Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-05
KING MAY EXPLAIN
CAMPAIGN CHECKS
Senator Robinson Informed
Utah Senator Would
Answer Charges.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Presenting a report to the Senate to-
day on the lobby committees investipa-
ton of New York importers, Senator
Robinson, Republican, of Indiana said
he had been informed that Senator
King, Democrat, of Utah, might wish
to appear before the committee IN ey-
plain two campaign contributions made
in 1922 and 1928 by Herman A Metz
president of the General Dyestuffs
Corporation.
Robinson said Chairman Carawav of
the lobby committee had informed him
that King had suggested he wouId Uke
to be heard by the committee and that
he has statement he would like to
Make
Caraway said later off the floor that
King had said he wanted to see a copv
of the testimony when he returns IN
Washington from Baltimore hosn;tsi
and that the Utahan might nossiblv
wish to appear. He added tht no def
mite request to be heard by the com
mittee had been made by King.
Metz has testified he gave King Il nm
In 1922 and the same amount in 1924
but that the latter contribution was
not used. King said the 1929 CHECK
was destroyed and that he had never
heard of any contribution in 1902
Samuel Russell, former secretary To
King, testified that the money was
given to him and he sent it to Samuel
A. King, brother of the Senator, in salt
Lake City.
Discussing the investigation of i'm
porters. Robinson said the National
Souncn OF American Importers and
Tn hoI
method of lobbying known" in adyocat-
ing foreign valuation and lower rates
in the tariff bill.
He added it was almost amazing to
note the number of men who have
lobbied for the organization who at one
time or another were in the Govern
ment service"
They were employed directly away
from the Government" he said.
Robinson continued that the commit
tee also had completed its report into
an investigation of dye importers but
that 1t would be held up pending the
return Of Senator King to Washington
King is member of the Senate finance
committee which handles tariff legisla-
ton.
The report, prepared by Senator Rob-
nson, gave first attention to the
National Council of American I'm
porters and Traders, Inc, during
1929. The report said, "The coun-
Gil was quite active and through
its personnel and various branches ex-
pended large sums both in Washington
and New York"
The report added that the council
was particularly successful in its effort
to employ men who had been connected
with the customs and other branches
OF Government service" A letter sent
out by the council soliciting funds to
carry on the lobby activities" was put
in the report. Some members were
asked for 500 and others for $3.50, the
report disclosed.
The cost of the publicity bureau sci
up by the National Council was re.
ported by the committee at SIS. S7S. The
committee also reported that Samue
Kridel OF New York City spent $4,000
In 1922 ito keep down the tariff on silk
and expected to spend the same amount
this time"
The committee report stated that
Amman c. Stapfer was employed by the
silk defense committee for $12.5OO anC
expenses to assist I'm keeping dowr
tariff on silk"
"All he says he did" the report said
was to submit some facts and figures
and data. He made some is trips from
Chambersburg in 1929 and trips In
1880, for which he has charged an
expense of $4,000"
The report listed Harry S. Radcliffe
of Montclair, N. j.. as spending for the
National Importers Council $4,000 in
behalf of lower tariffs. The report
showed expenditure of $4,000 fol
maintenance of Washington ONCE for
the National Retail Dry Goods Asso-
citation.