The Washington times., 1935-07-23
INDIVIDUALS
PAY 8.350F
S430 TOTAL
Witness Declares He
Recognized Bank
Employees Names
International News Service

The story of 766 kilograms sent
to members of Congress from
York, Pa, urging them to vote
against the death clause" of the
pending utility bill, was spread on
the record of the Senate lobby in
vestigation today.
Luther A. Coleman, manager of
the Postal Telegraph office at
York, testified that Quay C. Hal.
Ter, sales representative for the
Metropolitan Edison Company, sub
sidiary Of Associated Gas and Elec.
trio Company, brought the tele.
grams to the Postal office.
Account is Shifted
At first these kilograms were
charged directly to the Metropolis
tan Edison Company, said Mr.
Coleman, but later, at the direc'
ton of Mr.. Halter, were billed to
a bond and stockholders commit,
tee.
Chairman Black asked the wit
ness if any kilograms were sent
and paid for by private 1ndi-
viduals. Mr.. Coleman remembered
that there were four or five"
Mr.. Coleman denied that he, or
any employees in his office, &C.
companied any representative of
the utility concern to visit indi-
Viduals whose names were signed
to kilograms.
Mr.. Coleman at this juncture
was temporarily excused and
Representative DriScoll Cd of
Pennsylvania was called.
Company Checks Names
Representative Driscoll read let
tiers from citizens at Warren, Pa,
to the effect that since the COM
mittee inquiry developed that tele-
grams emanating from Warren
carried unauthorized signatures,
representatives of the Western
Union and the Associated Gas and
Electric Company have visited the
alleged Senders to check whether
they authorized use of their
names.
At this point Senator Black
read into the record a message
from F.. r. Veale, Western Unions
Eastern superintendent, corrobor-
ating this.
Mr.. Veale advised Senator
Black, however, that this was done
simply for the purpose Of check
ing. He added that no effort was
made to secure authorization
where it was not originally given.
1O9 From Hanover, Pa.
Mr.. Coleman verified that 100
kilograms opposing the utility bill
went forward from the Hanover,
Pa, branch office at the Postal.
He said Fred P. Bang was the
branch manager, and also oper-
ated a drug store. He received a
IS per cent commission for tele-
grams he "sold," said Mr.. Cole
man.
The witness said he received
orders from headquarters to try
to get his "share" of telegraph
business on the Wheeler-Rayburn
bill, but that he was instructed
not to take sides. He said he
got similar orders for Mothers
Day, Easter and all special occa-
Sions.
"Were you neutral on
Mothers Day, too?" asked
Black, bringing a laugh.
ooh, yes" said Coleman.
TELLS OF KILOGRAMS
J. E. Coble, manager of the
Western Union office at York,
testified that Haller sent "a num-
Der of kilograms" through his
office.
did anybody else send tele"
grams?"
eyes, the Western National
Bank in York"
"HOw many?"
"There were 157 kilograms
from the bank"
WIN paul
"The bank, S'pOSe."
'WhO brought the kilograms
ln?"
"A girl brought in some. The
bank called up for a boy and he
went over and got some more"
Does the S. Morgan Smith
and Company they manufac-
ture turbineS-Own this bank? %"
II don't know"
'WhO is the PRESIDENT"
"Mr. George Livingston"
EMPLOYEES SIGNED THEM
THAT is a bank owned by
the public-a stOckhOlding COM
pany, isn't it,"
II think So"
"In other words it operates
with the public money!"
II think it is a StOckhOIding
company"
"Were the kilograms signed
by the banks employees"
II recognized some of the EN-.
plOyeS' signatures"
The witness said Mr.. Halter
paid for 1857 kilograms that
went to members of Congress
from York over Western Union
wires.
"HOw much?"
approximately S43O.37."
"In caSh?"