The chronicle=news., 1913-06-02
SENATORS KNOW
LITTLE Of
LOBBYISTS

| Washington. June ..-The first
senator's to testify today at the sen
| ntc's incSstisation Of the charge tina,
the lobbyists working against th,
tariff bin. declared they knew OF nt
Improper influences being eNcrted OF
the uyc OF the money nor had mol
themselves attempted TO Improperly
influence any other sena' ,rs. All
| admitted having talked with manu-.
iaeiur.rs intrrc,t.'' In tn- tariff
| heard arguments and protests. hut
| all considered sr-h proceedings n
strictly legitimate aud non n-conRldcr-
ed the men with fhom they talked
M lobbyists.
Senator Ashursi said that however
that a man McMurray" that had
been attempting Improperly TO In
flurnrc srnatOrg against the move
ncni To cancel certain Indian con-
tracts by which McM urray is said
to stand To receive &3.50O.OoO. Sen
ator iiorah referred also ,o the
man senator Axhurst mentioned
The search for u tariff lobby such
nv President Wilson hud declared
WA op ratinT In Washington. -bxan
today with the senate Judiciary con-
Eiit"c holding open hearings.
Every senator was prepared to an
swcr series Of eleven kussi Ions To
determine whittier he had any per-
sonai interest In the tariff of other
legislation and io find out what per-
sona have approached him In tho ef-
fort To Influence his action on xchcd-
uls> Of the thrift bill.
Hcforc tho rommitic ri.t. sena-
TOR. Oycrinan nni Reed held long
conference with Prc,idcat Wilson.
might furnish n lis; Of namca Of
those whom he believes To he lobby.
ktc.
senator Ashnrzt wns the first call
cd. Hc tcstificd that he was not
psrsnsa1is--;ss IN nnr nsnnnIrr
concerning any pending legislation.
He said he had not kept n record Of
those who hnd talked to him con-
ccrntng matters before congress hut
that hc would give the names Of all
he could rcmcmbcr.
The senator named u Mr.. Tomlin-
son. representing cattlcmcn. aud VII
liam KcitBcr OF California, repre-
scniing citrus fruit growers. but
stated that no improper suggestions
were made To him.
Senator Ashurst said he did be-
lic,.. however. that IN man named
McMurray" had been attempting to
Influence improperly the action Of
senators with respect to preventing
tho cancellation OF certain contracts
he ,McMurraD had with Cherokee
Indians for the sale OF land whereby
he would receive s3.5O0.00O.
"iic is the smothcst lobbyist !
have ever seen" added the senator.
He could carry u bundle of cells up
s,arirs without dropping u single
one
J. r. McMurray. Rn attorney of
AIcAlcstcr. Oklahoma. prominently
identified with Indian legislation,
has a contract with the Cherokee
indians for the sale OF S3.5OO.O 900
worth Of land for which he Is re-
ccivc 10 per cent. There IL move
mcnt in con msress now to annul his
contracts.
Senator Bacon who followed Sena-
tor Ashurst said that he owned a
small farm In Georgia on which
some articles might he rcniscd that
were affected by the tariff. A sewer
pipe factory company and an cleo
tric company were other industries
in which Senator bacon said hc had
some interest.
II don't believe any OF them are
| affected by this 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 except in Il genarl way. to
urge n reduction of tariff on articles
OF general Use.
II have not listened to n single
man or heard a single argument on
This tariff bill." he said.
No person had attempted to in
flucnce him improperly. senator Bn-
con said. and he knew nothing of
purposes.
81 dnn''. thniink man who comes
here TO rcnrrnSr - interest in which
he himself is concerned. to present
arguments. is lobbyist" said the
senator.
Neither do think that IA lawyer
who comes here In legitimate way
IN renresent n Dublic induatry In n
lobbyist
Senator aBcon concluded by tes-
tifyinE he had heard there are two
sugar" organizations in Washing
ton. one for free sugar and the 9TH
err against It.
Scnntnr Martin WAS called but did