The Washington herald., 1913-05-30
TARIFF LOBBY
PROBE ORDERED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

he is working. and II 1t De the tariff bill,
the item he IL seeking to change.
THE committee Is further instructed
to ascertain the character OF any repre-
sentations made by such persons or any
person or persons to influence legislation.
the names Of Senators to whom they
were made, the names of persons making
them, and the circumstances under which
they were made. All persons appearing
before the COMMITTEES are required to tes-
tify under oath.
''rhe committee shall further inquire
and report:
81. Whether any Senator 10 financially
or professionally interested IN the pro-
duction or manufacture or sale OF any
article or articles mentioned in said
tariff bill, and IL so, to what extent, or
in any other legislation now pending or
that has been considered during his term
as a Senator.
"2. Whether any Senator represents or
is connected, professionally or otherwise,
directly or indirectly. with any person,
firm. association. or organization en-
gagged in the manufacture. production. or
sale of any of the said articles.
1T is further resolved. That the Presi-
dent is respectfully invited to aid the
committee in it's investigation by giving
to 1t any information In his possession
with reference to the subject-matter of
the investigation, which he considers It
proper to make public. The committee
is authorized to administer oaths, sub
poena> witnesses, and send for persons
and papers In the prosecution OF the
said investigation
Resolution Is Amended.
The suggestion that the investigation
h. faE Nt,t 0f h. har DO 80 AL
committee OF five to be appointed by the
Vice President and placed IN charge of
one Of the standing committees of the
Senate was made by Senator John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi. chairman OF the
Committee to Audit and Control the
Contingent Expenses of the Senate.
Senator CummiI.J had explained that the
investigation ought not to entail any
expense. Senator Cummins promptly ap-
proved the suggestion that the judiciary
Committee conduct the-inquiry.
The principal struggle In the Senate
was over two points in the Cummins
resolution. both ofywhich were modified
One of these had proposed to require
each Senator to disclose the names of
persons with whom he had conversed
on the tariff. together with the repre-
sentations they had made. This was OBJ
jected to as being too great an under
taking and as practically putting Sena-
tors on trial
The other point in the Cummins reso-
luton called on the President for names
and information on which he based his
public statement, made a few days ago.
as to the activities OF a lobby. Senator
Kern's amendment struck out most of
the Cummins resolution. Senator Reed
of Missouri is responsible for the para
graph which relates to the investigation
to determine the relation which Senators
may bear to the production or manu-
facture or sale of articles affected by
the tariff bill.
Senator Lippitt Of Rhode Island modi-
fed the amendment offered by Senator
Reed by inserting the word "profes-
sionally.'' so that the investigation will
disclose professional as well as the
financial relation of Senators to pend
ing legislation.
Efforts were made by Senator Smoot
and others to have the time extended
from ten days to twenty days as the
limit within which the judiciary Com
mittee shall make its report. But Sem
ator Williams suggested that If the in
vestigation was not concluded within the
ten days it would be an easy matter
for the Senate to extend the time. While
the resolution makes no provision for
public hearings. IL Is likely that IL wit
nesses are called and testimony taken II
will be open to the press, and probably
to the public.
Debate Often Earnest.
The debate in the Senate was at times
very earnest, and at other times anus
ing. Senator Sherman of Illinois de-
clared that the word. lobbyist" was so
indefinite that the resolution should set
out the Presidents words used in de-
scribing it, in which he referred to It
as numerous, industrious, and insid-
ious."
Some of these representatives Of the
predatory interests may not be recog-
nized by the new Senators and they may
commit some of II before we are aware
Of it," suggested Mr.. Sherman.
Senator Williams sharply rejoined that
IL the investigation was to be seriously
conducted 1t would be just as well to
leave out ''ironical filings at the Presi-
dent"
Mr. Sherman retorted that he had