Evening star., 1928-02-14
PROBE Of LOBB|ES
SEEN AT CAPITOL
Walsh, Massachusetts, Seek
ing Compulsory Listing as
Utility Inquiry Looms.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

A lobby investigation" comparable
to the famous Mulhall investigation OF
tt, early days of the Wilson admins
tration seems today to be In prospect.
Senator Walsh. Democrat. OF Mon
tana has charged in the Senate that
the most powerful lobby which he has
known of in all his legislative expert
ence is attempting to bury the proposed
investigation of the utility industry.
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,. Demo-
crat, has introduced an amendment to
the Senate rules requiring every employe
of any company or organization VINO
comes here to influence pending leglS-
lation to register with the secretary OF
the Senate his name and the amount
of any funds he may have at his dis
posal for that purpose.
This is sought as part Of the Senate
rules because of a fear that the De-
partment of Justice might not always
be willing to prosecute members Of the
same political faith engaged In lobby
ing, and that by having lobbyists amen
able to Senate rules 1t wiz be possible
at all times to bring by publicity the at
tention of the country to the lobbying
done and penalties imposed.
Sees Party Split.
The Montana Senator's charge about
lobbying did not go unnoticed, as Sena-
tor George of Georgia. Democrat, asked
his colleague to give Senators credit
for being able to withstand the lobby
Mr.. Walsh is particularly bitter over the
lobbying" because normally the men,
bers of the Democratic party and the
insurgent group stick together whenever
any Investigations are proposed. The
desertion by several Democratic Sena-
tors who are opposing the adoption of
the Walsh resolution for an inveStiga-
ton of the power industry by Senate
committee is the talk of Capitol Hill to-
day. The Senators themselves are not
being charged with wrongdoing. but the
existence of an intense pressure from
local lieutenantS is said to be respon-
sible for the change in the tide. which
few weeks ago was running entirely
with the Montana Senator.
The big vote Is TO come on whether
the inquiry on the power industry is
to be referred to the Federal Trade
Commission or whether it is to be
conducted by the Senate.
Favor Trade Board.
The utility industry feels that 1t will
receive fairer treatment by the Fed
eral Trade Commission, and this in
spite of the fact that the recent report
Of the commission has severely criti-
cized the States for failure to regulate
effectively the issuance of securities.
Mr.. Walsh claims that if the reso-
luton goes to the Federal Trade Com
mission it will be buried and reports
will not be available this year. Senator
George has offered to amend his resolu-
ton requiring the commission to report
monthly, but what the Montana Sena-
tor wants is the power to cross-ex-
anime utility executives.
Also wrapped up in his resolution Is
another attempt to find out how cam
paign funds are handled in various
States and an effort to get at some of
the things disclosed by the Reed spe-
cial committee in the Illinois senatorial
primary.
The vote on the resolution Is going
to be close. as the friends Of the power
industry who will vote to send the reso-
luton TO the Federal Trade Commission
are about as numerous as those who
want a special committee appointed.
Vice President Dawes has asked to be
relieved OF the necessity Of appointing
such a committee. as he has some util-
ity holdings and the Senate would be
asked to elect the committee IL the
resolution is adopted. Should 1t be de-
feated. 1t Is believed that an tnvesti-
cation OF the lobby will be asked for
In another resolution which might also
cover contributions to political cam
paigns on the part OF public utilities.