The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-03-26

luTtltfI NtfTptrs lHNif NAt NH MINUS
OF lobbyists here In lansing they
have been here ali through his sos
sion. Every person who comes be-
fore this body in the interests o! any
bin Is a lobbyist. Lobbyist Is an
elastic word.
"But there Is bat one meaIing 60
lie term slush fund. You know the
Impression thai it conveys 10 you
you know the impression that Il con.
Yeys 10 the average reader. There
must be two parties 10 every con,
tract Consequently when charge
that certain persons are using e
'slush fnnd' Is made II means also
that someone here at Lansing is get
ting some OF that fund.
III these statements are true We
want 70 know il as u matter OF PRO
lection 10 the public II they hrs
untrue We want 10 know Il for oar
own protection I do not care % 20
back TO my constituents, With me
undenied charge that the 1915 legis.
lature was body OF grafters hang
ing over me. As this thing stands
now II is an indirect charge against
every member OF this house Every
man OF YOU Is under suspicion.
think that this resolution should be
passed TO clear up this situation"
Although neither Rep Symonds or
Rep. Wiley was mentioned in the
resolution both took occasion 70 re
ply.
Rep. Synonds. the first 20 speak
denied in toto the charge that he
had ever intimated thar money had
been improperly used.
Il am not in the habit OF making
yelled charges, he said. AT NO
place. At no time, and under no cir
cuinstances have so much AS init
mated that the railroads maintained
slush FUND or bad been guilty o,
misconduct in any way.
Il do say. however. that attempts
have been made To influence legisla-
ton through pressure. Every pcsst
BE influence has been brought 10
bear upou members OF both houses
and senate.
AS for the use OF money sivg
the railroads credit for TOO nogca
sense to even attempt to er,ploy an.
such tactics and. even II they should
desire 10 do so. do not nelisve they
would dare 10 approach any member
OF this legislature
The railroads arc ir the last
ditch and realize that this is mere
u an stssmprto dodge the main IT,
sue. II they want 10 MAKE q fignt
on this thing I an ready for taem.
] court the fullest possible inves,!gA-
ton
Rep. Wiley also denied tina; he had
made the charges attributed 20 AiEl
IN the newspaper article In question.
He read a copy OF , letter Nritten
to the editor OF the paper, denying
the interview.
II never intimated that money was
being used here" be said i aevrI
did believe Il and do not believe I;
now After the publication u tie
statements in the paper, which were
attributed to me. wrote to the
editor and explained nay position.
denying that I tad given OF, rha p
tsryiew Anyone Nho says tat.
i ever gave out such stata-
naenf makes an zbsolule ast
falsehnod DO. however. cogri fEs
fillcst Investigation and am tl1r
augaly III acceTd with 'ths ssat'e
men from Hongtion in d siring i;
BIZ rCyolatica pass do h0Wcvar
ysE 10 present an amenGL.Cr ~
H.
Rep Wiley then introduced an
sEendEeat Whl5h Distracted We
ssnraittac ~ discover wberh+
railroads Aac ta.stA fund Cor %
hEis'astv- HEhs from Nbcra u
esiigctcd. 70 vho.a Il Tad aseu en-
rrBstcd ard % hon, ant 10 what
newspaper It had Been ta!d
Ths aTnendmcr, AFRO instr5 "a
the committee 70 assertion Il thp
roads hsd made Altering orc ~
big shippers 20 aid ~ boosting he
fare prcpcrition. provided 'iar tire
committee Should Investigate ife
Cunningham incident ard specific
that tie SttOrpoy -EeneraI shoulg a~i
az ccuscl for the committee. ~
though Rep. Peterman formally as.
copied Re amendmeRts the house
voted them doEu By an overWhelm
ing majority
The resolution was then pat 70 q
vote and carried b, an almost Bnan.
imous vote.
The Indirect charges pIrporting 90
ccme from Reps symonds and
Wiley, witch started all the trouble
and which were published i1tc last
week are coGehed IN the followln
language
we wouid like 10 know. for in
stance. Il the railroads did "a 80 q
$4,000 siuzh fund Tor the purpose
Of putting this fare bill through the
legislature. as las been rumored re
pcaiedly around Lar sing
The following paragraph IL also
NOTICE TO