Evening star., 1939-01-13
Hull 10 Draft
Bill 10 Probe
Tariff Lobby
Charges Effort to
Undermine u. S.
Trade Program
BACKGROUND

Americana industrial interests,
particularly those Affected by
import increases Under reciprocal
trade program. haze kept close
match orer negotiations OF trade
agreements, many maintaining
laUyer representatives in Wash
ington for submission OF briefs
during hearings 1Uhich precede
each neW negotiation. Trade
Agreements Act OF 1884 as amend
ed in 1887 provided opportunity
for public hearings.
BY the Associated Press.
Secretary of State Hull accepted
today an invitation by Senator
O'Mahoney, Democrat. of Wyoming
to draft legislative proposal for d
congressional investigation of tariff
lobbyists in Washington.
Noting statement by the white
haired Secretary before the Senate
Finance Committee that Washing
ton "is swarming with sugar lobby
lists who are hanging on our f1anks
to attack the trade agreement pro-
gram" Senator OMahoney chal-
lenged Mr. Hull to prepare legisla-
ton which would provide for an in
vestigation.
will you draft it?" the Secretary
was asked by neWsmen as he shook
hands with Senator OMahoney
after a heated session of question
ing had been ended
certainly" Mr. Hull replied.
Senator O'Mahoney added assur-
ance that it would be incorporated
in resolution introduced by 10
Senators calling for an investiga-
ton Of the circumstances surround
ing negotiations for revision of the
1884 trade treaty with Cuba
Angry Barrage Touched Of.
Secretary Hulls statement about
lobbyists. made in the course of his
denials that there had been any
secret agreement on a reduction of
the tariff on Cuban sugar, touched
off a barrage of angry statements
and questions by Senator'S
Senator Adams. Democrat. of Col
orado said he knew of no sugar
lobbyists ip Washington. He MAIN
tanned that the only representa-
tives here were bona fide sugar beet
growers or sugar factory operators
who were invited to Washington
for the State Department hearing
on the Cuban agreement.
so far as the section of the coun-
try come from is concerned" Sen
ator Adams declared in referring to
Mr.. Hulps charge, that isn't an ac-
curate statement
II don't think these people should
be pilloried as lobbyists or the infer
ence left that they are being paid to
use their influence"
Refers to Professionals.
Mr. Hull said he was speaking only
OF professional lobbyists whom, he
asserted. "are attempting gradually
to undermine and discredit this
trade agreement program"
And he added warmly, II don t
intend to sit silent in the midst of
Ill uIllS ACTIVITY.
Senator OMahoney said he
thought Mr. Hull was "condemning
the sugar people on the basis that
it's good thing to give a dog bad
name before you hang him"
How can we go back to our peo-
pie and tell them that the State
Department will give them a fair
hearing when the Secretary of that
Department comes in and denounces
the whole sugar industry" Senator
OMahoney demanded.
1T seems to me that this is a clear
indication of the need for the in
vestigation sought in the resolution
introduced by 10 Senator'S.
Senator OMahoney was one OF
the 10.
Testimony Requested.
Secretary Hull testified before the
Finance Committee in response to
resolution calling on him to ex-
plain why there had been published
statements that this country had
reached sugar tariff agreement
with Cuba. The statements were
published in advance of the State
Departments official notice that
negotiations for an agreement were
to be opened.
Denying the department had made
any commitments in advance of
formal negotiations. Mr.. Hull said
(See LOBBYISTS, Page A-4D