Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-18
GBe aaig Spy: aa1oreser GBmsoap Nrong g1ap 49, 1884,

and the senate being satisfied that the Tribune
copy did not come from either n senator or any
of their officers, they have no further rights in
the premises. Mr.. White, the Tribune CORES.
pendent, takes this ground and refuses thereon
to testify. He also goes further and declares
that it would not be professional to divulge the
sources OF journalistic information. Mr.. Rams
dell of the Cincinnati Commercial, who shared
with the Tribune the publication, takes the
same position.
In company with George W. Adams OF the
World, the two gentlemen named were this
evening before the investigating committee.
Mr.. White swore distinctly that the document
did not come to him through any senator or Of
hccr of the senate, or any employee of the print
ing Office He also testified that it was printed
copy, thus proving it to have been one of those
printed by the state department. AT this point
he stopped, and declined to answer any question
as to how he got his copy, how much he paid,
or from whom he obtained it. Mr. Ramsdell
took the same position. Judge Trumbu!l re-
marked, at this point, that he personally did not
believe the senate had right to press the in
quiry further, but it would appear that he must
have changed his opinion, as afterwards Sena-
tor Carpenter stated to the recusant correspond
ents that the committee were unanimously of
the opinion that the questions must be an
swered or they reported in contempt. They
were not answered, and as a consequence the
gentlemen named will be reported to the senate
Mr.. Adams, it appears, testified that he was
offered what the party declared was the treaty.
He did not examine it, having been directed by
his paper not to buy the same. He also testi-
fed that what was said to be the treaty was Of
fered for sale to him by clerk of the state de-
partment who since had been circulating
story that he was offered $1,000 by the World
and Herald, conformity, to steal copy for them.
1t turns out that Mr.. Fish had forty copies print
ed of the treaty, protocols and journal of the
commission, before the document was sent to
the senate at all. The "matter" was then
distributed" 1t seems not unlikely that the
Tribune and Commercial correspondents may be
committed for contempt. 1t is possible but hard
ly probable that the senate might keep them in
limbo till the end of November next, by taking
a recess till then from the end of the executive
session. Adj ournment releases prisoners, but
recess does not.
OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.
1t must be apparent that the senate is more
nice than wise in this matter when it is known
that large majority were and are in favor of
removing the restriction of secresy. Mr.. Fish
himself furnished very full summary of the
principal points. The president desired the re-
striction removed. Why does not the senate in
vestigate Mr.. Fish, Judging by what the wit
nesses say as to their examination this evening,
Mr.. Sumner at least would have no objection to
acting as chairman of a committee charged with
piscatorial investigation. Carpenter and
Conkling seem especially determined to Vindi-
cate the senate's privileges. The latter showed
some spite in manner and inteTogatories.
We have had two previous notable instances
of the publication of treaties without authority
the senate. The first was that of the Jay
treaty IN 1895 Thomas Pickering, then secretary
of state, furnished an abstract for publication,
just exactly as Fish caused to be done in the
present case. Senator Mason of Va. furnished the
full text to the Philadelphia Aurora. When
these facts came out the investigation was
dropped. The other case was that of the treaty
OF Guadaloupe-Hedalgo, making peace with
Mexico, which John Nugent, then correspond
ent here of the Herald, obtained and published
without asking the senate's leave. He was COM
mitted to custody, and remained a prisoner till
the end of the session. He was sent to Califor-
MIA with good office for holding his tongue.
| do not believe the reward will be the same
in this instance, but am perfectly sure that the
journalists Gin contempt" will be as mum as
Nugent.
am afraid, if the senate commits our con-
freres for contempt, that more of us will plead
guilty to a growing contempt of the senate,
especially of such men as Cassery, who is
known to have declared that we all ought to
be committed and fed on bread and water-I
suppose on account of the remarkably con-
temptuous opinion that we entertain for that
senator's talents, temper and general character
OBSERVER.