New Britain herald., 1926-08-04
RIGHT 0F SENATE PROBE ATTACKED
tContinued From Page 1.)

I N~SANAHeN4 T tSAA I o6o &'y Public Utility serves about 100 towns in Jackson. Franklin, Williamson and Perry counties. The company also owns about 30 miles of inter | urban railroad and about 40 mics of city roads in Aurora and Eligin.
 The witness said his stock was brought by A. E. Fitkin of New York and E. H. Rollins and sons, but that ne still has a large hdd- ing of the underlying securities" | Took All He Could
 ''To be frank, I took all the cash could"
 Chairman Reed developed that the Illinois commerce commission approved an application of the Utili- | ty interists for an increase of rates on Nov. II. 1925.
 When did you make your first contribution to Smiths campaign fund.-" Reed asked.
 Tt was after that" Copley said.
 Smith is chairman of the Com merce commission. Copley said he supported Smith for the Senate six years ago.
 Did you contribut anything like s25,000 then?" Reed asked.
 No, but I gave several thousand | dollars"
 Did any of the money you gave come directly or indirectly from your companies?"
 Not directly, but indirectly as income was from the companies and their sale"
 Copley said his last contribution i to Smiths campaign was made after he had sold out his untility in this.
 Did any of your assistant con- tribute any money to the cam paign?"
 T could not say"
 Were you one of those anti world court enthusiatics?"
 "No sir"
 Smith Makes Reply.
 Frank L. Smith struck back viz orously today at those who have as- sailed him on account of contribu- tions made to his successful senator ial candidacy in the recent Ihnots primary by Samuel Insull and other public utilities executives of the state.
 In a statement filed with the sen- ate campaign funds committee, the chairman of the Illinois commerce commission declared that at no time and under no circumstances had he obligated himself to 2 y person. di- rectly or indirectly, n account of any assistance giver his campaign.
 Smith asserted tP from the start he and his campai | manager, Allen F. Moore of Mo- icello, republican national commit eman from Illinois had a clear understanding about money"
 Under 70 Obligations.
 This unde standing was that un- der no circ instances was I to be put under I.ny obligations whatever to anyone Tor contributions or other assistance his statement said. T have not violated that understanding at any iime and I am firm in my belief that MT. Moore has in no way violated it. l have never at any time or under any circumstances either previous to this primary cam paign, during the campaign or after it's close in any manner, directly or indirectly, obligated myself to any person for, or on account of, any assistance, whether monetary or otherwise. that-he or she might have contributed toward the success of my campaign. I am just as sure of Mir. Allen F. Moore as l am of my self in this regard"
 His Record Since 1921.
 Recalling that he was appointed a member and designated chairman of the state commerce commission in 1921, Smith stated that since he had been a member of the commits sion he had considered every case in which he had participated solely upon the evidence of record without any show of favorism or any abuse of power either in behalf of or against any person or corporation which has been before that body for any purpose whatsoever" T became a member of the com mission during the readjustment per- iod which followed the World War" the statement added. With but few ; exceptions every utility in the state had been given wartime increases in rates. I was one of those who sin cerely believed that the best inter- ests of the companies demanded that we get back to pre-war prices as soon as consistently and economical | ly possible"
 The senatorial candidate then re- vised decision of the commission and presented a summary to show that from January, 1922, to June 30, 1926, public utility rates in the state were reduced by s7S,425,SO3 of which s41.667,477 or 53.13 per cent affected Insult properties in and out of Chicago.