Evening star., 1936-03-18
BY REX COLLIER.


lobbyist" for Western power and rail-
road interests in the eyes of the Sem
ate Lobby Committee, but to many
Representatives, Senators and others
who attended his dinner parties, he
was a Representative, reclamation
expert or q chamber of commerce ex-
ecutive.
Smith, whose present title is chair
man of the National Conference OF
Investors, claims he misled no one
as to his status. He is on record be-
fore the committee as asserting that
some of the Representatives who dined
with him knew he was representing
Western utilities.
Senator Murray, Democrat, of
Montana accepted an invitation to
dinner at Smiths home, under the
impression his host was member
of the House, he told the Lobby Com
mittee yesterday.
Representative Smith. Democrat.
of Washington said he thought the
other Smith was connected with some
Western chamber of commerce and
was unaware that a dinner "for West
ern Congressman" which he attended,
was held in the so-called lobbyists
apartment-until he read about it in
the newspapers.
Others Surprised.
Several other Representatives told
the Lobby Committee at its special
session yesterday they had the idea
Smith was interested in reclamation
and irrigation work in the West, and
they were greatly surprised to learn
he was in the pay Of power and rail-
road companies.
Besides Murray and Representative
Smith, Representative Knute Hill OF
Washington, Ford Of California, Muir
dock of Utah and White of Idaho, all
of whom had been named by the in
vestors' representative as among "the
boys" he had entertained at dinner,
also vigorously denied before the COM
mittee they had participated in any
lobbying parties.
All said they had attended dinners
with Robert Smith, but asserted there
was no lobbying as far as they were
concerned, and the chief topic Of con-
versation was reclamation. Gov. Ross
of Idaho was guest of honor at one
of Smiths dinners, and Acting Com
missioner John Hays of the Reclama-
ton Service also was present, the
committee was told.
Representative Hill said today he
and the others appeared before the
committee against the urgent advice"
of several Republican members of
Congress. Sc said several who had in
tended to testify were scared of" by
the Republicans, who argued it was
foolish" to appear and suggested the
Senators were trying to smear" the
House members.
Tell Of Sharing Expenses.
None Of the six House members,
who shared a Thirty eighth street
residence with Smith last Summer.
Joined in the request of the other
Representatives to be heard yester-
day. Earlier the six had issued o
public statement explaining they had
not been guests of Smith, having
shared expenses equally in renting
the house.
Representative Hill said the dinner
to Gov. Ross was held about 10 days
ago at Smiths residence on Brandy
wine street, and that a number Of
Western members Of Congress inter-
ested in reclamation were present.
Representative Ford said his coll
league, Representative Ekwall of Ore
gon, invited him q year ago to a din
ner at which he had since learned
Smith was present. Ekwall invited
him to another dinner more recently.
he said, but he declined.
AL Of the other witnesses said they
had received invitations to the dinners
from colleagues" but they did not
name them. All told Chairman Black
Of the Lobby Committee they were
In favor Of his bill to regulate lob
bying.
Demand Pay Data.
Tim heartily in favor of regulating
lobbyists and recording their source
Of income and amount of income" Hill
told the committee. I'VE should be
in q position to know who these lob
byists are and where their pay is
coming from"
When each of the witnesses said
the conversation at the dinners GEN.
tered around reclamation, Senator
schMellsnbech. Democrats OF Wash>