The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-08
ILAUTERBACH
ADMITS LIE
Cornered, He Valves I'M
munity, Before Lobby
Committee
SENATORS EAGER
FOR PROSECUTION
Witness Blames Lamar, Says
He Was washington
Authority"

Washington, July s.--Criminal prose
sonation of congressman in connection
with lobbying is to be sought if the
Senate lobby investigating committee
has its way.
This was plainly indicated yesterday
when the committee got Edward Lau-
terbach, the New York lawyer, publicly
to waive immunity before it would per-
nit him to continue his story of his re-
lations with David Lamar.
Lauterbach had an unpleasant time on
the stand. Under a fierce fire of inter
rogations by Senator Reed of Missouri,
he was forced to admit that he had
exaggerated" when he told Lewis Cass
Ledyard that he had investigated the
sentiment of the Democrats in Wash
ington and knew they were opposed to
any real investigation of the steel trust
He also had TO admit that he had de-
parted from accuracy when he told
Charles Steele of Morgan 4 Co. that he
would answer with authority that
President Taft was opposed to the steel
inquiry.
Lauterbach was questioned so sharply
that he became much confused and fire.
quently contadcted The committee
established that he has been in almost
constant comm -ication with David La
mar and the witness admitted that be.
fore Lamar testified he had conferred
with him.
Prior TO Mr.. Lauterbachs testimony;
Lamar sat beside the witness chair with
head bowed, his brow furrowed with
frowns Mr., Lauterbach patiently sat
in the witness chair while the Senate
committee held an executive session La
mar and Lauterbach did not exchange
word while the committee was absent.
Beginning his testimony, Mr.. Lauter
bach said that on this occasion, as preyi-
ously he appeared before the committee
voluntarily. He made this statement in
reply to a question put by Senator
0yerman, chairman of the committee on
inquiry.
II appear voluntarily" said the wit
ness. Il waive any question of immuni
" that may be raised.
A good deal of significance was at
tached to this statement, as the com
mittee in executive session, il was un.
discussed the question as to
whether Lauterbach could claim immuni- |
ty from prosecution by reason of his tes
timony before the committee. Color /
was given to this supposition by Senator
0verman's opening question relative TO
immunity.
Lauterbach then explained at length I
his motives for desiring to rehablitate T
himself in the good graces of the Morgan I
firm. He testified that until he had /
heard Representative Palmer's testimony /
he knew nothing of Lamar impersonat
ing congressman. Lauterbach added he I
felt that Lamar "in some way was the
,ause of the disaffection of large cor
Dorations from me.
He knew that Lama rwas "impulsive
md hasty" in his actions, but that he
lad never known him to do anything
wrong"
Lamar had brought him large and
business" and had introduced
,erbachl later did important legal work.
lie denied he had talked with Ledyard
# Lamar's being engaged in "blackmail-
ng operations
Lauterbach denied that he had ever
'laimed TO represent speaker clark,
Senator Stone and other Democratic
eadcrs and said his purpose in showing
he resolution for the investigation of
he steel corporation to the late j. 2.
Morgan was not for the purpose of
shaking Morgan down. but merely that
through the stopping of the investiga-
ion by Lamar, personal relations of La
mar with Morgan might be restored.
lie denied knowledge of Lamar's imper-
onations of congressman. :