Evening star., 1935-07-30
BLACK THREATENS
NATIONWIDE HUNT
FOR UTILITY CHIEF
Warns Burroughs He Will
Arm All U. S. Officers
With SubpoenaeS.
S791. 900 EXPENDITURE
AGAINST BILL REVEALED
Associated Gas & Electric Vice
President Is Puzzled by Col
leagues Absence.
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Senate Lobby Committee today
threatened to arm every United States
marshal and Federal agent with sub
poenas for H. C. Hopson, dominant
figure in the Associated Gas & Elec-
trio System.
Earlier the committee received evi-
dence that the Associated System had
spent S79l 900 opposing the utility
bill, including a S25.000 fee to the
law firm of Patrick J. Hurley, Secre-
tary of War in the Hoover administra-
ton.
The threat was issued by Chairman
Black as Fred S. Burroughs, S60,oO0-
a-year vice president, testified again
that he did not know Hopson's where
abouts.
Widespread Publicity Given.
"It would be impossible that man
could be in the United States and
not know that the committee wanted
Mr.. Hopson," Black said, referring to
the widespread publicity given the
committees search for the official for
the past 10 days.
II agree" Burroughs replied.
Somebody can get in touch with
him" Black said sharply.
IF we don't get in touch with him,
we are going to turn over subpoena
to every marshal and every other agent
of the Government"
Black added that there were some
questions that only Hopson could an
swer, adding emphatically: we want
him here"
ut puzzles me-" Burroughs said,
"but can't understand why he doesn't
come because there is nothing to hide"
Burroughs protested that the COM
mittee agents had not at first at
tempted to serve subpoena on Hop
son, but had merely asked to see him.
The vice president said he could give
any information that Hopson could,
but when Black asked if the latter had
any contact with newspaper publishers
or writer's, Burroughs agreed he could
not answer.
He testified. however, that he knew
Hopson had sent telegram to William
Randolph Hearst congratulating him
for his stand ION the administration
attacks on all higness."
The expenditure figures were pre-
sented to the Committee from list
of the systems expenditures drawn
up by company officials and commit
tee investigators.
Previously, company officials had as
serted the expenditures against the
bill were 100000.
Hurley Payment Emphasized.
Senator Schwellenbach, Democrat,
of Washington, emphasized the pay
ment to Hurley.
He is the man who is so outraged
about what the Government is doing,
isn't he?" Schwellenbach asked.
"I don't know, I'm not Mr.. Hurley's
brother" o. e. Wasser, controller Of
the system, who was testifying, re-
piled tartly.
IF you got $25, 200 you could be
outraged against legislation, couldn't
you?" Schwellenbach asked. You
could put on a pretty good show,
couldn't you?"
Knows Little About Company.
Over and over again the head of
the Associated Gas g. Electric Sys-
TENS treasury department told the
committee II don't know" in reply to
questions about the organization of
the group as todays hearing opened.
Frank E. Martin said he did not
know the systems total assets or total
outstanding indebtedness.
Asked about some of the companies
in the system, he testified he had
never heard of them.
Martin said he drew SITS a month
as head of the systems treasury de-
partment, but added he had nothing to
do with its financing.
Meanwhile, committee members said
the same absence of records they have
encountered in their inquiry into the
Associated System has been found in
many of the other large utility COM
panies.
Data on Campaign Scarce.
Though expenditure by the power
companies OF more than $1,000 to
defeat the Roosevelt holding company
bill has been announced, Senator'S said
committee investigators found the files