Evening star., 1922-11-24
SAYSFEE SOUGHT
|NL|BER|AN LOAN

charge that five prominent ne
groes had a contract to obtain $780,
600 if the Liberian loan bill should
pass was made in the Senate today
by Senator Harrison of Mississippi
during the consideration of the bill.
Senator Harrison named the men,
three of them of Washington-Emme
J. Scott. secretary of Howard Uni
versity; James A. Cobb, an attorney.
and William L. Houston. The other
two named by Senator Harrison were
William H. Lewis of Boston, former
assistant attorney general of the
United States. and Rev. Ernest Lyle
of Baltimore, former minister to
Liberia.
Senator Harrison offered an amend
ment to the Liberian loan bill pro-
hibiting the payment of any fee or
commission to any attorney or agent
of Liberia out of the loan. The
ed The Mississippi senator said
that it was generally understood"
that the five men mentioned by him
had a contract under which they
would be paid if the bill passed.
Charge II Denied.
The charge was denied by Senator
Curtis of Kansas. in charge of the
bill. who said that the rumor report
ed by Senator Harrison. like others.
had originated in the senator's own
fertile brain"
Senator Harrison said that ne un-
derstood that these men had been con-
spcuous in buttonholing senators in
behalf of the bill. Senator Curtis ac-
cepted the Harrison amendment. Both
Senator Curtis and Senator Smoot Of
Utah said they had not been approached
by the men named.
Emmet J. Scott. secretary of Howard
University. when informed by a re-
porter for The Star this afternoon of
Senator Harrison's charges, made the
following statement.
There isn't one scintilla of truth
in any such statement. The senator
could have been informed directly If
he had made any effort to ascertain
the truthfulness of such a statement
Senator Harrison has evidently been
depending upon information furnished
him by men more anxious to feed
grudges than to furnish the truth"
THE charges are laughable and
absolutely false" declared James A.
Cobb. attorney. one of the men
against whom Senator Harrison made
his charges.
Mr.. Cobb's statement said:
with respect to the statements
made by Senator Pat Harrison on the
floor of the Senate. in which he is re-
ported to have said that l. along with
four other gentlemen. were to receive
s6o0.000 as attorneys fees or comis-
sion out of the Liberian loan of
s5.ooO.0o0. l beg to Sc. chat there Is
not a scintilla of truth in the state
ment.
II have never made any claim
whatsoever against the Liberian
loan. Any aid or assistance that l
gave to Liberia with respect to the
loan was purely Of an altruistic nature.
1t is true that while the Liberian
commission was here I did act as le-
gal adviser for them in respect to
certain minor matters. namely, look
ing over and drawing up a lease for
the premises occupied by the commits
sion and arranging for the purchase Of
an automobile. etc, as well as to as
sist them in general in manners and
customs with which they were un-
familiar in this country. There was
proper adjustment for all of these
services before the commission returned
to Liberia.
.Undoubtedly the senator received
his misinformation from certain poll
ticians who are unable to lift their
bellies above the dust and whose
venality dictates the seeking Of graft
in every endeavor they. may make on
oChdIA VI any pcISOH OF cause, ana
this this characteristic of theirs induces
them to think that any one who may
assist or aid cause is accuated by a
similar motive.
William L. Houston. prominent at
torney and member of the board Of
education. when informed of the
charges made by Senator Harrison,
characterized them as "a fabrication
out of whole CLOTH
Il have had absolutely no connec-
ton with the Liberian loan matter;
have not been retained by the Lii
berian delegation for any services
whatsoever and have rendered them
none, and have not been consulted or
advised by that commission regarding
this matter" he declared.
Il have been interested in the Lii
berian loan bill because it provides
aid for the colored republic, but have
taken no active interest in it. l would
like Senator Harrison to produce any
proof in substantiation of his report
ed charges. which as yet l have not
read.