Evening star., 1935-08-06

invited into the other utilities group
opposing the holding company bill
doesn't mean anything"
Word was flashed from the House
caucus room earlier that Hopson was
supposed to be on his way to appear
before the Rules Committee. Scores
of newspaper men and photographers
flocked to the hearing. There were
already 80 or 40 newspaper men there
at the time. but by noon the number
had increased to nearly rs.
Alert reporters searched the corri-
dors of the old House Office Building
looking for a ruddy-faced, baldheaded
man who would answer HopSon'S de-
scription. Photographers hid in the
0oorways of Offices of various men,
bers of the House waiting to photo
graph him should he appear.
Whispered Clue.
When Chairman O'Connor recessed
the hearing one spectator in the
House caucus room rushed up to Will
liam H. Collins, one of the commit
tees special legal aides, and conf
dentially whispered in his ear that he
had seen a man answering Hopsons S
description jump into a taxicab in
front of the Capitol. Collins, however,
did not take the information as seri-
ously at it was given.
Chairman O'Connor was somewhat
perturbed when he learned that the
Senate Lobby Committee had a 1t
its investigators to the Shoreham h.
tel to look for Hopson. He pointed
out. however that even though the
Senate should produce the long
sought witness first, credit would go
to his committee for turning him
up"
Tax Appeal Considered.
Federal attorneys are ponderine
whether to appeal a tax suit ruling
by a circuit court in New York yes
terday which refused to force Hopson
to produce books of five subsidiaries
of his National Public Utilities In
vest1ng Corp.
Hopson is reported to have con-
trolling interest in Associated Gas g.
Electric, but he does not hold any
Office in the corporation now.
He was sought by the Senate Bank
ing Committee two years ago. At that
time, he could not be located for sew
eral weeks. His attorney, Patrick j.
Hurley, finally offered to produce the
missing witness and Hopson appeared
before the committee. Hurley is to
testify tomorrow to the Senate Lobby
Committee to tell of his work for the
Gas & Electric system.
Hurley Seeks Hearing.
Hurley sought the hearing to dis
cuss recent testimony that he re-
seived S25 900 from the company in
connection with the campaign against
the Wheeler -Rayburn bill to abolish
certain utility holding companies in
seven years.
Soon after the testimony was given,
Hurley issued a statement saying he
had done no lobbying and that all
his work was of legal nature.
After telling the House committee
today of meeting Hopson, Robinson
was questioned about his activities
against the utility bill.
He replied he was not doing "a
damn thing" now.
Asked about his earlier activities,
Robinson said his job was to find out
the sentiment of the House, and that
he had talked to mail carriers and
secretaries.
You didn't overlook the elevator
operators and janitors, did you?"
O'Connor commented.
"Oh, I didn't know Congressman
discussed such things with them,"
the witness smiled.
You'd call this all shopping,
wouldn't you?" O'Connor pressed.
IF you want to call it that" Rob-
inson agreed.
Asked if Associated were not still
active against the utilities bill, Rob-
lnson said he thought he had seen
a newspaper advertisement and let
tiers from stockholders.
William Collins, committee counsel,
read letter from the Associated COM
pany to Senator Schwellenbach, DEM
ocrat, Of Washington to the effect
the company would stand by its main
representative.
"I am very proud of the para
graph" Robinson said.
Deadlock Unchanged.
The deadlock on the utilities bill re-
mained unchanged today, though re-
ports of possible compromise con-
tinued to circulate Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana, chairman of
Senate conferees, who mostly approve
the administration plan for compul-
sorry abolition. indicated they would
meet tomorrow with conferees from
the House, where compulsory abolition
was defeated.
The confereeS were named to smooth
out differences In the bill as It passed
the two chambers, but have been dead
locked.
Meantime, word reached the Capital
that E. P. Cramer, advertising man
who wrote letter to the Electric Bond
g. Share Co. suggesting whispering
against President Roose-
velt, had lost his job with Thomas A.
Edison, Inc. of New Jersey. Charles
Edison, president of the firm, said
Cramer was dismissed because of his
advocacy of so reprehensible a plan"
The Senate Lobby Committee, In