Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13
PROBE OF LOBB|ES
COMING THIS WEEK
Shearer Investigation to Be
Resumed Some Time Next
Short Delay.
Continued From First Page)

(COnLlIlueQ FTOIL1 rlISJ Z dkCJ
to high heaven. Their reports involved
A number of members of Congress by
name. These charges were based on
data furnished to the newspapers by
Martin NJ. Mulhall, a former agent OF
the N, A. NJ, and the World is reported
to have paid him $4,000 for the story.
The House promptly appointed a Sc
lect committee, headed by former Rep
resentative FINS Garrett Of Tennessee.
a Democrat and later the leader OF his
party in the House, to make an lnVes-
tigation of these charges. The Senate
judiciary committee also made similar
investigation The Mulhall investiga-
ton ran for weeks and months. The
names Of many prominent persons were
dragged into 1t. The House committee
in the end submitted o report criticlzlng
the N. A. M. and censuring at least one
member of the HOUSE, Representative
James T. McDermott Sof Illinois. Nc
Dermott in the end was ousted from the
House.
Views Of Committee.
The report Of the House committee
In the Mulhall investigation states the
views of the committee on the question
of lobbying very clearly. 1t says:
Your committee is of the opinion
that any individual or association OF
individuals interested in legislation
psnding in Congress has the unques-
tionable right to appear in person or
through agents or attorneys before
committees and present his or its views
upon and arguments in behalf or
against such legislation. To place the
Congressman in a cloister to legislate,
rendering him immune to eXtraneous
influences, would be impossible. and If
possible, it would be exceedingly ridicu-
lous.
But your committee feels assured
that whenever any person or associa-
ton attempts by any secret or insidious
means or methods, by either giving or
than that mental and spiritual exalta-
ton which springs from the conscious
ness of having walked in the light of
honest judgment and followed it to its
logical end, or by threats of punish
ment to be vindictively inflicted, then
such methods become a menace to the
free exercise of the legislators judg-
ment and the true performance of his
solemn obligation and duty, are i'm
proper and merit the SevereSt con-
demnation."
The House committee not only in
vestigated the activities of the N. A. M,
but also those Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and other organizations
having headquarters and Hobbies" in
Washington. Its censure went, how
ever to the N. A. M, and to an off,
spring, the National Council for Indus
trial Defense 1t held it was out
rageous" for these associations to have
paid hirelings about this Capitol. but
tonholing members of Congress and
STRIVING to have them remain away
from the chamber when a vote was
taken.
No Report Filed.
The Senate judiciary committee also
held a lobby investigation at the time,
but never filed a report
Going back to yet earlier days, the
Credit Mobilier scandal created a ire
mendous sensation in Washington In
the COS and 70s. The National Gov
ernment had chartered the Union Pa
cific Railroad. The Credit Mobilier Co.
was taken over by those interested in
the railroad company to do the actual
work of construction. So generous
were the Governments gifts and loans
TO the railroad that the promoters
found it possible to pocket between
$25, 00O, 900 and $40,000000. The lob
byist who put across these deals was
member of the House from Massachu-
SETS Cakes Ames, who was deeply In
terested personally in the whole project.
He sought to gain friends for the road
and to prevent any untavorable action
In Congress toward 1t through the ex-
pedient of selling stock to important
members of the House and Senate at
about one-half what 1t was worth.
The House committee which conduct
ed an investigation brought in report
recommending the expulsion OF Mr..
Ames and of James Brooks, Govern
ment director of the Union Pacific, the
one for using stock to influence the
votes of members of Congress and the
other for using his position to obtain
stock for himself or his family.
Both Men Died.
The House. however, merely censured
both. Both men died soon after and
it is said that the shame of the whole
conducted an investigation and its
affair killed them. The Senate also
committee recommended the expulsion
OF Senator Pomeroy Of Kansas, but no
action was taken on the recommended
ton.
Among the members of the House
who were charged with having taken
some of the stock Of the Credit Mobjlier
Co were James O. Blaine, then Speaker.
and James A. Garfield, who afterward
became President Mr.. Blaine. 1t de-
veloped, had been asked by Mr.. Ames
to take stock In the company, but he
had decided not to do so. Mr.. Garfield
agreed to take 10 shares. He did not
ray for them. but received check for
p b