The Washington herald., 1922-11-25
CHARGESL0bbY
TO GET FEE ON
L|BER|AN loan
Senator Pat Harrison Alleges
$3.50, 900 Was Promised
to Group If Bill Is Passed
GIVES NAMES OF FIVE MEN
Simmons Moves to Recommit
and Strike Out All Provisions
But Domestic Amendments
BY Universal Service.

BY Universal Service.
Charges that q "slush fund" Of
$650,000 was contracted to be paif
certain lobbyists belonging to the
negro race in the event the S..
900, 900 Liberian loan bill is passed
were made yesterday in the Sen.
ate by Senator Pat Harrison Of
Mississippi when consideration Of
the measure was resumed.
In an effort to bolck payment Of
such a fund. the Senator introduced
an amendment providing that nc
part of the $4,000. 900 appropriation
should be paid as commissions to
any person or persons.
Senator Harrison gave the names
Of five prominent workers in the
negro cause who he declared were
to share in the fund. His eaten ; nj
was as follows:
CHARGES ACTIVE LOBBY.
I have offered this amendment
because it is pretty generally uns
derstood, think. that certain per-
sons have a contract with the
government Of Liberia that In the
event this loan IL made they will
receive a fee or commission Of
$650.000. 1t Is pretty generally
understood that the five persons
who have this contract with the
government Of Liberia are men,
bers Of the colored race. Their
presence has been very conspicu-
Gus around the corridors Of the
Capitol buttonholing Senators, and
using every influence in order to
obtain the passage Of this legisla-
ton. II the rumors that are fly
ing around are correct. and /
hope some one can put us right
II they are not. the persons who
are to receive this commission and
share in the profits Of $650,000
which the taxpayers Of the United
States will have to pay, are the
following:
William H. Lewis, of Boston. a
very prominent Republican men,
ber of the colored race. He was
formerly an assistant to the At
torney General when Mr.. Wicker
sham held that high office.
Emmett ]. Scott, who is the
secretary and treasurer Of How
ard University, Washington, and
who is generally seen at Repub-
lican conventions. He was. / un-
derstand, one of the lieutenants
for the manager of Leonard Wood
when he was a candidate for the
Republican Presidential nomina-
ton some time ago, and was fire.
quently in conference with my
distinguished and good friend
from New Hampshire. Mr.. Moses.
NAMES ATTORNEY.
James A. Cobb, of this city. a
very prominent colored attorney.
who was assistant to the district
attorney when Mr.. Wickersham
was Attorney. General.
Another one is a preacher, Rev.
Ernest Lyon, of the city Of Bal
timore, who was formerly Min
lister to Liberia under one Of the
past Republican administrations.
He Is at present the consul gen.
eral to this country from Liberia,
understand.
Another is William L. Hous-
ton, a very prominent Republican
in Washington, who was recently
placed on the Board of Educa-
ton by President Harding.
These men, it is generally
understood, have a contract for
$3.50, 900 in the event this body
is gracious and kind enough to
pass the Liberian loan. If this
contract has not been written and
these facts that are so frequently
stated are not true, then my
amendment can do no harm; but
certainly it should be adopted so
that these commissions should
not be paid or any commission
paid II the bill is passed.
"PRAISES" Ln8ERIANS.
Senator Norris made an amusinl
speech referring to the part Liberi
played in the war and declared h
was astounded that any Senate
should oppose the bill in view Of tn
heroic services which the Liberial
army and navy performed.
An agreement to vote on the bil
at 2:30 Monday was entered into
Senator Simmons, of North Care
lima, leading the Democratic oppos
tion to the bill, offered a motion I
recommit it to the Finance Com
mittee with instructions to eliminat
alf matter in the bill except tn
Borah amendment to appropriat
| $40. 600, 900 for reclamation project
and the Harrison amendment, Sc,
ting aside $170,100 for boiler inspe,
tors on the railway systems. tn
Simmons motion was pending whe
the Senate adjourned. to Monday.