Show i ISE SENATE TE OPENS LOBBY INVESTIGATION TODAY w WASHINGTON F Feb b. b 17 N. N N Baker a Baltimore steamship manager told the tho senate committee Inquiring Into charges of Influence against the administration ship bill today that SO per pel cent of the German Geiman owned liners laid up Ut In American ports were unfitted for tho service f tho the bill contemplates and that in all his con- con with Secretary McAdoo ho lie had so far fur excluded d those ships as to the government that the possibility po of their purchase e never wa was 88 discussed sed Baker added he lie wa ax waa satisfied Mr McAdoo Me- Me Adoo doo acquiesced In that view Mr Ir Baker Balter was waa the tho only witness heard toda today WASHINGTON Feb 17 Formal Formal In- In Into charges of lobbying against I tho administration ship purchase bill bUl pending In the senate t began bogan toda today b by tho the special senate committee Two witnesses who were on hand ready to testify when the hearing began belan wore Brnard Ernard N. N Buker Baker of or Baltimore former Cormor manager of ot tho hi Atlantic Atlantic Atlantic At At- lantic Transport line lino and Sis Sis-mund Al Albert At- At lbert l- l bert of ot Now Ne York representing German German- American steamship comp companies A number num num- ber her of or other witnesses will wUl bo ho summoned bv by the committee it It was expected that the letter of Sectary Soc Sec reta tary McAdoo doo addressed to Senator Fletcher and ana given given out last l night in which the secretary made mado emphatic denial of Insinuations that he hatS had been negotiating In ing for the purchase e of or merchant ships of belligerent nations under tho time proposed shipping bill would ho bo laid before tho the committee b by tho senate Secretary McAdoo's McAdoo's Mc- Mc Adoo's communication was tas In reply to are a n re resolution introduced on Monday b by Senator Son Son- ator Burton Durton |