Evening star., 1935-07-27
A. 7. & ]. PROBING
STAFF IS WARNED
TO SHUN FAVORS
Communication Com mis- :
Sion'S Caution Follows
Bond Deals of Patton.
COMMITTEE CHECKS
TEXANS TRANSACTIONS
Investigators Seek Solution of
Mystery Surrounding Paper
Wrapped Package.
BY the Associated Press.

os tAS AcooCidttu
The Communications Commission
today warned all employees participat-
ing in its investigation of the Amer
lean Telephone e. Telegraph Co. not
to accept any favors or gifts from
company officials or employees.
This action was taken while the
Senate Lobby Committee investigated
informally the private finances of
Representative Patton, Democrat. Of
Texas at the lstters invitation. The
inquiry resulted from testimony that
out of his first s3.100 of Government
salary he invested $4,000 in United
States bonds.
The committee also sought TO un-
tangle a conflicting story about mys-
terious newspaper-wrapped package.
One witness said he had seen Patton
carry such box from the hotel room
of John w. Carpenter, Texas Power 81
Light Co. president, the day before the
Representative voted against utility
hill provision calling for compulsory
dissolution of certain holding COM
panies
Would Avoid Suspicion.
In a general order-to all persons
employed on the telephone inquiry,
Chairman Walker of the Communica-
tons Commissions telephone division
declared, 1T is of the utmost impor-
tance that persons engaged in tele-
phone investigation, including that Of
the manufacturing and other subSidi-
ary companies. so conduct themselves
improperly, lack Of diligence or i'm
proper attitude toward the work in
which they are engaged"
Tho order continued:
To this end, all persons engaged in
the telephone investigation must be
cautioned against conduct which may
be prejudicial to the investigation.
The acceptance of favors or gifts
from company officials or employees
must be strictly prohibited. Luncheon,
theater, golf or club engagements, or
introductions to clubs or places of
amusements, extended as favors from
company sources, should be courte-
O0oAy oCOAAAACds
Check Cashing Banned.
Financial relations with the COM
pany, its officials or employees, includ-
ing loans of money. cashing of checks,
ETC., must likewise be strictly pro-
hibited"
The box was described before the
Senate Lobby Committee by E. v.
Sellers, a friend of Patton's, after
both Patton and Carpenter had de-
MED that the Representative visited
the hotel that day. Sellers said he
was certain Of the date. and said he
cid not believe the package was box
OF cigars.
Carpenter Defends Patton.
The picturesque Representative
who told the committee his friends
call him Cousin Nat"-opened his
accounts to the committee investiga-
tors. denying he had done anything
wrong.
Il hope might be struck dead here
if that is not the truth and the whole
expose of the business" he shouted
dS IlC COLlplCVCu IiAo oVOAy VA dNSSPVhAS
a box of cigars from the power COM
pany officials son.
Carpenter issued a statement de-
claring ANY inSinuatiOn or inference
that 1 ever gave Mr.. Patton anything
of value is baseless and false"
Il have never given nor inst1gated
the giving to Mr.. Patton of anything
OF any kind except the box of cigars
given him by my son." Carpenter said.
He said he and his family were
away on a motor trip on the date
mentioned by Sellers "and none of us
saw Mr.. Patton at any time on that
day"
GadSden Charges Terrorism"
Philip H Gadsden, chairman of the
Committee of Public Utility Execu-
tives fighting the Roosevelt utility
bill. charged in a statement that the
Lobby Committee was engaging in a
campaign of terrorism" and "charac-