The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-02-18
ORDER IS ISSUED
FOR INQUIRY into
|. SHIP TRUST LOBBY
Burton Resolution, Regarded as
Blow at MCAdoo and War
burg, Will Be Enlarged
In Scope.
SENATE ACTS PROMPTLY
Will Seek "Rottenness on Both
Sides of Denmark" Williams
Announces-Extra SEES
sion Is Probable.

Washington, Feb. 16.-InVestiga-
ton Of all charges OF influences at
work for and against the admins
tration ship bill was ordered today
by the Senate.
Administration democrats and
nlibustering republicans unan-
imously voted for a resolution to
| look into charges of lobbying by
the sO-called shipping trust and to
inquire into any negotiations by
administration officials to buy bel
Ggerent ships.
| Vice President Marshall at once
appointed Senators Walsh, Sim
mons, Reed. Burton and Weeks,
three democrats and two repub-
licans, to make the inquiry.
May Delay the Bill.
There are only Is working days
left to the Sixty third congress.
Some senators were of the opin-
ion that such an investigation
likely to be prolonged, made i'm
probable the passage of the bill
before March 4, and practically
assured an extra session IL the
president adhered to his determi
Cation to press the measure.
Washington, Feb. 15.-With amend
| merts to investigate alleged activity
of shipping interests against the ship
| purchase bill, Senator Burton's reso-
| luton for an inquiry into any nego-
| ttations by government officials for OPP
| tons on belligerent ships was favor
ably reported by the Senate commit
| tee, which authorizes expenses.
On Trial of Graft.
The original resolution intimates
| that there has been corrupt influence
| behind the support of this shipping
| BILL" Chairman Williams said, present
ing the committee report 1t is intend
| ed to strike at the secretary OF the
treasury; we might as well be frank
| about that: and at a member of the
| federal reserve board. II there is rot
| tenness on one side of this Denmark
we had better see what is on the other
| side"
What Inquiry Provides.
| The resolution directs into inquiry
on:
Whether an individual, firm, or cor
poratiOn in the United States had made
loans or advances to any individual
firm or corporation owning ships which
are detained in the ports of the United
states or elsewhere to avoid the con-
sequences of war, whether they have
at any time obtained options upon any
such ships and whether such persons
or corporations, having made loans
or obtained such options have any di-
rect or indirect connection with the
government of the United States"
Also into what efforts the so-Called
shipping trust, or any firm, person or
corporation engaged or interested in
shipping, have directly or indirectly
made to prevent tie passage Of the
ship purchase 3Ml; whether any COM
pany of ship owners, or chamber of
commerce or other body influenced or
dominated by ship owners, whose yes
tells would compete with the ships to
1 A., ,hne ,.fr tod Inp
act, have attorneys or lobbyists at
Washington working to COnsummate
Ehe defeat of said bill. and whether any
Jenator or senators of the United
States are stock owners or bOndhOlders
Sf the United Fruit company or any
lther company owning ships, which
would compete with the ships to be
purchased or constructed under the
provisions of said bill"
Reed Loses Skirmish.
Then. after the investigation resolu-
| lion had been passed, Senator Reed
hurled a parliamentary bombshell into
the republican ranks with motion to
table Senator Gallinger's pending mo-
ton to refer to the rules committee the
iReed special Cloture rule for the ship
ping bill.
| For a moment the republicans were
thrown into disorder before they rea-
lized that the clOture fight was on
again.
On an objection. Vice President Mar
shall sustained Mr. Reeds motion.
Senator Lodge appealed and on vote
! to table the appeal. the administration
democrats were defeated by the seven
insurgents voting with the republicans.
Senator Lodge then proceeded to ad-
dress the Senate.
Denial by Warburg.
Paul NJ. Warburg, of the federal re-
serve board, whose name has been
brought in the Senate debates, when
senators opposed to the ship bill have
questioned whether Kuhn, Loeb & Co,
| of which he formerly was a member.
| were not interested in selling German
| ships to the government, made a state
| ment today disclaiming he ever had
| discussed the ship bill with any one
and reiterating that he gave up all
| outside affiliations when he Joined the
| federal board
Il have never discussed with Sec
| rotary MCAdoo nor any members Of
| the administration of congress, direct
| " or indirectly, the purchase or sale
| Of the ships of the Hamburg Amer
| lean line or any other line" he said.
LAS a matter of fact, have con-
| scientiously avoided all political dis
| cussions and there is not a living soul
| in the United States to whom I ever
said a word favoring the ship pur-
| chase bill.
For Extra Session.
Conferences between President Will
son and democrats of the House and
| Senate revealed wide diversity of
| views about calling an extra session,
| but developed that the president still
is determined to have the bill passed,
even though 1t requires one.
Senator Lewis frankly advocated an
| extra session for passage of rural cred
| it's and conservation legislation as well
as the ship bill.
Representative Sherley, who talked
| with the president to get information
| to lay before the caucus tonight, said
| he expected an extra session.
While the House democrats worked
| earnestly to clear the way for caucus
| approval of the compromise ship bill
| tonight, the Senate waited and dis
| cussed processes for limiting debate.
1t seemed probable that a Senate rule