The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-07-20

tion of Senator Robert M. LaFol- lette, progressive, Wisconsin.
 "I'm going to try to find out who was responsible for sending them," Black said.
 Other Probe Goes On
 Before starting testimony on other new deal measures, however, the committee planned to complete it's investigation of the campaign \agafnst the Wheeler Rayburn holding company dissolution bill
 The vast Associated Gas and Electric company has admitted spending $7O0,OOO to fight the. leg lslation. Another $301,000 was spent by the committee of public utility executives.
 Although members declined to discuss their next move, 1t was learned an effort would be made to determine how far A. G. D. officials went to destroy records re- lating to their campaign. The com mittee already has heard of whole Iale destruction by agents in more than 50 branch offices of the com panys securities department.
 Committeeman indicated they would call the two men who con- trpl the vast A. G. E. system-J. I. Mange and H. c. Hopson-for an explanation of "inside" activities relating. to the Wheeler -Rayburn battle.
 Famous Men May Appear
 Thus, an inquiry that started with testimony of a bashful, 19- year-old messenger boy, who earn fea IS cents obtaining signatures to telegrams opposing the legisla- tion, may end with the appear ance of two of the most famous figures in the utilities business.
 Mange has remained in the back ground in the company's affairs, although he is president and chair man of the board. Hopson, senior vice. president, was prominent in the senate banking and currency committees two-year investigation of stock market activities.
 Decision to examine officials "higher up" in the AGE. organi- zation was reached by committee man after U. E. Beach, securities manager, testified there were mo objections" when he instructed dis trict agents to destroy records to prevent their falling into hands of congressional lobby Investigators.
 Black also wants to determine whether consumers ultimately will pay the bill for the company's campaign against the utilities leg islation.
 Had Paid No Dividends
 Sen. Ernest w. Gibson, r., Vt., declared angrily as the inquiry ended yesterday that the concern stockholders for year, yet had taken the good part of years dividends" to finance its fight against the bill.
 William A. Hill, the company's Boston attorney. admitted that be- cause of the complex utility net work the consumer probably would be called upon eventually to bear the expenses.
 Chairman John J. O'Connor, d., N. r., of the house rules commit tee. promised sensational disclos- ures when his lobby investigation , is resumed Tuesday.
 There is nothing so sensational about few fake telegrams and letters to congressman from the utilities" he said. Everybody knows they wrote them. Why in New York city they went out in the street and forced people to sign them and if they failed, they went ahead and wrote them anyhow.
 Influence Congressman "I am principally interested and this is important-in knowing what the utilities did to influence congressman. The question of fake telegrams, which has been answer ed pretty fully already. may not be worth pursuing so intensely by our investigation.
 We want to stop this lobbying. The senate has not touched that so extensively"
 O'Connor accused the senate committee of stealing the house's thunder" by beating them to the utility records at the Mayfiower hotel. O'Connor had announced rtfat his committee planned to sub- I'1ena them.
 #A5ie fhey still were planning" *1s sEcf Blacks invetigators got lAels Connor said his investiga- tion was entirely separate" from that of the senate and that he and Black were not comforting.
 o'Connor appointed William H. Collins, former assistant U. S. at- torney for the District of Colum- bia, as counsel for the committee at $500 monthly salary. They plan 10 employ about half a dozen in- vestigators.