New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-13
Clarence w. De Knight Adj
mits Working for Passage
of Toll Exemption.
DENIES OPPOSING
BILL FOR REPEAL
Francis I. BOWles Declares Wit
ness Was Not Employed to
Work for Free Tolls.

Washington, March 12-Renewal or in
quiry by the Senate lobby investigating
committee to-day turned toward reports
that there is organized opposition In
Washington. backed by influential forces,
to the proposed repeal of the toll eXemp-
ton provision of the Panama Canal act.
The committee examined Clarence W. DE
knight, a Washington lawyer, who ad-
mitted activity in favor of toll exemption
when the bill was passed. but fatty de-
MED knowledge of any lobbying efforts to
prevent passage of the repeal bill.
The committee issued tonight a sub
prna for DR.. James Brown scott, secic-
tary for the Carnegie Endowment FOR IN
ternatlonal Peace. whose mamie entered
into the spirited debate in executive ses-
sion of the Senate. several weeks ago, De
tween Senators Root and O'Gorman, or
New York. When extension of the gen
eral arbitration treaty with Great Britain
was under consideration, involving the
tolls issue, Senator O'Gorman charged
that the Carnegie Endowment had Tor us
prime motive not the promotion OF inter-
national peace, but the formation or
sh-Amercan alliance. Senator Root
holly protested against his colleague
statement.
The lobby committee proposes To IN
quire through DR.. Scott into the actual
aims and operations of the Foundation,
and whether it has entered at all INTO the
tolls controversy pending IN congress
De Knight. charged in a newspaper re-
port which started the investigation with
being the chief agent of an alleged loDOy'
admitted having devoted his efforts FOR
fifteen years TO urging legislation III pc
half of various interests, but declared
that, to his knowledge, no opposition 10
the desire of the President that the toll
clause be repealed had been organized
outside of Congress.
The lawyer admitted having entered
into a contract with the Fore River Ship
building Company through former Ad-
mral Francis r. Bowles its president 10
work for free tolls for coastwise shipping
when the matter first came before con-
cress. For this service he received sl'V"
he said. but a contingent fee of 5000 ad-
ditionaI. depending on the passage OF the
tolls bill in that form. had not been paiu'
De Knight told also OF urging through
Congress various bills providing ior IN
crcases in pay and higher rank Tor men
of the army and navy. lie estimated tnat
the contracts he made for this work with
individuals and associations or enllsteu
men had brought him $4,000. About one
hundred of these contracts he pronllseu
TO Law before the committee, together
with all the correspondence he had had
with various shipbuilding companies ana
with the Pneumatic Tube Service COM
pany. of Boston, which operates the tube
services of the postofiices III various cities.
De Knight said that he had seen ser
vice about Congress first as page ste
uoeraphcr and committee clerk III the
House. and later as clerk of the Naval
Affairs Committee OF the Senate. lie
served as stenographer on the arinor
board Of the Navy Department under
Secretary Long and also in tho POST
office Department in q clerical capacity
He had become convinced. he said, that
there was an opportunity for proht IN
contracting with enlisted men ana Others
70 "follow' legislation i'm which they were
interested. His contracts read, lie said,
that only right and proper means should
be employed.
IL was said tonight that the committee
probably would issue subpenas for Mr..
Bowles and other persons mentioned by
De Knight before it's hearing was con-
Guided.
Boston. March 12-Francis T. Bowles,
president Of the Fore River ShipbuildinG
Company. denied to-day that he had en-
ployod Clarence w. De Knight to work
for toll exemptions for American coast
wise ships in the Panama Canal act.
II employed Mr.. De Knight in connection
with section If of the Panama Canal act,