The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-13
w a S h in gton Lawyer
Contracts to Work
for Free Tolls.
GIVES EVIDENCE
IN LOBBY PROBE
Flatly Denies, However, Knowl-
edge of Any Organized Oppo-
sition to Repeal Of Measure.
Committee to Inquire Into
Actual Aims of Car
negie Endowment.

Washington. March Rcuewa! OF
the senate Lobby Investigating Com
inittee's inquiry to-day turned toward
reports that there Is organized oapo
entiai forces. against the proposed re-
peal of tho Panama toll exemption.
To-day the committee examined Clar-
ence w. Deknight. q Washington law
ger, who admitted activity on behalf
Of concerns IN favor OF toll exemption
when the bill was passed. but fatty
1cnied knowledge of any lobbying in an
effort TO prevent the repeal
Tonight the committed at the d.
rection OF Chairman Ovcrlnan, issued
a subpoena for DR. James Brown Scott.
secretary for the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace. whose name
entered into the spirited debate in ex-
ecutive session OF the Senate several
weeks ago between Senators Root and
O'Goruan, Of New York.
When extension OF the genera! arbI-
traiion treaty with Great britain was
under consideration. involving the tolls
issue. Senator OGorinar charged that
the Carnegie Endowment had for its
prime motive. not the promotion of IN
ternational peace. but the formation
or British American alliance Scna
tor Foot hotly protested against his
colleagues statement. The lobby COM
Fnittee proposes TO inquire, through DR..
scott, into the actual aims and opcr-
auons of the foundation and whether
II has entered into the tolls contro-
VcrSy.
Works In Int
Before the committee tonight. De
knight, charged in u newspaper re-
port which rrccipiiated the investiga-
ton, with being the chief agent OF an
alleged lobby. admitted having devoted
his efforts for fifteen years TO urging
legislation in behalf OF various inter
cSts
The lawyer admitted having entered
into Il contract with the Fore River
Shipbuildins Company, through former
Admiral +. T. Bowlcs, its president. to
work for free tolls for coastwise snip
ping. For this service he received ST.
GOO. but contingent fee of 81. 600 ad
ditional, depending on the passage OF
the tolls bill in that form. had not
been paid Deknight agreed to produce
this contract Tomorrow
Deknight told also Of urging through
Congress various bills providing for
increases in pay and higher rank for
" j.
mated that contracts he made for this
work with Individuals and associations
of enlisted men had brought him $40.
600. He promised TO lay before the
committee about 100 OF these contracts.
together with all the correspondence
with various shipbuildinG companies
and with the Pneumatic Tube Service
Company. Of Boston. which operat es
the tube services of the post offices in
various cities.
Did Not Know of Law.
The witness declared he did not
know that a law existed against maxi
Ing contracts with soldiers and sailors.
whereby they were 10 pay percentage
of increased salaries for his services
He insisted that several legal firms in
Washington devoted much time TO this
business.
Speaking of his present occupation,
Deknight said he had seen service
about Congress first as a page, steno-
grapher and committee clerk in the
House. and later as clerk of the Naval
Affairs Committee Of the Senate He
served as stenographer on the armor
board OF the Navy Department, and
also in the Post office Department in a
clerical capacity.
Dcknight admitted having used
franks obtained at the office OF Sena-
tor McCumber in sending documents to
ITltIiuS ana tlltnlS.
questioned to bring out relations he
might have with present employees of
the government. Dcknight declared he
made Payments to none OF his friends
in various departments, and that they
We're not interested with him in any
business venture.
Deknight charged there was animus
behind an effort to discredit him.
List OF Wnr Veterans.
1t was developed that the list OF
Civil War veterans who would be ben
efted by a pending bill. and which
Deknlght had in his possession had
been held secret by the War Depart
ment. Senator Reed asked where De-
knight got it.
II got 1t from Congressman Barch-
field, of Pennsylvania" said Dcknight.
"ie wrote to Secretary Stimson, stat
Ing IT might bc valuable for campaign
purposes. Then 1 got the list from
him.
Then vixen you got the list" con-
tinued Senator Reed. you conceived
the idea Of this BILL had Barchfold in
writing letters TO these old men to
Interest them in your contracts?"
Yes. AIR. Barchfcld introduced the
bill. and wrote to the men,
The bill has passed the Senate, but
not the House.
1t was said tonight the committee
probably would Issue subpocnaes for
Admiral Bowles and others mentioned
by Dcknight, before its hearing Is con-
cludcd.