The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-06-06
.LOBBIES' METHODS
FAIR, SENATORS SAY
Blame Limited TO Publicity
Agents Who scatter False
Information.
SUGAR TRrST THE CENTRE
SmOOt Of Utah Says Conditions
in Beet Fields Are Mali.
riOuSly Distorted.

WAsnINGroN. June 5-The Senatorial
investigators of the alleged lobby which
President Wilson has assured them is
working to defeat the pending tariff
hill held a short executive session late
to-day and came to a definite agree
ment with regard to the scope Of the
investigation Of the representatives Of
the affected interests whom they will
call before them for examination next
week.
Tn. members Of the subcommittee
are convinced that there has been an
activ" lobby for and against the Tn
dprwood bill. This fact has been
reiterated by senator after senator in
the course of the investigation. Direct
solicitation Of supper, for the conten-
lions Of the protectionists and the lower
tariff men have been made. but this
has been done. according to the Sena
tors. along wholly proper and honest lines.
1t is IN tn. publicity campaigns of the
proponents and opponents of the bill
that there is a suspicion that all has
not been fair and above board.
Republican Senators Interested in the
retention of a duty on sugar. with the
assistance of Senators Ransdell and
Thornton. Democrats. OF Louisiana. and
Senator Thompson of Kansas. also a
Democrat assure the investiga tors that
he statistics contai med in the circulsr mat =
ter put out by the Wholesale Grocers As
soCia ion were incorrect in essential de-
tails and framed To deceive their readers
and TO create an artificial and fictitious
public sentiment against the duty on
sugar. Senator Pittman told the COM
mittee that the wool growers campaign
had not been fairly conducted.
suaar snd wool Lobbiss.
Therefore the investigation beelnni ing
| next week will deal chiefly with the
| activities of the sugar and the wool
lobblcs. II will not he confined to these
! features Of the bill. but II will centre
about them. and in a large measure the
force Of the investigation will be con-
| centrated upon them
The committee is disposed temporarily
to withhold starting general inNestl-
! cation Of all forms OF lobbying
Senator Smoot OF Utah a Republican
| furnished the nearest thing to sensa :
| tion at tO-day's session when he charged
/ the sugar trusts legislative agents with
| circulating misChievously false Stats
. t:cs as to the operation OF the sugar
tarif and the actual ad Nalorem amount
/ Of present specific duty
Following the afternoon session ths
p committee held a short executive sitting
20 discuss the question of admitting tes-
tImonN as To the merits OF the docti-
m"ntarf matter used in the various
conflicts between the high and low tar'n
. interests This matter was left in abey.
anoe. The committee IL more anxiou.
10 begin the examination OF alleged
Lobbyists themselves. Lively sessions
are anticipated when these witnesses
come upon the stand
Senator Gof of West Nirgi was tn.
first witness called to-day. He told thu
committee he was Interested in coal anC
oll lands in West Virginia and that bot i
commodities were in some measure af.
t"c,"d by the pending tariff legisia ion
senator GoH's Iocom~.
~ West Nireinan who owns any,
thing at all cannot help but be inter.
! -sied IN coal. announced Senator Goff
He told the committee his annual in
come from his interests in coal land.
amounted 10 S3j.0OO and that his inter
csIs IN C.,l oil lands bring $40 900 .
year.
Senator Reed asked IL any OF Senator
Cons coal lands We're in the neighbor
hood OF the Paint Creek Coliery
No said Senator Con with "A Ia ug h
MY coal interests are in the peaceful
section of West Virginia. nearly lh
miles from Paint Creek About hal
my income from coal comes from m,
interest in the Paramount Coal Com
panN. | am Interested also in the Ma
dera Hil Clark Company"
senator Con explained that the pur
chasers of oil from his wells were sub
salaries tn the Standard Oil Compa n
ana that there was no one else TO sell to
tie said he has under lease about 80
acres OF coal bearing lands
Senator Gore of Okla homa told IN
committee he had no interest afYecte
by the tariff bill.
Senator Sherman Of Illinois is inter
j osted in the way the tariff bill will affeC
I ihe interest on farm properties only |
, his professional capacity AZ the advise
4 of citizens of his State who make farI
y loans
Labor Union Lobby"
+ THE only improper influence to while
have been subjected since ] became
;. senator said Senator Sherman, cam
r. from the representatives of Ia Dor union
. | have always voted in accordance wit
" my convictions and | do not relis
. threats "f political extinction from III
represent stives of the labor union
. They have endeavored To intmidate m
. with threats of this character for n,
attitud" in regard tn the application