The Indianapolis times., 1935-08-14
Utilities Car Given Until
3 P. NJ. to Appear
Before Committee.
HUGO BLACK is FURIOUS
Raging Mad After Utility
Gar Admits Dodging
Writ Service.

by N'Icd Fress
WASHINGTON, Aug. IA.
Howard C. Hopson appar-
emily defed a Senate lobby
committee subpoena this after
noon and Chairman Hugo L.
Black announced that the
case would be referred to the
Senate for possible contempt
action at 3 p. m. if Hopson is
still missing.
Senator Black, raging because his
committee had vainly waited more
than an hour for Hopson to appear,
asserted that he intended to prove
that his missing witness directed
and mapped out the entire program
of lobbying and propaganda"
against the Wheeler -Rayburn bill
all over the United States
He asked and received Senate au-
thority to increase the lobby COM
mittee's power in questioning Hops
son.
Committee Waits for Hour
After waiting more than an hour
for Hopson to answer an 'instanter
subpoena" Senator Black ordered a
two-hour recess of his committee.
He informed a large crowd of spec
tators and newspaper men:
I'VE will meet again at p. m.
If Mr.. Hopson is not here by then,
his case will be reported to the SEN
ate and a contempt citation will be
asked"
Hopson, grinning broadly at the
Senate lobby committee subpoena
server, had accepted the summons
after a three-week game of tag with
committee agents.
The subpoena was showed into his
pudgy hand while photogra piers
flashlights doomed at conclusion of
a second day of testimony before
the rival House committee, marked
by an angry clash in which Rep.
Eugene Cox Cd. Ga) threatened to
kick the head Of the Associated Gas
and Electric system "out of the
room"
Admits Spending SSOO,00O
Highlights of the House hearing
we're:
Hopson admitted A. G. E. spent
S80O,O 600 to 100000 and maybe
more fighting the bill which would
force elimination of many holding
companies. 1"
He said he had inspired much
of the campaign, but denied knowl-
edge of details. He was not asked
about sending of kilograms with
fake signatures by employees of his
companies or destruction of rec
ords.
He argued the expenditure was
justified because the bill would
ruin the industry" and I am op-
posed to more government in busi-
ness and will do everything can to
stop it"
He blandly admitted trying to
evade Senate committee agents.
During the long hunt he was in
New Jersey. Pennsylvania, New
York, Virginia and even-one night
right in Washington at the exclu-
sive Shoreham Hotel registered
under my chauffeur's name"
Senator Black Pounds Table
The reputed financial genius of
Associated Gas sweltered in the
hot committee room as he snilingly
denied he had tried to hide out
from the House committee.
But when he was asked If he had
not tried to evade Senate Commit
tee agents, Hopson calmly replied
Yes"
Almost at that very moment In
the Senate Office Building, two
blocks away, Chairman Black, con-
sidered the ablest investigator in
Congress. was pounding the table
and shouting:
Mr. Hopson is coming before this
committee and he's coming like any
other man in America"
Cox, questioning Hopson at one
point, asked whether this is cam
paign against your own stocks TO
drive down their values so you can
cash in?"
No gentleman would ask that
kind Of question, Hopson said
heatedly
Cox, flushed. started to get up,
and shouted. You withdraw that
or I'll kick you out Of the room"