Evening star., 1935-07-08
RANKIN CHARGES
NIGHTLY PARLEYS
W|THPOWERL0BB
Claims "Certain Members"
of Committee Met With
T. v. A. Foes.
MISSISSIPPIAN DEMANDS
COMPLETE ACCOUNTING
Battle Over Controversial Holding
Company Bill Postponed by
Agreement.
By the Associa ted Press.

By the Associated Press.
Representative Rankin. Democrat, of
Mississippi said in a statement today
he was reliably informed that certain
members" of the House Military Com
mittee who are fighting the admin
iStration on the T. V. A. bill" met
with the power lobbyists" at their
hotel headquarters might after night"
Meanwhile. the Senate neared de-
bate on whether to agree with House
action in voting to regulate utility
holding companies instead of abolish
ing ones considered unnecessary"
President Roosevelt wants the latter
provision. The House twice refused
to approve it.
Legislation expanding the power of
the Tennessee Valley Authority was
before the House in form opposed by
the President.
Lobby Quiz to Start.
Fankin's statement was issued
shortly after Chairman O'Connor an
nounced the House Rules Committee
expected to open hearings tomorrow
in its investigation of lobbying for
and against the utilities control bill.
The Mississippian, who led the un-
successful CLOAK room campaign to
put the holding company bill in a
form desired by President Roosevelt.
predicted Saturday the investigation
would be an idle gesture" He criti-
cized O'Connor and others for their
utilities stand.
To that O'Connor commented today
that "Mr. Rankin has attempted to
cast aspersions on the intentions of
the Rules Committee and possibly of
the chairman, but he voted to author
ize the investigation"
Sees Racket" Government.
MY God, what are We coming to?"
Rankin asked in his latest statement
"A Government of racketeers, by
racketeers and for racketeers?
Let the Senate committee summon
every member of the House and of the
Senate and put him on oath and de-
mand that he give an account of him.
self. Let him show how much utility
stock he OWLS; whether or not he has
been in secret conference with these
power trust lobbyists during this ses-
sion OF the Congress; and, above all.
whether or not as a lawyer he or his
firm is on the pay roll of these utili-
ties"
Rankin did not elaborate on the ref
erence to the Military Committee, but
said:
I'VE ought not to have any trouble
getting information about what went
on in the power trust lobby in the
Mayflower Hotel
Every member of the House or Sen
ate who represents the power trust as
an attorney ought to either withdraw
from that practice or he ought to be
compelled to resign his seat in the Ma
tional Congress. No member of the
House or Senate can serve both the
people and the power trust in this
fight. any more than he can serve both
God and mammon."
Battle Postponed.
BY agreement between contesting
factions, the expected battle over the
utility holding company bill was post
poned until later in the day or pos
sibly tomorrow in the Senate.
Senator Dieterich, Democrat. of
Illinois, first announced his intention
to move at once for Senate concur
renee IN the holding company bill as
it passed the House-minus the sec
tion eliminating holding companies -
but changed his plans after a con-
ference with Senator Wheeler, Demo
crat. of Montana, sponsor of the
measure.
Rankin said, Senator Norris is
right" and that the Senate should
make a thorough investigation. for
cit is useless to pass any further
legislation touching utilities so long as
they are powerful enough to dominate
this Government and go unwhipped of
justice"
He declared a commission would be
(See T. " A. Page 81