"1929 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE ~115_ to their constitnenf8 every two years and renew their commis-­ or such part thereof as may be necessary," so ·as to make the sions in order that that body may keep i.li close touch with the resolution read : people. Whereas it is charged that the lobbyists, located in and around We have before us now in the pending bill a provision to Washington, filch from the American public more money under a false enlarge this power in the hands of the President, having already claim that they can influence legislation than the legislative branch of conferred it upon him seven years ago. I opposed it· then ; I this Government costs the taxpayer ; and. oppose it now. But, Mr. President, I am willing that the Whereas the lobbyists seek by all means to capitalize for themselves Tariff Commission shall report to the President and then that every interest and every sentiment of the American public which can be the President shall communicate to Congress by message regard­ made to yield an unclean dollar for their greedy pockets: Now, there­ ing such report if at the same time the Tariff Commission shall fore, be it be required to report to us. In that event we would be sure Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States to get all the information either as to tarlfi increases or tariff Senate, or a subcommittee thereof to be appointed by the chairman of decreases. It might happen, if the Tariff Commission were the committee, is empowered and instructed to inquire into the activities required to report only to the President and he could use his of these lobbying associations and lobbyists. discretion as to submitting the report to the Congress, that he To ascertain of what their activities consist, how much and from what would only do so when he felt so disposed. So when we require source they obtain their revenues. the Tariff Commission to report to Congress at the same time How much of these moneys they expend and for what purpose and in it reports to the President we take a proper precautionary step what manner. to make sure that we shall obtain all the information that is What effort they put forth to affect legislation. available at the same time the President gets it so that both the executive department and the legislative department may Said committee shall have the power to subpama witnesses, administer have the facts upon which to act. oaths, send for books and papers, to employ a stenographer, at a cost I think the Congress ought to receive such information and not exceeding 25 cents per 100 words, to report such hearings as may be ought to act upon it. I can understand that growing out of had on any subject before said comlllittee or subcommittee thereof, and competition_between our country and some foreign country an do those things necessary to make the investigation thorough. acute situation may arise, but the time is so brief between the All the expenses for said purposes shall be paid out of the contingent expiration of one session of Congress and the convening of fund of the Senate. For the purposes of this investigation the expendi­ another that there can be no excuse for raping the Constitution ture of $10,000 is authorized, or such part ~reof as may be necessary. of the country ; there can be no excuse for taking this power Mr. BROOKHART. Mr: President, I desire to ask the Sena­ away from the legislative body, where the Constitution lodged it, tor from Arkansas [Mr. CARAWAY] whether the resolution is and giving it to the President. broad enough .to cover investigation of the social lobby? I am frank to criticize the Supreme Court. I do not think its Mr. OARA WAY. Yes, sir; it is broad enough to investigate decision round on the question of the flexible tariif provision. anything in which one might feel interested. I have a right to my opinion about it, and I dare to express it The amendments were agreed to. in this body. I do not see how any court can construe the The resolution, as amended, was agreed to. Constitution of the United States as meaning that the President The preamble was agreed to. may exercise the taxing power. We fix a tax rate at one RECESS figure and, as the lawmaking body of the Nation, we put our Mr. SMOOT. I move that the Senate take a recess until 11 seal upon it; then it goes up to the President, and the President, o'clock to-morrow. if he chooses, may raise that rate. I do not care what Supreme The motion was agreed to; and (at 4 o'clock and 35 minutes Court judge may decide to the contrary, that is nothing more p. m.) the Senate took a recess until to-morrow, Wednesday, nor less than the exercise of the taxing power. It is bound to October 2, 1929, at 11 o'clock a.m. be that; it is that upon its face. I think our courts had better be a little careful in their construction of that great document. I know there are many people who would like to have such SENATE power conferred, but, in the first place, I do not think we have a right to confer it upon the President; and, in the second place, WEDNESDAY, October fJ, 191&9 I do not think it is wise to confer it upon him. I think it ought to remain in the hands of the Congress. (Legislative day of MQnday, Sept~ber 30, 1929) Mr. President, that is about all I care to say upon the subject The Senate met at 11 o'clock a. m., on the expiration of the at this time; but before I conclude I desire to repeat that there recess. are commodities produced in my section of the country which Mr. JOHNSON obtained the floor. need an increase in tariff duties. Some of them have not been Mr. FESS. Mr. President, will the Senator yield to enable me , fairly treated in this bill. I hope before we finish its consid­ to suggest the absence of a quorumi 1 eration that justice will be done to those products. I have my The VICE PRESIDENT. Does the Senator from California idea about how the tariff ought to be handled. My idea is yield for that pur'pose? the one which the Constitution expresses-that Congress and Mr. JOHNSON. I do. not the President of the United States should fix tariff rates. Mr. FESS. I suggest the absence of a quorum. PBOPOSED INVESTIGATION OF LOBBYING ORGANIZATIONS The VICE PRESIDENT. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll, and the following Senators Mr. DENEEN. Mr. President, out of order, I ask leave to answered to their names: report back favorably, with amendments, from the Committee Allen Fletcher Keyes Simmons to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate, Ashurst Frazier King Smith Senate Resolution 20, to investigate the activities of lobbying Barkley George La Follette Smoot Bingham Gillett McKellar Steck associations and lobbyists in and around Washington, D. C.; and Black Glass McMaster Steiwer I submit a report (No. 39) thereon. I ask unanimous consent Blaine Glenn McNary Stephens for the immediate consideration of the resolution. Blease Goff Metcalf Swanson Borah Goldsborough Moses Tb.omas, Idaho The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Bratton Gould Nortis Thomas, Okla. Mr. LA FOLLETTE. Let it be read. · Brock Greene Nye Townsend The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The resolution will be read. Brookhart Hale Oddle Trammell Broussard Harris Overman Tydings The legislativ(' clerk read the resolution as proposed to be Capper Harrison Patterson Vandenberg amended; and there being no objection, the Senate proceeded Caraway Hastings Phipps Wagner . to its consideration. Connally Hatfield Pine Walcott Copeland Hayden Pittman Walsh, Mass. The amendments were, on page 1, after the preamble, to strike Couzens Hebert Ransdell Walsh, Mont. out " Resolved, That a special committee to be appointed by the Cutting Heflin Reed Warren President of the Senate consisting of three members is ]+ereby Dale Howell Robinson, Ark. Waterman -Deneen Johnson Robinson, Ind. Watson authorized. Said" and in lieu thereof to insert "Resolved, Dill Jones Schall Wheeler That the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Edge Kea.n Sheppard Senate, or a subcommittee thereof to be appointed by the chair­ Fess Kendrick Shortridge man of the " ; on page 2, line 8, before the word " and," to Mr. FESS. I announce that my colleague [Mr. BURTON] is insert " at a cost not exceeding 25 cents per 100 words, to re­ still detained from the Chamber on account of illness, and ask port such hearings as may be had on any subject before said that the statement be allowed to stand for the day. committee or subcommittee thereof" ; in line 11, after the word Mr. SCHALL. I wish to announce that my colleague the " contingent," to strike out "expenses'" and insert "fund " ; and senior Senator from Minnesota [Mr. SHIPBTEAD] is still de­ in line ll, after the word " Senate," to insert " For the purposes tained from the Senate on account of illness. I ask that this cf this investigation the expenditure of $10,000 is authorized, announcement may stand for the day. 4116 CONGRESSIONAL .RECORD_- _SENATE OcTOBER 2 The VIO:ID PRESIDENT: Ninety Senators have answered to eastern farms . Statistics are usually dreary but they are sometimes their names. A quorum is present. illuminating. In the latter class are the carload shipments to and from railroad stations on the reclamation projects.