Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

1t was distasteful to me- said Mr.
L,Akin.
was it distasteful to you to associate
with congressman" asked Senator
Caraway.
Mr.. Lakin replied that it was dis
tasteful for him to go 10 see Senators
who were preoccupied with other mat
tiers.
II wouldn't do this for my own COM
pany alone" said the witness.
But you became the spokesman,
suggested Senator Caraway, because
you were a good mixer"
Il am not a good mixer" responded
Mr.. Lakin hastily.
The president of the Cuba Sugar Co.
described his activities in Washington
| to the committee, saying that he had
written many letters to members Of
Congress and had prepared a complete
statement of the Cuban sugar case and
had interviewed personally long list
of members OF the House and Senate.
| He said that he had conferred many
times with Senator Sn1oot, chairman OF
the finance committee, in an effort 20
reach some plan which would be fair
both TO the Cuban sugar producers and
to the American domestic producers.
Mr. Lakin told the committee that in
addition to himself, the Cuban sugar
producers had enlisted General Crow
der, former American Ambassador to
Cuba; George A. Dabriskie, head of the
Sugar Equalization Board during the
war, and the Arm of Shattuck, Bang
Winnant to air In presenting their
case in regard to the sugar tariff in
Washington. Gen. Crowder, he said,
had come here from Chicago several
times to confer with Senator Smoot and
others.
Firms Paid SIO.O00 Each.
Lakin testified that the majority Of
III companies forming his association
contributed $4,000 each for publicity
and propaganda work in campaigning for
lower duties. He said $4,000 had been
spent since last December in maintain
! ing in Washington an elaborate press
bureau and publicity Office and in the
employment Of experts and for travel
ing expenses.
do you think your interests would
have been unsafe II you had not Spert
this money!" Chairman Caraway asked.
Il am afraid So" Lakin stated.
Then you think this lobbying you
have done Is necessary for the protec-
ton Of your interests?" Caraway pur-
sued.
Lakin paused and then said en-
phatiCally, Il am sorry to say that my
10 months experience down here causes
me to say, yes. l wouldn't do this work
for pay and hope / won't have TO do
1t again"
Tomorrow the committee will hear
as a witness, Joseph r. Grundy, presi-
! dent of the Pennsylvania Manu-
! facturers' Association, who reputedly
| is the most active and effective legisla-
| tive agent for industrialists ever to
| come to Washington.
OBJ kn fxNu
Of the sugar lobby today, the Senate
committee heard some additional wit
nesSes in regard to the employment Of
! G. l.. EyanSon, assistant to the president
OF the Connecticut Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION, by Senator Bingham, OF Con-
necticut, TO help him in his work as
a member of the Senate finance COM
mittee on the tariff bill.
! Joseph E. Wuichet, foreign trade Sec
rotary of the Connecticut Manufac-
! turers' Association, was the first wit
ness called by the committee. Wuichet,
young man, was the author Of an
office memorandum written on August
| 30, at the time C. l.. Eyanson, assistant
| to the president of the association, was
| in the Office of Senator Bingham OF
| Connecticut as the 1atter's aide.
! For more than an hour the COM
mittee sought to obtain from Wuichet
/ the sources of the information contained
In that memorandum. The witness
testified as to various details and the
| circumstances in connection with writ
ing it, but his mind, according to his
! own admission, was a blank" about
| the sources of the notation he made
| to the effect that three members of the
Senate finance committee were opposed
to 10 per cent duty on rough bore
shotgun barrels.
The text of this memorandum,
which has figured prominently in efforts
of the committee to establish Eyanson
as representative OF Connecticut
manufacturers primarily in his work
with Senator Bingham is as follows:
In telephone conversation with Mr.
Henderson of the Crescent Fire Arms
Co. and Mr.. Warner of the Davis g.
! Warner Arms Co. both Of Norwich, in
reply TO an inquiry originating with
Mr.. Henderson, l informed these gem
tlemen that Senator Bingham met with
very strong opposition to the 10 pei
cent duty on rough-bOred shotgun
barrels from the Savage Arms Co. ct al
and three influential members OF the
Senate finance cOmmittee--Senatorf
Smoot, chairman; Reed and Edge-ano
that Senator Bingham considered it
decisive victory to have held the duty
where it now stands In the House bill
at ~ per cent III lace OA very SllOne
effort to raise 1t to 80 per cent"
/ Fails to Recall Source.
Wuichet could not recall where he
got the information, although Senators
Caravan, chairman, and Walsh subject
ed him to a rigid examination. Wuichct
, said 1t may have been presumption or
his part.
He got the information somewhere
and recalled that Mr.. Henderson haC
asked him about the matter on thu
telephone and that several days latei
he advised him, but he didn't know
who gave 1t to him.
Wichet thought, however, that thu
information came from Eyanson him
J self, though he distinctly remembered
that he had been under orders not Il
communicate with Eyanson while tn
( latter was In Washington.
This appears to have been con
1 test between two Connecticut manu-
|, facturers and one outside OF Connect
y cut" Senator Walsh observed In ques
: tioning the witness,
4 lit appears to be that" said Wuichet
And that Senator Bingham won tn,
r fight for the Connecticut companies,
walsh added
= Wuichet said that 1t would seem SC
e 1t was the purpose Of the COMMITTEE
, 10 link this office memorandum will
the suggestion p1T forward at previou