Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-02
Senators Declare They Know
Of No Improper Pressure Be-
ing Brought to Bear to In.
fluenoe Legislation.
PRESIDENT EXPECTED
TO FURNISH NAMES
First Session of Committee En-
tirely Devoid of Sensation /;
Ashurst Suspects Designs of
McMurray.
(By Icsscd wnc 20 Evening HsraId.J


Washington. June 2.-Tho nrst sen.
atose 10 testify today az the senate 4
Investigation of the charges that a
lobby le working against the tarln Rill.
declared they knew OF no improper in-
iuences being cxerted no use ~
money aud had not themselves. at
tempted To improperly .pauca @ any
other senators. An admitted aaying
talked with manufacturers interested
In the tariff. having hearl arguments
and protests, but 81 considered such
proceedings stIl ~ legitimate and
none considered tls men With whom
they talked as 'lg3by,s;s."
senator AshurI said. b"NcVer. that
"a man named McMurray" had zen
attempting Improperly TO innuenc Q
senators against ;hc movement & can
Gel certain Indian contracts ~ which
Nc Murray is said ". stand 10 receive
t3,5oo.00o. Senator Borah referred
also To The man senator Ashursi
men lonod."
When the hearing began before the
senate committee on judiciary every
senator Was prepared 20 answer a SER
les of eleven questions 90 determine
whether he had any personal Interest
IN the tarlu or other Legislation and 10
and out what persons have approach
ed him in the effort "a influence his
action on schedules OF the tariff bill
Before the committee met. Senators
Oyorman and Reed held long con q
ference with President Wilson. The
impression Was that the president
might furnish a list OF names of those
whom he believes TO be lobbyists.
senator Ashurst was the first called.
HE testified that he was not PERSONALLY
Interested IN any manner concerning
any pending legislation. He said ne
had not kept record of those who
had talked with him concerning mat e.
ters before congress, but that he would
give the names OF all he could remem-
her.
The senator named Mr. Tomlinson.
representing cattlemen. and william
Ketiner of California. representing
citrus fruit growers. hut stated that
no Improper suggestions were made
by them.
senator Ashurst said that he did be e
lieNs, however. that man named Me.
Murray had been attempting To in
nuonce improperly the action OF SEN
ators with respect Ia preventing the
cancellation of certain contracts he
tMcMurrayl had with Cherokee IN
dians for the sale of land whereby he
would receive s3.500.000
He Is the smoothest lobbyist l have
ever secn.' added the senator He
could carry bundle OF eels up stairs
without dropping "a single one"
J. y, McMurray, an attorney of Mo
Aloster okla, prominently identified
with Indian LEGISLATION, has con-
tract with the Cherokee Indians foi
tho sale of f85. 600. 600 worth OF land.
for which he Is TO receive 80 per cent.
There is a movement in congress nov
10 annul his contracts.
senator Bacon. who followed Sena p
tor Ashurst. said he owned small
farm IN Georgia on which some ar
tclos might he raised that were ell
fected by the tariff, 4 sewer pipe
factory. a street railway, u gas com.
pany. and an electric company were
other industries In which senator Ba-
con said he had some interest.
II don't believe any at them are az
fccted by any of the legislation" he
said. II am sure I want no duty on
sewer pipe"
senator Bacon said he had not tried
to influence members of the senate
excep. In general way. 10 urge re.
duction OF tarln on articles OF gen.
era use.
~ have not listened 90 single man
lr heard single argument ON thls
tarin bill, he said
No person had attempted to In
nuence him improperly. senator Ba-
con said, and lie knew nothing of at
tompts To use money tor lobbylng pur-
poses
81 don't think a man who comel
here to represent an interest IN which
he himself Is concerned, 10 present ar
guments. In lobbyist said the sen.
ator, Neither do I think that law
yer who comes here In Legitimate
way 10 represent reputable indus.
try Ii lobbyist"
senator Bacon concluded by testi'
fying he had heard there are two
sugar" organizations In Washington
one for free sugar and tho other
against it.
senator Bankhead was called bu