Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-08-17
Searching Questions Fail 10
Secure Much information
Regarding Fund Raised by
PaWnblokerS,
INQUIRY TRIES TO
LOCATE MONEY PAID
Congressman McDemott, oi
Chicago Listens 10 Many
Stories in Which His Name
Figures Prominently

fus soanHd loussAl erfciAl tfkagn Wlstl
Washington. Aux i6.-1he house
lobby investigators conferred their at
tentinn today on the statements of
j 49, MeMlchaet one-timc chief page
ot the house. tnat Representative
James r. MoDermott OF chicago. had
received about $1,000 for efforts 20
defeat il bin affecting local pawn
brokers and loan sharks. After more
than tive hours OF hard work the
committee, was not much nearer q
definite conclusion about the $500
than Il was when NcNuchael made
his fust statement.
The onc-time chief page reiterated
today his testimony that McDermott
told him that he got about $1,000 in
the loan shark matter and stuck to
HIS story under severe cross-examina-
tou of James f. Easily Smith, attor-
ney for Mcpermott Former Washing
ton pawnhrokers who quit business
when this bin became law. gave tho
committee no definite Information To
connect McDermott with any such
fund on to disclose that the pawn
brokers ever raised any such amount
for any purpose Abraham Bernstein.
one of the brokers. said he contribut-
ed TO a fund 10 be used in advancing
thc arguments of himself and his fell
lows He showed a lack Of memory
about many details concerning tho
raising Of the money and WAS sub
iected 60 long and sharp firo Of d.
rect cNawinaAiel "a whlfh every mem
ber Of the committee Who was pres
ent took part Pinned down time af-
ter time. however lcrnaoin denied
that the brokers ever raised moro
than $4,000 and swore that IL was
used to pay attorneys 10 represent
them before officials here ana in
publicity work
He was asked 10 help, he swore,
by George ID. llornng another pawn
broker. who. according to McDcrmott
made the arrangements with McDer-
mott to work against the bill. lie said
he gave two checks to Horning
to about $500. lie took no
receipt. did not know how the money
was used. but presumed 1t went to
.he attorneys. McDcrmott, he said, he
bad known for about "A year. He
Ilorning and NE" TTclndenhelmer.
another broker Interested in the bill's
lcleat he said. called az McDormotta
ltficc on Capitol lllll once but he
didn't know the year aud he wasn't
sure whether McDermott was in at
be tipta ar tphn tpae thpra ffa Waq
sure at first he hadn't paid any
money to Horniug IN 1911, when Nc
Michael swore the deal was made.
lut after continued questioning,
igreed he was not entirely certain
Ibout the matter RernstcIns failure
10 remember details, finally became
40 frequent that at almost every ques-
ION the inqusitor got laugh from
ats colleagues, but no Information
rom the witness Bernstein denied
hat $4,000 was raised TO defeat leg.
nation.
Ihift}-IiVc huhdred dollarH never
.eionled ioslHlalioh' ne said' Nou
nlsht dcfeat " win $4,000 or $5O,-
90
When the laughter subsidized Bern
TEN admitted he did not know how
.o copd defeat legislation even with
nat amount lie denied ne ever talk
d with McDermott about legislation
Nccpt In "a casual way.
Bernstein could not fix tnc time
,hcn uorning first came to him and
they must do something to
efeat the loan shark bin. Uc said
forming. lloidonhcimer and he talk
Il about the matter frequently but
@ could not give details Of these con-
"Wo didn't do ANYTHING rash" he
Omitted frequently. Bernstein de-
led he had talked with Horning or
about the testimony ho