Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-15
Frederick L. Koch Tells Com
mittee He Was Accused of
Being Biased in Favor of
importers When TeStifying.
CHINA MANUFACTURERS
LETTER is INTRODUCED
Chairman Marvin Questioned Re-
garding His Activities While
Secretary of Home Market Club,
1 Advocate of Principle of Pro-
lection.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
Charges that representatives of
the pottery industry had sought
to influence the Tariff Commis-
sion in determining valuation OF
pottery importation and had
sought the removal of Frederick
L. Koch, an expert with the COM
mission, held the center of the
stage at the opening of the Senate
lobby investigation today.
The committee heard MIR. Koch
as its first witness. 1t learned
that protests had been made to
the Tariff Commission against
Koch, charging him with being
prejudiced and biased in favor OF
importers of pottery at the hear
ing before the Senate finance
committee on the pottery schedule
in the tariff bill. Mr.. Koch said
this complaint was made by VIII
liam Burgess, Norristown, Pa. a
former Republican member of the
Tariff Commission, said now to
be working for the pottery in
terests.
The witness laid before the committee
O copy of a letter written by II. r.
Wyllie, china manufacturer in Hunting
ton. w. Va, written to President Hoover,
protesting against Koch's activities and
testimony before the Senate finance
committee. Among the charges made
against Koch was that he was friend
of David Walker, representative OF the
largest importers of japanese pottery,
and that Koch's testimony before tne
finance committee had been piaSeo III
favor of the importers.
Satisfactory to Senate.
Mr.. Koch insisted that his relasloLS
with Walker had been only personal. he
said also that Senator Edge OF New Jer-
sew, chairman of the suocommlttee II,
charge of the pottery schedule had toio
him that his testimony ana WORK hao
been entirely satisfactory.
Chairnan Marvin of the Tariff Com
mission, also was witness today IN the
lobby investigation. He was questioned
at length by members of the committee
regarding the complaint hled against
Koch and said that so far no action had
been taken in regard to them.
The committee also asked Mr.. Marvin
about his own activities as secretary OF
the Home Market Club, an organizatlon
devoted to the principle of protection.
MIR. Marvin was secretary of the club
for several years before he became a
member of the Tariff Commission.
William Burgess, former member OF
the Tariff Commission, now an adviser
in the employ of the pottery industry,
who charged Koch with being pre1u-
diced, took the stand after Mr.. Marvin
had completed his testimony. Burgess
told the committee that he had oeen
employed by the pottery industry before
he became a tariff commissioner ana
that within two weeks after he left the
commission he went back to his old
lob with the pottery industry. Before
he became a tariff commissioner, he
said. his salary was $4,000 year from
the pottery industry. When he resumed
the work TO rthe pottery industry, ne
said, his salary had been Increased
to 81 500. ;,
Senator Caraway wanted to know II
the increase was given because the pot
terv people believed that Burgess was
more valuable because of his personal
contact with the Tariff Commission.
The witness denied that such was the
case.
During much fencing and verbal
Snuabbling between the witness and
Senator Caraway, Mr.. Burgess insisted
that he was not a lobbyist as ne under
stood the term.
Senator Caraway wanted to know
what he could have done here In Wash
Ian hQG
been a lobbyist
Mr.. Burgess said that in a TAX he
had with President woodrow Wilson
soon after Mr. Wilson entered the White
House Mr.. Wilson had described lob
bvist as a man who went around but
tonholing members of Congress, trying
to put over something good or bad, ano
being paid for that job. He said that
President Wilson was an old college
friend of his and that he had given hin
(Burgess) a card bearing the initial;
"W. W." which Burgess had found ar
open sesame to number of Demo
cratic Senators whom he wished to in
terview at that time.
The lobby investigation. which prom
ises to go searchingly into the activi
ties of those who claim to influence
legislation in Washington, got underway
TODAY with four members OF the Sen
They were Senator Caraway of Arkan
sas, chairman; Senator Walsh Of Mon
tant, Senator Robinson of Indiana ant
Senator Blaine of Wisconsin. Senate
Borah of Idaho. the fifth member Of
the committee, was not present at tn
opening of the inquiry.
Tariff Expert Called.
Frederick l.. Koch, expert employed
by the Tariff Commission. was the frs
witness heard today. He was ques
toned about report of alleged at
tempts to influence the Tariff Commis
sion in determining valuation Of potter
importations
Mr.. Koch testified that he had ap
peared as a witness both before tn
House ways and means committee ant
the Senate finance committee durini
the consideration of the pottery sched
ule and the tariff BILL He told tn
committee he had been informed tina
William Burgess of Norristown, Pa,
former Republican member OF tn