Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-08
BLACK AND EDITOR
HURL EP|THETSAT
SENATE HEARING
AIabaman Declares Legis-
Iator Is "ContemptibIe Cur"
in Quarrel.
lAWMAKER HAD SAID
HE WAS A "COWARD"
Questioning Over Check Involved
in Lobby Inquiry Starts
Battle Between Pair.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Senator Black, Democrat, of Alabama
today told j. E. Pierce, editor Of the
Huntsville, Ala, Times, who was
before the Senate lobby committee, that
he was coward" and Pierce retorted
that Black was contemplate cur"
Black had been questioning Pierce
about $1,000 check sent him by j. w.
Worthington, chairman of the executive
committee of the Tennesses River I'm
provement Association, which Pierce
said was for expenses in connection
with the associations work in behalf of
private ownership and operation Of
Muscle Shoals.
The incident took place after
Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy
in the Wilson cabinet, had concluded
his testimony before the committee.
Mr.. Daniels reiterated his demand that
John j. Raskob should resign as chair
man of the Democratic national
committee.
Black Threatens to Fight.
Asserting that Black was rejecting
on him, Pierce declared his insinuation
was contemplate lie"
I'll see you outside about that"
Black retorted. Everybody knows you
are by nature a coward"
Leaping to his feet, Pierce shouted:
We'll go outside right now"
Black replied that the matter could
wait for settlement.
Then you admit you are a con-
temptible liar?" Pierce demanded.
NO" Black shot back. Il admit
you are
Senator Walsh, Democrat of Mon
tana. pounded for order, but the out
break was quickly renewed.
II rise to the point of personal
privilege" Pierce shouted, leaping again
to his feet.
This man Black" he asserted, said
I was known as coward. I call him
q contemplate cur in return"
Walsh had great difficulty in obtain
ing order, but he finally quieted the
tumult and in a few minutes the
committee adjourned until tomorrow.
After the hearing was over Pierce
went out to the lobby near the COM
mite room and talked with newspaper
men several minutes. He explained
later that he was waiting for Senator
Black.
Black, who left the committee room
cept to say that he was not attempting
to make any inSinuations.
"All was trying to do was to bring
out the facts and let them speak for
themselves" he asserted.
Pierce was being questioned in re-
CARDS to Muscle Shoals.
After he said he had had correspond
ence with j. W. Worthington, chairman
Of the executive committee of the Ten
Senator Walsh read one OF the letters
from Worthington, which inclosed
check for 81 1000.
$1,000 for Travelling Expenses.
THAT was for travelling expenses"
Pierce said. adding that he had been
designated as one of the vice presidents
OF the association in 1928 by Worthing-
ton.
Pierce testified that he had made sew
eral trips to Washington to do what he
could to insure adequate legislation for
Muscle Shoals.
He said he advocated the proposals
OF Henry Ford and the American
Cyananid Co. to lease Muscle Shoals
from the Government.
The Senate recently passed the Nor
TiS bill, providing for Government
operation of the plant.
Pierce submitted to the committee
a bundle of Muscle Shoals correspond
ence which was turned over to Sena-
tor Black to examine.
Questioned about an agreement"
mentioned in one of the Worthington
letters, the witness said that meant his
expenses were to be paid.
Pierce said the correspondence was
between him and others, including
Worthington. Representative Hill of
Alabama, Senator Black and Rep
Tesentative Almon of Alabama.
Got $500 in Subscriptions.
Pierce said he also had received $500
for subscriptions to his paper, to be
sent persons interested in Muscle
Shoals.
The witness said he had made one
trip to New York to see w. B. Bell,
president of the American Cyanamid
Co, who had a proposal before Con-
greSs to lease Muscle Shoals.
He said Worthington gave him let
ter of introduction and added that Bell
assured him he would do all he could
for the people of Alabama if the lease
was accepted. ....-
Pierce added he had been urged by
many persons to run for Congress, but
he had refused.
SAWS RECORDS REFUSED.