Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-13
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
Hoar Asks Reagan Some Per-
tinent Questions
Regarding Trusts SuspiciOusly
Connected With the Ad-
miniStratiOn.
The Subject Of Murdered Hoffman EX-
Citedly Discussed.

| 0itUuiy pioeuooVu'
The House Orders Further Conference
ON the Sundry Civil Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. IL.
Senate.
Hoar made some very sarcastic, pointed
remarks as to the connection of the cabinet
and the democratic party with trusts. He
said when the Senator from Texas. Reagan,
had undertaken TO enlighten the Senate some
davs since. on the question of trusts, he,
(Hoar) hoped TO get some light as to what
these results were, where they were, what
relation they bore TO the great political par
ties and what likelihood there was of polit-
ical danger from them. Was there, for in
stance u Standard Oh trust in the country?
If so was that trust represented in
the cabinet at this moment? Was it
represented in the Senate? Was it
represented in the councils of the dominant
political party? Was there a sugar trust and
were its representatives consulted in framing
great revenue tariff bill and did they have
their interst looked after and considered?
Was there a cotton seed trust, and cotton
seed oil trust? Was there whlskey trust,
and what was its work in politics just now!
Was there an anthracite coal trust?
He had listened to Georges amendment in
which he proposed to attack those trusts or
assumed trusts by putting power in the hands
of the executive to alter the tariff and thus
strike down every honest manutactory en-
gagged i'll the same business. Had it not oc-
CURED to that Senator that it might
be well to include in his
amendments, trusts, which he, (lioar,
| had Just mentioned and which were not pro-
tected by the tariff. Why had the senator
arranged so carefully his proposed legislation
as not to hit these great trusts which stood
(as agent many people beleved) in the rea
ton of Treasurer to the democratic party
and in executive cont oil of it. He did Lot
think it would turn out to be
good plan to put in the hands of the
chief executve,a magistrate who notoriously
owed his election 10 the aid of those
interested in such trusts, and who had repre-
sentatves of them in his cabinet and power
to affect the revenues of the government by
his unsupported will. 1t would be a gool
deal like setting the cat to watch the cream.
There was another trust upon which he
would like little information. There was
a gentleman (alluding to ScotD who was
understood TO be 1 most powerful and trust
ed counsellor in directing the democratic
campaign, who was apt to walk from the
White House, down Pennsylvania Avenue to
the Ca pitol with bill in his rocket (ar-
ranged at the White House, who was apt
TO have that bill passed unanimously by the
House, and who was aptto have it passed the
Senate until the mistake was found out. He
would like TO know whether that gentleman
had any relation to any of these great trusts
|
ests or other interests, whether he was inter-
ested in the trusts which put tax on the fire
of every workingman in winter, increased
his fare when he travelled by railroad in sum
mer for pleasure or business The congress-
ional direct showed that the gentleman
was interested as director in railroad com
panies aggregatng 22,000 miles of road
Just think of it, % 900 miles of road in the
service of the democratic party in this elec-
ton, more than all the railroads of Great
Britain and France put together, and part
| of these lines are in Canada | don't won-
der that the Canadian minister who negOtiat-
ed the late treaty went home and told the
Canadian people that he had been told by
| the democratic secretary of state that the
house of representatives and the great demo-
cratic party of this country proposed to do
exactly what Canada desired.
Hoar said he wanted to know the facts
about five OF six great trusts alluded to,
which were sufficient in their power to over
throw any government in Europe if they
existed in that country. Here
were coal, sugar, whiskey, cotton,
fruit and railroad transportation, all
controlled by these giant chieftains and man
ipulated in the interest of the democratic
party and of the present administration re-
tnI in, tbn oh at1 a
with one of its chieftains, the chairman of
the national democratic committee, he did
not wonder that the gentlemen were awaken
ing the attention of the American people to
such gigantic dangers.
Reagan expressed regret that the great
question couldn't be treated in the Senate
without partisan issue being made out of it.
He had not undertaken to say whether the
democrats or republicans were connected
with such trusts, nor did he care. His pur-
pose was to get a law that would punish both
the democrats and republicans. But he did
not intend TO discuss the question of trusts
until the bill came up for consideration.
PAYNE remarked that nine tenths of the
stockholders in the Standard Oil Company
were now, and had always been republicans
There were but two democrats who had beer
stockholders within his Knowledge. He
hardly knew how TO treat the inslnuation tha
the Standard Oil Company was represented
in the Cabinet; that insinuation might bt
worthy the lower class of stumpers, but wa
unworthy of senator. Payne intimated tina
the senator from Massachusetts was laborinl
under 'copiah" and excited imagination, al
though he had experience enough and wisdom
enough to be able to rise above the role of
demagogue.
ha ali nd
endment wss ordered printed.
Spooner offered resolution, recting tn,
fact that Joseph Hoffman of Bremmen
Washington county, Texas, and prominen
a republican witness before the Senate OF
privileges and elections, had recently bee
3, shot down in cold blood in that city, and tina
/. the assassination was believed to be directi
attributable to his political views and activit
and 10 the fact that be had given strong tes
timony before the committee investigating
the alleged election outrages, and of the nj
most importance that the witness ha
/, before the Congressional investigating con
e msttees may without danger to their live,
J. freely and fully testify, and instructing CON
= mittee on privileges and elections to invest
gate circumstances of the killing of Hoffma
o xith special reference to ascertaining whetf
V er it was due in any sense TO his testifyin
:. before the committee.
a The resolution gave rise to heated an
extended political discussion, the speaker
. being Spooner, Pugh, Coke. Teller, Evar
q and Reagan. The killing Of Hoffman was
= political crime. The democratic senator
took contrary opinion, presenting the fat
of prominent de ocrat, Mr.. Holt, kiile
p by the same discharge. The discussion wa
$ interrupted to permit the Presidents messse
lin reply to a resolution calling for copie
70 of correspondence with the British goverI
lie ment in reference to the fisheries and tn
t. discrimination of tolls on Canadian canal,
r. to be presented. 1t was read in full and r.
D. ferred to the committee on foreign relation
.. The disagreement of the House on the su
dry civil appropriation bill was laid befoI
the Senate and another committee of conie
ence was agreed to. The Texas murd
discussion was resumed.
st Blair said that education was the only rer
# edy.
or Salisbury said it was disgrace to cons
J tute the Senate a political machine to a.