Evening star., 1935-08-07

SOOpPeo DeaClng my W1e?
Finally Goes on With Reading.
Black stepped in to pacify the
contestants by observing:
of course you did not tell the
committee something you did not
know"
Hurley finally was allowed to con-
tinue reading his testimony before
the Banking Committee.
The next year. Hurley testified, he
and his firm represented Associated
before the Trade Commission and in
other matters. The fee that year,
he said, was $4,000.
Hurley then told of his service
this year in connection with the
utility bill, for which he received
$25 ,OO0
He explained he had merely ar
ranged for the company to be heard
before congressional committees, but
had not appeared himself, and had
mot spoken to any Senator or Repre-
sentative privately about the Wheeler
Rayburn bill"
DenleS ne was Lobbying.
THE idea that I have been lobby
ing is absurd" Hurley said. "I de-
Tended the legal rights of these par
ties
In March. Hurley said, the question
arose as to whom he represented.
He read letter he wrote on March
20, 1895, to j. I. Mango, president of
the company, asserting he was "un-
willing to represent the company and
Mr.. Hopsons outside interests" at
the same time
In that letter Hurley said he was
not being retained by Mr.. HopSon or
any of his privately owned companies
because it might place him in the
position Of riding two horses in diff
ferent direction"
Committee members emphasized
Hurley's statement that representing
the security holders and Hopson at
the same time might be incompatible.
Hurley continued to insist. however,
that he did not know what profits
Hopson was drawing.
You wanted to make it plain. :"
Black asked, you were free so far
as Hopson's interests were concerned
to represent what you considered the
company's interest?"
Can you condemn me for having
refused a retainer not compatib with
the interests I represented?" Hurley
replied.
I've never taken a case from any
one that was incompatible with the
public welfare, and these shareholders
have a constitutional right to my
services"
AS Black questioned Hurley about
the services he performed for the
$25,000 fee on the Wheeler -Rayburn
utility bill. Hurley asserted the chair
man was trying to make me say
something"
Il am not trying to make you say
anything" Black replied warmly, con-
tending he was only after the facts.
"Oh, yes, you gentlemen are all
prosecutors" Hurley retorted.
Requested to Specify.
Then state each and every service
you performed for that s25, ,oOo," Black
said.
1T is impossible for me to do that
from memory" Hurley replied. In
the first place, I think w. A. Hill
one of the attorneys for the Associ-
ated, told me the Gadsden Commit
tee had refused to allot them time
before the House Committee. had
to find out what the Gadsden Com
mittee was, and what time was al
lotted.'
Continuing his outline of what he
had done for the fee, Hurley said he
traced briefly the history of holding
companies from their inception" and
then gave the company an opinion
on the question OF the constitutional
ity of the Wheeler-Rayburn bill.
"Of course, found that it is not
constitutional" he added, amid gen.
e-al laughter among the spectators.
Then the question arises what is
constitutional and I tried to arrive
at that. The question is one of great
difficulty.
Il haven't submitted an opinion to
Congress on the question until this
moment"
Hurley said he had never represent