Evening star., 1936-04-01
STATE LOBBYING
OF A. 7.
+. C. c. to Seek Testimony
on UtiIity's Tactics Re-
garding Bills.
Ey the Associated Press.


Federal Communication Commits
sion Investigators said today they
would devote their attention to lobby
ing activities Of the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Co. In connection
with State legislation.
Continuing the inquiry into the Ma
tion-wide utility, Samuel Becker, spe-
cial counsel, announced that r. T.
Holt, company attorney, would be
called to testify regarding the COM
pany's methods in supporting or OPP
posing bills in State law-making
bodies.
Becker said he would trace specified
instances Of lobbying and then would
call Walter S. Clifford, president of
the A. T. &, T., to express an opinion
concerning them.
Clifford testified at length yesterday
as to which lobbying methods could
be considered proper" and which i'm
proper. He indicated that in some
cases study of conditions involved in
any specific situation would be nee
essary to determine whether the tao
tics were legitimate.
Bills Sent to New York.
Also on the stand was C. M. Brace
len. A. T. g. T. vice president and
general counsel, who testified that
officials of associate bell companies
sent copies of bills affecting the tele-
phone industry to headquarters at
New York for examination.
Becker brought out that in a wear
of numerous State legislative ses-
sions," more than 10000 bills were
forwarded to New York.
He quoted from an Office memo
randum saying associate companies
had 'co-operated" in providing the
bills and that often suggestions from
the New York officials have been in
corporated in laws"
After the bills are studied" Becker
asked, you send instructions to asso-
ciate company counsel either to favor
or oppose them?"
L wouldn't say We give instruc-
tions." Bracelen responded. They
are comments
Anyway" Becker observed, your
suggestions or comments or inStruc-
tions have been incorporated in the
laws"
Traces Activities of Officials.
Becker then traced through activi-
ties OF telephone officials in California,
Oregon, New Mexico and Wisconsin
in an effort to show the company
had generally opposed legislative
moves to investigate it.
Denying this was a general policy,
Bracelen added:
Il don't think the A. T. g. T. or
anybody in a position to speak for
it ever turned hand TO prevent
this investigation"
Questioning Clifford. Becker de-
manded whether it would be alright"
for a company ito send kilograms
favoring or opposing legislation in
the names of individuals who had
not given their consent"
That would be highly improper,
Clifford replied.
Would you tell a legislator that
all employees Of a company would
vote against him unless he did a GER
tain thing?"
Kind" to Customers.
In the first place." Clifford re-
piled blandly, that would be a lie,
because all employees wouldn't vote
one way. But think it would be
improper"
Would you designate employees to
meet trains and find hotel accommo-
dations for new legislators?" the at
torney inquired
They usually want telephone con-
nections. We try to be reasonably
kind to our prospective customers.
Il came to Washington. was a
prospective customer. I wasn't met"
You were overlooked. Mr.. Becker,
I'm sorry"