Evening star., 1936-03-02
Lobby
Continued From First Page.)

might tend to incriminate him"
Severson thereupon declined to an
swer on the grounds stated by his
attorney.
Therestraining order against West
ern Union was issued by District Su-
preme Court Justice Jesse G. Adkins
after the nationally known law firm
of Winston, StraWn g. Shaw had as
serted it would not submit tamely to
the airing by the Lobby Committee of
its telegraphic messages. The suit
asked that the Western Union be en-
joined from complying with Senate
subpoena. received February Is. de-
manding messages sent and re-
ceived by the law firm from February
/ to December /, 1885.
Injunction Hearing Thursday.
Justice Adkins restraining order was
issued pending outcome Of an in
junction hearing set for Thursday
morning. The temporary order will
expire next Monday.
A statement assailing the commit
tCC oubpOC1id was lSouCd llIkS JAIOl
ing by Strawn. who is senior partner
in the firm He formerly was presi-
dent of the American Bar Association
and the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States, and is a member OF
the Republican Finance Committee.
Severson. first witness called this
morning when the Lobby Committee
resumed its inquiry into activities last
year against passage of the Wheeler
Rayburn bill, had admitted he had
written numerous" kilograms and
signed them with names of acquaint-
ances who had given him permission
to do so.
He identified number of kilograms
as having been written in his own
hand All of the messages protested
to Senators and Representatives
against passage Of the holding COM
pany bill
Refused Answer Second Time.
Severson refused to reply when Sen
ator Schwellenbach asked If the "forg-
ing" of names to the Wisconsin tele-
grams was not for the purpose OF
"deceiving" members of Congress.
The witness admitted a subordin-
ate had sent kilograms from Buffalo
in the name of persons in New Mar
tinsburg, w. Va, arranging for the
messages to bear q West Virginia
'date line"
Chairman Black developed from
testimony of Severson that the utility
man had "sat up late one night writ.
ing the kilograms" Most of the tele-
grams were sent June 10 and IL.
A telegram to Senator Wagner,
Democrat, OF New York, read: Again
entreat you to vote against the
Wheeler -Rayburn bills destruction. u
Severson said he signed the name OF
friend to it. by telephone permis-
sion.
Regulations Are Read.
Severson, with obvious reluctance
conceded he had signed the names OF
his mother, sister, brother and cousin
to kilograms purporting to come to
Washington from Wisconsin, where
the relatives live.
Black read an affidavit from sew
eral men repudiating kilograms bear
ing their names. Their wires were
sent by the Republic Co., it was tes-
titled.
Many Of the kilograms were charged
to the Dominion National Gas Co. OF
Ontario, Canada, another Cities Serv-
Ice subsidiary, Of which Severson is
vice president also. Severson said the
charge was routine" but the bill
actually was paid later by the Re-
public concern.
Hogan Represents Firm.
Frank j. Hogan, noted Washington
lawyer. represented Winston, Strawn
& Shaw in its court action today,
It was Hogan who appeared for for
mer Assistant Secretary of Commerce
william P. MacCracken when the
latter defied a Senate subpoena during
the airmail investigation about two