial way. The House voted against
he employment Of a counsel for the II
obby investigating committee.
Congressman Jefferson Levy moved
o strike out the provision for a law
allied the Morey trust probe and said
he investigation would have been
more satisfactory II II had been
turned over to Samuel Untermyer."
Mr.. Henry thought the committee
ught to have an attorney to aid the
nut. Mr.. Henry probably will at
empt to get a reconsideration of this
ection when the House meets We'd
Iesday.
House Finishes Resolution.
The House practically completed the
obby investigation resolution yesterday
fternoon, writing into 1t several amend
nents making 1t clear that the COM
nittee is to have broad powers TO
robe not only the National Association
( Manufa cturers, but all other associa-
ions or organizations believed guilty OF
Mr.. Levy, who was the only active op-
onent of the investigation, character
zed as useless both the Steel trdst and
doney trust Investigations, Not alone
ave the Investigations proven disac-
rous to the public" he said. but they
we're the indirect cause of the death Of
he greatest banker and philanthropist
!. the world" Mr.. Levy evidently re-
erred to MIR. Morgan's appearance be-
ore the Pujo committee.