Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01
Business Affairs to Be Aired in
Investigation of
Lobby.
QUESTIONS PREPARED
BY PROBE COMMITTEE
Legislators Personal Connection
With Measures Pending in Con-
gress Will Be Revealed.

Private affairs and business connec-
tions of Senators will he barred as
never before. 1t is expected. during the
investigations. which is to he begun to-
morrow morning at 10::n o'clock, TO
ascertain whether the President was
justified in declaring that an 'insidious
lobby" was at work in this city to de-
feat some of the features of the I'm
derwood tariff bill.
The subcommittee of the Senate iu-
dietary committee which has charge of
the Investigation. at meeting late
yesterday afternoon, drafted list of
eleven questions which will be pro-
pounded to each of the members of
the Senate as he appears before the
committee. They will be the first per-
sons heard.
fhese questions carry the investiga
tion Tar outside tariff matters. Senators
VIII be asked 10 tell under oath whether
they rave any interest in any business
affected by any bill now before Congress.
or that has been before the Senate during
their service. and whether or not they
tried tolinfuence the votes of other sena-
tors IN behalf of a measure in which they
might have been interested
Have Other Interests.
Many members of the Senate are openly
associated with manufacturing. trading.
livestock. lumber. financial or farming
corporations or interests, and under the
questions of the committee they prob
ably will be required 10 give any such
connections in detail. if the tariff woul i
anect their business in any way.
Senators Overman, Reed Walsh.
Cummins and Nelson are the subcom-
mfttee to conduct the investigation.
The first two questions submitted.
which are expected to disclose any in
terest members of the Senate may have
I'm legislation before that body. are as
follows:
Please state whether or not you are
financially interested in the produce
ton. manufacture or sale of any ar
ticle mentioned in the tariff bill or any
other bill now pending in Congress or
which has been considered during your
term as senator: If SO, state fully the
nature and extent of such interest. and
whether. you ever sought to influence
any other senator as to the duties upon
snch articles?
Please state whether you represent
or are connected professionally or other
wise. directly or indirectly. with any
person. firm. association. corporation or
organization which is engaged in the
article named in the tariff bill now
pending in Congress-: if so. state whether
you ever sought to influence any other
senator as TO the duties upon such
articles
Will Develop Facts.
The committee then will attempt by
further questions to develop fully the
facts as to the statement that a great
and powerful lobby is working in
Washington in an effort to secure spe-
cial concessions i'm the tariff bill.
The course to be followed in securing
President Wilson's testimony or any
statements he may have to make has
not yet been determined upon.
Members of the subcommittee decided
to wait until Monday before deciding
what should be done to carry out that
part of the Senate resolution by which
the President is respectfully invited TO
giving to II any information in his pos
session with respect to the subject mat
ter of the investigation which he con-
siders IL proper to make public.
Senator Overman last night issued an
appeal for public aid in the hearings.
Public Aid Invited.
We invite the public to give US any in
formation they may have in regard to a
lobby" he said THE committee wants
TO go into this matter as thoroughly as il
YAH II tutiS Hds bcSH any itbpS IiS
done in Washington in behalf of any leg
islation the committee wants to get the
facts fully. Senators will be examined
first and then such persons as may
learn have information as TO lobbyists
We will not consider anonymous com
unications.
The committee will call senators in
blocks Of four. Senators Ashurst
Ba on. Barkhead and Borah appearing
at III O'Clock Monday Senators Bradley.
Brady. Brandegee and Bristow at IL
o'clock and the balance of the Senate
In relays o. four each hour BY pro-
CeedinG at this rate and sitting until ~
O'Clock each night, with noon and night
recesses. the senators hope 10 push the
Investigation rapidly.
Names to Be Sought.
Each member OF the Senate in addition
10 questions affecting personal interest
In legislation. will be asked TO give the
flames OF any persons who have ap-
preached him for the purpose of in
huencing any legislation. especially the
tariff bill
The particular items of the tarifY bill
such persons were Interested in.
description of the interviews he has
had and state more particularly Wheth-
or ANY person had made any personal 40
peal. or did more than merely present
merits of the bill
statement of whether any person
dEectly or indirectly attempted in any
manner improperly To influence him or
his action upon any leg Station pending
IN Congress. especially tariff legislation
Has Money Been Usede
Any information as 70 the use of
money. "or of any other improper
means or methods. to influence action
on legislation
Any knowledge of the use of money
10 support d lobby with a definition
of lobby and lobbying
Any knowledge of the use of money
for advertising or literature intended
TO mislead or otherwise influence pub
lie men or public opinion.
a statement of whether he knows of
any lobby or lobbyist maintained in
Washington or elsewhere to influence
any legislation now pending before
Congress"
Any other informa ton on the subject
INSTR lance MEN nINE