Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-16
UTILITIES FIGHT
TO Be CONTINUED.
H0PSON DECLARES
Tells House Probers Spend
ing of Millions to Defeat Bill
Would Be Justified.
SETS INCOME BETWEEN
100000 AND $500, 900
Suggests Committee Assign Own
Accountants to Determine
Exact Amount.
BY JAMES e. CHM.

Despite the two congressional inves-
legations Of utilities lobbying, the As.
ISOLATED Gas e. Electric Co. will con-
tinue its campaign against the
Wheeler-Rayburn holding company
bill and spend millions Of dollars, il
necessary, to defeat it, Howard c
Hopson, reputed master mind" of thai
giant utilities holding company tolc
the House Lobby Committee today.
The expenses of the company's ef
forts to kill the bill. Hopson said, al
ready had exceeded 100000
We would be justified in spending
any amount" Hopson declared. "ir
preventing sabotage of the utilize.
business"
The utilities magnate reiterated
that enactment of the Wheeler-Ray.
burn bill would destroy about $4,000.
100000 in utilities investments. anC
said he believed expenditure of an
amount less than that to defeat
would be justified.
To Appear This Afternoon.
Hopson was to make a second az
pearance this afternoon before Chair.
man Blacks Senate Lobby Committee
beginning at 2 o'clock.
When Hopson left the stand afte,
two hours before the House commit
tee, he granted his first interview
with newspaper men since he was To-
Gated in Newark, N j.. last week by a
House process server. In it he again
expressed the opinion that his COM
pany should continue its campaign
against the bill.
If you start a fire" he said. you
should pour water on it until it is
out"
Earlier HopSon revealed before the
committee that his income last year
ranged between $4,000 and $500, 900.
For three days the committee has
tried vainly to get information from
Hopson as to his income. The util-
tiles magnate, however. still insisted
he was unable to state the exact
amount and suggested that the COM
mittee itself assign accountants to go
over his financial records.
Despite that income. Hopson de-
clared he had not received ANY
great emoluments. since the money
vas re-invested in securities which
Debated in value.
The major portion Of the income.
Hopson said, was received from his
personal companies"
The Associated gave him. he added,
only $4,000 last year to cover for
expenses"
Quizzed on Utilities Fight.
Hopson was questioned particularly
about the vigorous campaign carried
on by the Associated against the bill
to regulate holding companies. He tes-
titled that the money used by ASso-
ciated in its fight on the bill came out
Of a 100000 fund which it Dor
rowed from various" banks.
The committee endeavored to learn
the names of the banks, and Hopson,
after first sparring on the ground
that it would be an injustice to those
institutions, finally said he had no
personal knowledge of the names and
promised to furnish them later in
detailed statement.
Hopson, however, did mention the
names of a number of banks with
which the Associated does business"
These included the Chase National,
Public National Bank & Trust Co,
Bank of Manhattan and Lawyers
Trust 90 all 0f New Work and the
First National Bank of Boston.
Faces Another Session.
Hopson's second session with the
Senate Lobby Committee may bring
out further revelations concerning eff
forts to sway newspaper policies.
Hopson made a surprise appearance
See LOBBY PAGE \