The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-11
How the Nervous aud Dyspeptic Hewitt At
tempts TO Intimidate Witnesses Well
Timed Denunciation from Mr.. Reed.
The Present Congress Not Likely to Pass
a National Bankruptcy Law.
Low-Tariff Countries Moving for an Increase
of Duties-The Senate Committee Be-
gins Its Investigation Of Gen. Black.
BULLDozER HEWITT.

How the Gentleman from New York Brow.
beats and Builies Tariff Takers.
epecial to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 10.-In the tariff hear
Gags which have been going on before the House
committee on ways and means for several days
4 good deal of feeling has been shown at times.
A decided disposition is shown by Mr.. Hewitt
New York member Of the committee. to brow
beat and terrorize the witnesses. AS general
thing the men who appear before the committee
TO speak for various interests and against the
Morrison bill are men of experience good talk
ers and shrewd. and they are able to take care OF
themselves but there are many Of them labor
ers, who are uneducated and unused to appear
ing before such august bodies and they tremble
with fear and are liable to easy entanglements
Z Mr.. Hewitt is one of the largest consumers OF
iron ORE steel, and various grades of iron in the
country His shops are on the Eastern coast
and he has been accused Of sei6shness in clam
oring for free raw materials, of which he con-
gumes such large quantities and for which he is
ever watchful A long series of years in this
trade has given him varied and good knowledge
Of the manner in which metals are produced
how manufactured. where procured. the cost of
transportation, etc.
This fund OF knowledge Mr.. Hewitt. who is
nervous, dyspeptic and irascible in his contact
with the public has been employing for all it is
worth He almost invariably cross examines
witnesses, and in this crossexamination often
shows unfairness and, as indicated above a dis
position to iniimidate witnesses Hecontinually
pits his views in q contradictory way, against
those of the witnesses, and even borders on dis
respect, at timesy in doing SO; and he has num-
Der of times brought upon himself severe casti
cations from other members of the committee.
There is no questioning Mr.. Hewitt's sincerity
In the work he is doing for free trade. He is
very earnest; but he overleaps the point he
would make. The testimony given so far has
been, without exception, against the passage Of
the Morrison bill; and that is what worries Mr.
Hewitt. He seems to think that it devolves
upon himself to express opinions and make
statements branded by himself as absolute fact
and in contradiction to the statements of wit
nesses as soon as the latter speaks so that the
record being made by stenographer will show
In almost every instance contradiction entered
by Mr.. Hewitt against the important and DANA
cling statement of witness.
The other day Mr.. Reed, of Maine, who is a
member of the committee, and who is as large,
good natured and active as he is bright and sar-
castle, sat In blank amazement for some time,
listening to the New York member questioning
O witness and then according contradiction
against every important statement of fact and
recording it, too, in way that was intended or
inclined to Illustrate the speaker. Finally Mr..
Raod rrn4nstad and said he would not ag
member of the committee. permit such'a proceed
ure without protest. His words Of condemna-
ton were severe and were so well-timed that Mr.
Hewitt did not attempt to explain. People who
have been listening to the investigation or hear
lngs wonder what tho New York iron consumer
can mean by such undue earnestness.