Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-12
Senate Lobby Probers Quiz
Ex-PreSident of Improve
ment Body.
PERSONALITIES ENTER
QUIzzING OF WITNESSES
Republican National Committee
Chairman Says Association Rec
ords Satisfied Valley People.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY g. GOULD LINCOLN.
In session of the Senate lobby com.
mittee, frequently marked with acric
clashes between the witness and the
members Of the committee, Claudius H
Huston, chairman of the Republican
national committee. defended today his
former connection with the Tennessee
River Improvement Association.
Despite the remarks hurled at him
by Senator Caraway Of Arkansas, chair
man Of the committee; Senator Blaine
and Senator Walsh Of Montana, Mr.
Huston retained a calm demeanol
throughout the hearing. Occasionally
his replies were as caustic as the COM
ments Of the committeeman.
Mr.. Huston was questioned closely re-
garding records of receipts and eXpendi-
lures of the association, of which he
was president until he resigned last Au.
gust when he became chairman of the
Republican national committee. He tolC
the committee that the expenditures OF
the Tennessee River Improvement AS.
ISOLATION had run from $4,000 to $751;
900 year. except in some of its earlier
years, when they were very much less
Will Try to Get Books.
In reply to many demands from the
committee that the books and records
of the association be presented, Mr.
Huston said that he would do his best
to get them for the committee. He said
that so far as he knew the records OF
expenditures for the association had
- -kwr h. % he
checks issued. That was the case, he
said, when he served as treasurer for
two years before becoming president OF
the association.
Members of the committee expressed
extreme surprise that Mr.. Huston, as
treasurer Of the association, had kept
no books.
"Would you transact your own BUSH
ness that way?" Mr.. Huston was asked.
The witness replied that his personal
business was more complicated. He
insisted, however, that he considered
that the entrance on check stubs of the
purpose for which money was expended
was . good way of keeping accounts,
especially for such an association Is the
Tennessee River Improvement Associa-
ton.
"T1ne people in the Tennessee Valley
were entirely satisfied with the reports
made by the association at its annual
meetings" said Mr.. Huston. '"They
were satisfied with the maner In which
the business Of the association was car
ried on"
Wakes Sarcastic.
With considerable sarcasm he added
that If it had been known that the
Senate lobby committee would some
day wish to inquire into the transac-
tons of the association, doubtless such
books as would have met the approval
of the committee would have been kept.
Mr.. Huston said that he was not
familiar with what the association had
been doing since his resignation and
that only Col. j. w. Worthington, who
has been the executive head Of the
association, could give that information.
The committee tried to get Col. Worth
ington before it, but on account OF Ill
ness he has not yet appeared. Mr..
Huston said that Mr.. Worthington was
In the Ford Hospital in Detroit.
SIaps limitations.
He said that the committee had fire.
uuently intimated that Worthington
was not Ill, but was evading appear
ance before it.
Either Col. Worthington Is Ill, or he
is not" snapped Mr.. Huston. "The
committee has the power to subpoena
and bring him before It,"
Senator Caraway called attention to
the fact that at the request Of Senator
Brock of Tennessee, Col. Worthington
CONTINUED on Page 8, Column -