New Britain herald., 1924-02-22
COLORADO SENATOR NOW IS ASSAILED
Accused Of Voting Money Into
 His Own Pocket

Washington. Feb. 22.--Senator l Ashurst (ArizD caused an uproar in
 the senate yesterday by charging that
 Senator Phipps (Col) voted to put
 money in his own pocket when he voted as member of the appropria- tions committee to eliminate an item
 of s250.oo0 allowed by the budget bureau and the house for T hydro 1 electric plant for the reclamation service in Arizona.
 T warn the senator not to impute ! motives" said Senator Phipps. ! Before he could proceed Senator i Ashurst shouted; "T care nothing about your warnings, if you are going 1 to warn me. l say 1t is my JudS-
 ment that when a United States sen ator is a stockholder in great power company and question arises where competitor figures he should say: I am q stockholder in the company and I refuse to vote on the ques- ton"
 Will Make Full Statement,
 Senator Phipps said he would make full and complete statement.
 "The senator had better make it confession" said Senator Ashurst.
 Tt will be statement I shall be proud to make on the floor of the senate" Senator Phipps retorted.
 The debate became so vitriolic and personal that Senator Jones (Wash.), who was in the chair called the at- tention of senators to the rule which forbids a senator from making un- parliamentary remarks.
 Then Senator Phipps got the floor again. He was deeply affected, and said: T came to the senate without one pledge or promise outstanding. I have held my place here, I believe, by deyoting my time to the service of my country. have never been approached by any individual or company or representative of any improperly: nor have I been asked at any time how I should vote or has any attempt been made to induce me to favor any particular measure"
 Senator Asburst Explains.
 "I do not make it a matter of criti- cism," said Senator Ashburst. "iA the senator is interested in any power would be a fool 10 pre- tend any criticism for that reason. i The objection. level---and l believe | when the senator reflects he is bound | 10 see the force of it--is that 1t does | not become a senator who is a stock 1 holder in a power company, he it big | or little, who when legislation is brought that creates electric energy | that would come into competition with the company in which he is in- terested, to vote on the question:
 Senator Phipps admitted that last year before a house committee he testihed tbst he was a stockholder in the Southern Sierra High Power which now furnishes cur rent 10 the reclamation projects in Arizona. Senator Ashurst is back of d proposal Co have the federal goN- ernment erect hydro. electric plant of ifs own, at a cost of s25O,O for the projects.
 In voting 10 strike out the item Senator Pliprs snid a serious oues- lion developed at the committee meeting over tho sdvisability of the government erecting the hydro Inc plant He said the subcommit. tee voted unanimously that 1t was inwise to include tho itom at this .ima. T think ! am conscientious enough 10 refuse to vote on any question where think there might be a sus. picion Of my being influenced by any property possessions of mine" said senator phipps.