Evening star., 1935-08-15
Writ Reported
Blocked by
O'COnnOr.
BLACK HURLS
SHARP CHARGE
Utility Magnate's
Whereabouts Still
a Mystery.
By the Associated Press. :

BY the Associated Press.
The way for Senate Lobby Commit
tee examination of Howard c. Hopson,
somewhat today with readiness in the
House to drop the dispute over who
should have custody over him.
Through counsel, Hopson announced
Willingness to testify on the Senate
side about his Associated Gas g. Elec-
trict moves against the bill to regu-
late holding companies. once his ap-
pearance before the House committee
was concluded.
Where he was remained mystery.
The House Rules Committee ap-
proved a special resolution calling for
Hopson's arrest" at once, but direct
ing that he be available to the Senate
when not being questioned on the
House side. This evidently was de-
signed to end differences between the
two branches.
O'ConnOr Against Resolution.
The resolution was called up in :he
House shortly after l pm, although
Chairman O'Connor had indicated
earlier he might not call up the reso-
luton. He had protested against it..
Meanwhile Sergeant at Arms Ches-
ley w. Jurney reported to the Senate
that O'Connor refused to permit serv-
ing Of a Senate contempt writ on
Hopson while he was still under a
House subpoena.
He told of having served a writ on
William A. Hill, Hopson's attorney,
and said Hill was ready to appear be-
fore the bar of the Senate on the al
legation that he had interfered with
an attempt to subpoena Hopson.
Black Attacks O'Connor.
Then, after Chairman Black of the
Senate Lobby Committee charged in
the Senate that O'Connor was PRO
tecting" Hopson from testifying now
to the Senate lobby investigators, the
Rules Committee created a surprise
by its move to leave the way open for
such testimony.
In his Senate speech, Black recon-
mended that it take no further i'm
agreed to postpone Hills trial until
the head of the Associated Gas and
Electric System appeared.
The scene as Black spoke before an
attentive Senate was almost un-
precedented in legislative history
Congressional rules forbid a member
OF one house from attacking member
Of the other.
Black did not mention O'Connor
once, but referred to the chairman Of
q committee in another body"
Black emphasized that in his un-
precedented speech. he was represent
ing his entire committee. Throughout
his address he referred to HopSon as
"a recalcitrant. lodging, fleeing" wit
ness, or a lodging, hiding, running
witness"
Hill had appeared at the Capitol
shortly before noon in response to the
writ citing him for contempt.
Accompanying him was Moultrie
Hit, Washington attorney for the
Associated Gas & Electric Co. Serv-
ing as his counsel. The two waited
in Senate lobby.
Earlier both Speaker Byrns and
Representative Smell, the Republican
leader had promised support for the
technical move to arrest Hopson and
hold him for the House committee
so the Senate could not reach him.
House Thinks 1t Is Affronted.
The senatorial attempt to seize
Hopson while he was under House
subpoena was termed unjustified and
IAN affront tosthe House" by Byrns.
Whether justified or not. the
Senate's attempt had been Intellectual,
with its sergeant at arms having no
luck in his effort to serve Hopsou with
q contempt citation.
Magnificent in blue suit, gold chain
and fluttering eyeglass ribbon. Ser
geant at Arms Jurney had started
out last night to hale HopSon
before the Senate to show cause why
he should not be punished for ignor-
ing the subpoena which the Lobby
(See LOBBY, Page ~