Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-06-01
Every Member Must Explain.
His Private Affairs and Bus
ioeSS Connections as Tariff
Bill Affects Them
SUBCOMMITTEE READY
TO PROSECUTE PROBE
Beginning Tomorrow, States
men viii be Summoned to
Testify in Blocks of Four.
President Probable Witness,

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlRsl
Washington May 31.-The most
searching investigation ever under
taken into the private affairs and
business connections of members of
the United states senate will be the
outgrowth Of the lobby investiga-
ton" which is 10 open on Monday
morning before the senate sub-com-
mittec.
While President Wilson's recent de-
caration that a powerful lobby is at
work attempting to influence action
on the tariff bill forms the basis for
Investigation, questions prepared to-
night by the committee to bc asked
of each member of the senate, are
such as to carry the investigation far
outside of tariff matters.
Each senator viii be required t.
tell under oath whether he has any
interest In any matter affected by any
bin now before congress, or that has
been before the senate during his
term and whether or not he has ever
tried 10 influence any other senator
to vote for a measure in which he
was interested Chairman Overnian,
Of the subcommittee. expressed the
opinion tonight that the committees
questions would require statement
Dy each senator as TO any business
Interests he may have that would be-
affected BY the tariff, currency or
gny other legislation. Many members
u tAf u.4le are openly 6ssutiateu
with manufacturing, trading. live
stock. lumber. financial or farming
corporations or other interests, ana
under the questions of the committee
they probably viii be required to
give any such connections in detail
ii the tariff would affect their busi-
ness IN any way.
Senators Oyerman. Reed, Walsh,
Cummins ana Nelson were selected
early today by the judiciary commit
tee as the subcommittee to conduct
the investigation. At two subsequent
meetings this Subcommittee decided
to summon al members of the SEN
ate. beginning alphabetically and
calling four senators at a time Each
senator will be put under oath and
required to answer eleven formal
questions, and further questions that
members may ask. The first two
questions submitted are as follows:
Please state whether or not you
are financially interested in the pro-
dnction, manufacture or sale of any
article mentioned in the tariff bill,
or any other bill now pending in con
sress 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 sena-
tor as to the duties upon such anti
cles.
Please state whether you repre-
sent or are connected professionally
or otherwise, directly or indirectly,
with any person, firm, association,
corporation or organization which is
engaged in the manufacture, produc-
ton or sale Of any article named in
the tariff bill now pending m con
sfess If so, state whether you ever
sought to influence any other sena-
tor as to the duties upon such arti-
cles'
The committee viii then attempt
by further questions to develop fully
the facts as to the statement that d
great and powerful lobby is working
in Washington in an effort to secure
special concessions in the tariff bill
The course to be followed in Sc
curing President Wilson's testimony
or any statements he may make has
not been determined upon.
senator Overman tonight issued an
appeal for public aid in the hearings
We invite the public to give us
any information they may have in
regard to a lobby" he said. THE
committee wants to so into this mat
ter as thoroughly as it can. Senators
will be examined first and then such
persons as we may learn have in
formation as to lobbyists We will
not consider anonymous communica-
tons"
The committee will cal senators
in blocks Of four Senators AS
hurst Bacon. Bankhead and Borah
appearing at / o'clock Monday; SEN
ators Bradley, Brady, Brandegee ana
Bristow at II O'Clock and the ball
ance OF the senate in relays of four
each hour BY proceeding at this rate
and sitting busy until 10 o'clock each
night, with noon and night recesses.
The seators hope to push the investi-
cation rapidly,
Each member of the senate, in adj
dition to questions affecting personal
interest in legislation will be asked
70 give
The names of any persons who
nave approached him for the pur-