Evening star., 1935-07-16
BREWSTER OFFER
TO WORK FOR BILL
TOLD BY RANKIN
Maverick Also TeStifieS He
Planned to Get Death
Clause Votes.
MISSISSIPPIAN REPEATS
PHONE-TAPPING CHARGE
Insists That Probers Search Rec
ords of Members of Congress
to Explore Lobby.
BULLETIN.

Testimony that names signed
to kilograms sent to members OF
Congress in opposition to the util-
ity holding company bill were Sc
lected from a telephone directory
at the direction of a utility COM
pany representative was given to-
day before the Senate Lobby Com"
mittee. j. A. Fisher, manager OF
the Western Union office at War
rem, Pa. said he had sent approxl-
mately 1900 such messages,
BY the Associated Press.
Testimony that Representative
Brewster, Republican, of Maine ex-
pressed the opinion he could obtain
25 Republican votes in the House fol
the provision in the utilities bill to
abolish unnecessary" holding COM
panies was received today by the House
Rules Committee.
This was given by Representatives
Rankin. Democrat, of Mississippi, and
Maverick. Democrat. of Texas, to the
committee named by the House to
investigate lobbying for and against
the utilities bill.
Brewster later voted against the
abolition provision desired by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. He precipitated the
lobby investigation by asserting that
Thomas G.. Corcoran, r. F. c. at
torney, threatened to stop construc-
ton of the Passamaquoddy tide
harnessing project in Maine unless
the Representative supported the
President.
Repeats Tapping Charge.
Rankin also repeated to the COM
mittee charges that his telephone
wires were tapped during considera-
tions of the utilities bill in the House.
He said he turned the information
over to the Justice Department and
the Communications Commission.
And keep in mind" he suggested,
"that the telephone companies were
working right in with the power in
terests against this bill"
Maverick said Brewster had given
assurances he was for the abolition
provision and for that reason was in
vited to a meeting of House members
supporting the measure.
Brewster testified last week he had
not made up his mind on the issue
prior to the meeting about June II in
Corcorans Office and that no one but
Corcoran knew his position at that
time.
Maverick said no one was invited
to the r. F. c. meeting, which he
arranged, until he had ascertained the
person invited was for the abolition
clause.
II asked him if he was for the
Senate bill and the death sentence"
the Texan testified, adding he had
talked with the former Maine Gov
ernor on several previous occasions
and found they saw alike on the
power issue.
He said, Yes"
when I saw Mr.. Brewster walk
through the long line lin the teller
vote by which the abolition provision
was defeatedD like to have fell out
of my chair" Maverick said.
Maverick said Brewster agreed at
the meeting to make a half-hour
speech for the death sentence" and
suggested writing letter on the sub
ject.
The Texan said Brewster appeared
enthusiastic and in earnest in his
stand for the Senate bill and gave
no other indication unless am
weak-minded and couldn't see it,"
Maverick added that he never was
approached by a lobbyist for the
power companies.
Declines to Guess.
Pressed by committee members to
name lobby suspects, Maverick in
sisted, Il don't think that's fair, to
call somebody's name just because 1
might have seen him in the gallery
and suspected him of being lobbyist.
Il don't want to make any mis-
take" he said.
The committee has sent letters to
all House members asking such in
formation.
Members listed previously by Rep
fesentative Rankin, the leader of the
unsuccessful campaign to back up
President Roosevelt in the House, as
being present at the r. F. c. meeting
were Representatives Knute Hill,
Democrat, of Washington; McFar-
lane, Democrat, of Texas; Maverick,
Marcantonio, Republicans, of New
York; Schneider, Progressive, Of Wis
consin; Moran, Democrat, of Maine;
Zioncheck, Democrat, of Washington;
Brewster and himself.
Maverick added Representative
Scott, Democrat, of California to the
list as well as Charles West, White
House contact man, Solicitor Dozier
Devane of the Power Commission and
Benjamin Cohen, P. w. A. attorney,