Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-25
Tells Senate Committee
Charge Is "ContemptibIe
Lie" if Meant for Him.
ASKS INQUIRY BEFORE
CONGRESS ADJOURNS
Admits He Holds Celotex Stock
and Knows President Of
Concern.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Senator James J. Davis of Pennsyl-
vania made a blanket denial today be-
fore the Senate Lobby Committee that
he had ever lobbied for or against q
sugar tariff, or that he had ever re-
ceived ANY money or anything OF
value for any such alleged services"
The Pennsylvania Senator appeared
before the committee at his own request
in connection with a newspaper report
read into the Congressional Record yes
terday which said that evidence pur-
porting to show that a member of the
Senate had received between 100000
and $15o,OOo from the head of COM
pany interested in sugar during the
consideration by Congress of the Smoot-
Hawley tariff act had been placed be-
fore the lobby committee.
If the charges which we're read into
the Congressional Record yesterday
from a metropolitan newspaper refer to
me-" Senator Davis said, Il most en-
phatically state that never lobbied
for or against any sugar tariff measure;
that 1 have never spoken to anybody
in Congress or any one in Government
service about putting a duty on sugar,
and 1 never received any money or
anything Of value for any such alleged
service.
at Is Contemplate Lie"
1T is a contemplate lie, and am glad
that IL is out in the open so that the
matter can be thoroughly investigated
and the falsehood killed once for all.
The charge is a serious one. The
Senate and the public are entitled TO
promptly know all the facts; to con-
denim if true; to absolve If untrue.
Congress will soon adjourn.
earnestly urge you in behalf Of the cit
liens Of the State of Pennsylvania. oul
Nation, my family and myself to fully
inquire into the accusations and make
your conclusions public before the ad-
journment of this Congress-"
Senator Davis continued:
IF that is possible. am here today
I am ready to come at the call OF
the committee at any time. waive
any immunity that may have as
Senator"
Senator Davis made his statement
a prepared statement, TO the committee
pounding the table with his hand to
give emphasis to his emphatic denial
of the charges contained in the news
paper article.
Senator Caraway Of Arkansas, chair
man of the Lobby Committee, had an
nounced that he and his fellow mem
bers of the committee had held a pre-
liminary meeting and had some details
to go into before beginning a hearing
Senator Davis requested that he be per-
mitted to make q statement at this
time, and the chairman Immediately
aSSented.
Holds Celotex Stock. II
When Senator Davis concluded his
statement, Senator Caraway called his
attention to a memorandum which had
been turned over to him by Chairman
Nye of the Senate Campaign Investigat-
ing Committee, purporting to deal with
the charges contained in the newspaper
article.
The Arkansas Senator asked Sena-
tor Davis if he knew D. B. Dahlberg
president of the Celotex Co., init
mately."
IT know him in a business way" re-
piled Senator Davis.
Senator Davis said he was a stock
holder in the Celotex Co.; that he hac
acquired stock in that company through
the request of a friend who came
from the same community in the lanc
of my birth (Wales)." He said he &C
quired the stock in 1925 or 1925.
What Is the business Of that COM
pany2" asked Senator Caraway.
1T makes a kind of board that II
used in the interior of buildings, BY
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column g.