Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-03-04
LOBBY AIDES SEE
5,0DO,0(|D WIRES
Sweep of Inquiry Disclosed
as Senate Probers Plan
Court Fight.
BY REX COLLIER.

Approximately 100000 kilograms
have been examined by the Senate
Lobby Committee investigators in their
search for evidence of legislative lob
bying it was learned today as the
committee made plans to resist court
interference" with its inquiry.
Many thousands OF these messages,
deemed to be relevant" ha been
copied with the cooperation of the
Federal Communications Commission,
and the committee has indicated it
plans a vigorous fight in District Su-
preme Court tomorrow in defense of
its right" to secure additional tele-
grams sent by the Chicago law firm of
Silas H. Strawn.
Chairman Black was in executive
conference today with other members
of his committee with view to map
ping a plan of action against issuance
in the local courts of a permanent
injunction restraining the Western
Union Telegraph Co. from supplying
the Strawn kilograms to the commit
tee. Justice Adkins will hold hear
ing tomorrow on temporary restrain
ing order.
Comprehensive Inquiry.
The Star learned from an authori-
tative source that during the last year
agents of the committee have con-
Quoted the most comprehensive inves-
tigation of telegraph messages in the
history of Senate inquiries.
AcfiY,p ,,rJor shlo v,tcf -
served on the Western Union and
Postal Telegraph companies, represen-
tatives of the committee and agents
of the Communications Commission
examined truckloads of kilograms sus-
pected of having a bearing on efforts
to influence members of Congress in
their consideration of pending bills.
Cooperation of the Communications
Commission was secured under a
"joint working agreement" arranged
with view to facilitating separate
Investigations being conducted by the
committee and the commission. The
latter, it was learned, has been making
a technical study" of operations of
the telegraph companies. 1t was
agreed to join forces in the examina-
ton of telegraph messages for pur-
poses of efficiency and in order also
to discommode the companies as little
as possible.
Some From Liberty Leaguers.
Among kilograms examined and
copied, it is said. are many sent by
officials of the Liberty League and
other organizations opposing New
Deal legislation.
Chairman Black contends no court
has the right to impede the Senate in
the exercise of its "rightful duties"
Just how the temporary injunction
granted by Justice Adkins can be
resisted by the Senate was not made
clear. Members of the Lobby Com
mittee have held several conferences
regarding the dilemma created by the
restraining order.
II don't believe there is judge in
the land who would grant permanent
INDUCTION against this committee, !"
Black told newspaper men. Why
should lawyers who have allowed
themselves to become involved in lob
bying be protected any more than any
one else?" -.....
Black declared lawyers who engage
in lobbying against legislation on be-
half of their clients should not be
privileged to hide behind the i'm
munity usually granted confidential
dealings between lawyer and client.
The nature of the evidence the COM
mittee believes is contained in the
Strawn kilograms has not been di-
vulged. Frank j. Hogan, represent
ing the Strawn firm, told the court
the committee is on fishing" ex-
petition and that Strawn's firm has
never engaged in lobbying of any
kind.
Yesterday the committee inquired
into Nationwide racket" allegedly
(See LOBBY. Page So