Evening star., 1936-06-07
LOBBYING LAID
T0A.F. OF |. HEAD
Hastings Reveals Green's
Telegram to Force Report
of HeaIey-WaIsh Bill.

How William Green, president OF
the American Federation of Labor,
"threatened'' members of the House
Judiciary Committee to force a favor
able report on the Healey-Walsh bill
providing N r. A. standards in
Government contracts was disclosed
by Senator Hastings. Republican OF
Delaware, yesterday as information"
which he said might interest the
Black Lobby Committee.
In presenting the Senate with the
information in form Of telegram
which Green sent members of the
committee, Senator Hastings indi-
Gated the development did much to
disclose why the Healey bill, pigeon
holed in the House committee since
May l, was suddenly reported in the
hope of enactment before adjourn
ment.
Gives Text of Telegram.
Il desire to place in the record"
said Senator Hastings, "a telegram
sent a few days ago to a member of
the Judiciary Committee of the
House. My understanding is that a
like telegram was sent to all MEM
bers of the committee. The telegram
reads:
Chairman Summers advises that
meeting of the House Judiciary Com
mittee will be held tomorrow morn
ing at 10 o'clock for the purpose of
taking action upon the Healey-Walsh
bill Lack of a quorum at today's
meeting prevented action upon this
measure
Labor is tremendously interested
in this bill and firmly expects it to
be enacted into law before Congress
adjourns. For this reason, l re-
spectfully urge you TO be present at
the meeting of the Judiciary Com
mittee tomorrow, as herein stated.
Your absence from this committee
will be construed as opposition to the
measure and as being unfriendly to
labor. Our representative will be
present at tomorrow's meeting. Do
not fail us. Be present.
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor
Might Interest Committee.
GAS the meeting was held" con-
tinued Senator Hastings. "and Mr..
Green's representatives were standing
outside of the door Of the committee,
I thought this telegram might interest
the Lobby Committee which is in
vestigating activities of this sort"
The Hastings disclosure brought re-
tort from Senator Robinson of Ar
kansas, Democratic floor leader, that
it was not proper for a member of
the Senate Ito question the proceed
ings of a body at the other end of
the Capitol"
That is all I care to say on the
subject at this time" concluded Rob-
inson, indicating that he did not in
tend to open a discussion that might
lead to old charges of deal in the
House for labor's aid in defeating the
Frazier-Lemke bill
1t was recalled that Green sent
letter TO the late Speaker ByrnS de-
nouncing the inf1ationary measure,
and its use on the floor is said to have
helped defeat the bill. The charge
was made at the time that organized
labor was to be rewarded by an ad-
ministration effort in the House to
pass the Healey bill. Its counterpart,
the Walsh bill. was passed at the last
session of Congress.
Meanwhile, the Senate placed the
Black Committee in position to de-
fend itself against attacks In court
by ratifying the committees action in
employing Champion Harris as attor-
ney to represent the Senate in the
suit filed by William Randolph Hearst
The resolution further authorized the
Senate Committee of Audit and Con-
troll Ito fix the amount of the fee" to
be paid Harris.
The reason for the resolution was
the refusal of the House to pass bill
approving a salary of $4,000 for Har-
ris, who is former law partner of
Senator Black, chairman of the Lobby
Committee Members of the lobby
group had thought they could not
obtain this amount from the Senate
for committee activity because of
a law passed by the last Congress
limiting the salaries of employees of
investigating committees to $500 an
nually.
The Senate yesterday also passed
the La Toilette resolution authorizing
the expenditures of $4,000 to in
vestigate alleged violations of free
speech and undue interference with
the right of labor to organize and
bargain collectively" The inquiry will
be made by the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor