New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-10

Sir believe it is the duty OF senators anu vi 'he
officers of the to keep the secrets OF the senate
Of the United States, and | think it is our duty to
enforce that much and will far as anybody else
in enforcing il but hold that it is the duty OF the
press of the United States TO give the people OF TINS
country Intelligence in regard to all the acts OF the
Government. The free press OF the country has the
right to 90 into every department OF this Government
TO obtain all the Information it can Obtain and spread
that information the people of the country The
press is under no obligation whatever 10 keep the
secrets of the senate to keep the secrets OF The
Executive Chamber. of the Cabinet, or of any other
branch of this Government 1t is the business Of the
free press of the United states to gather mp infor
nation anywhere and everywhere. and spread it before
the country In time of war, the Government comes
down. and lays its hand and stops this. Nobody
objects to that 1t did it during the last Rebellion
The law has been read here to day. We all knO"
that law was never passed % reach a case OF tlHi
kind. 1t may be used this bat ii passed
to reach Investigations of corupons connected with
the Government, and to make men testify a. to such
matters 1t passed for the purpose OF
reaching the OF the pres, publishing what we III
the senate those in the Cabinet or anybody i'll ic
service of the country chose TO consider matters oi
secrecy. And. sir, 1 do not think ii right, nor 40
think proper TO apply to the press, or the agents
of the press that kind Of argument though they
had done something that dishonorable or DIS
graceful"
Senators Morton, Thurman and Upton followed
Senator Wilson in support of the amendment Among
other things. MIR. Morton said These confidential
communications shall be kept secret Dy tnc Hcnao -,
and officers OF the senate. Have We any power 10
protect secrecy beyond senators and oihCcrs oil the
senate These documents must De KEEP, Se'i ',n,ii
far we are concerned but II they are inade publ
by persons not connected with the senate, we are
not responsible for it, nor have we any jurisdiction
Mr. Thurman held that the enactment of the statute
punish witnesses in contempt for refusal TO testify.
Mr. Upton said: The senator from MaSsaonu-
sets (Nr. Wilson, has struck the chord. he mas
touched the National heart and the National common
sense when he said these gentlemen have rsiii 10
their hands Are they the keepers of the senate
secrecy and the senate's conScence9 Are they to
20 TO the Senate. 90 TO the High Commission. or
go committee of the Senate Of the United states
right and proper and constitutional, and according
to Your rules and regulations in such case made and
provided, that transmit this information. or arc
We infringing your rights by doing II y They have
no business to understand our rights; they have
business To protect their rights. and they are starting
OIL in very proper manner, think, 10 protect those
Further on he said Sir we are going too far
The rights of the people are everything and unless
those rights guarded and projected yon neither
have states in their limited sovereignty have
a senate of the United States that i, worthy Of the
res or Of 81 he e zc es are OF n Srio in S
and II these Young men. these newspaper criminals
than tnny are in rci,tiomsh;n II egbcr az b,th ~
them were OF my blood ! would tell them That
third salary that which The Tribune has promised
them rather than they c,ir degrade them
selves by going back upon their silence this ques
ton
senator Carpenter followed Mr.. Tipton. in some re
marks which showed that he mad begun to lose hi,
temper and also. for the time. gave voice In the
senate Ia runors then in circulation. 10 the effect
that the treaty had been obtained from a senator
he began by saying; Mr.. President the question 10y
this substitute do not propose to Hke any time,
to go with this matter back ont. II $ per
fectF apparent and must hc TO every senator. tha:
Read by the country think. II Will produce the i'm
preston that ii certainly would upon mind. tiai
we had gone far that dared not 90 further
without implcaiing some in our own BODY"
In good tempered speech, in SUPPORT of the com
mittee's resolution. Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont after
declaring that he was in favor Of making all treaties
public. and having no secret session about them.
to be kept, let Us contrivc some measurcs by w,cn
senators themselves may be little les, lealsy. WHY
sir. some correspondents. believe. have sometime,
refused 10 give information TO senators. because thev
sPe 50 t ey angher h. hay - doubt mvc
this treaty was found bv other paric. than nv these
he committee shall 20 forward with their c> NINA
zion. have no question but what the facts viii Dee
senator in al least carelessnc. on the i"ct So''
After further debate. Mr. Fenton's substitute va,
rejected. bv a vote Of 81 To II.
Before the original resolution was adopted NJ
sumner In the course Of short speech. said
gone far enough in thy Hnc rh nf have 'asS nSy'
reasonable aacrity in giving two DAYS Ia the In
many daysi l make til, inquiry hy way Of
suggesting confusion that had better vote TIL,
abandon for the present this whole inquiry I do
not think any good can come ont of H. 1t Will not
contrary. believe both viii suffer
Mr.. stewart did not blame the newspapers for pub
publications could not be- prevented he favored
shrosation Of the rule lie added do believe that
nation: that there IS somebody here. sitting viii us
who is bctrayine Ms constantly. That is evident.
bring the senate into contempt
senator Carpenter. chairman Of The special Com.
mi IL lA he .f ia q
| have no personal knowledge tn, subject huf
desire 20 say that from what have heard and
The senate. NV belief is that if the
left to exercise the ordinary powers that lcons -
such committee. they viii develop and establish IT,
The resolution wa, finally adopted. The wtncs-es
replicd-in wr'nc-undcr oath. that the treaty va,
not obtained. directly indirectly. from senator
or officer of the Senate. nor far a. they know from
any employc Of that body. They atl declined 10
offered resolution 10 commit Mr. White 10 the com
jail 10 bc released only when he should consent
table the resolution rejected by - - -. Mr.
sumner then moved TO strike ont common JAIL ana
remit the prisoners 10 the custody Of the sergeant al
Arms; and the motion was carried 81 e. -.
resolution m2 2e a%c g yc h 70 u c 1 comrc q 10
ccmier-in order 70 keep the witncsec, In c,l,,od,
through the summer and autumn Against hi, motion
rather acrmonions debate followed Mr i'iindlcr
Of Michigan spoke several times. Gcnonncinr in H.,
Sevcrest terms the unknown senator who acted -
ard demanding that j." be dsco'cicd and expelled.
several senators replied. Among other hing, nr.
Wilson said Now. ] 10 the senator from Michigan
that he is OF the reporter 81 this body my
personal knowledge" n.aughtcr.J
Mr.. Chandler deny II.
Mr. WilsOn-rhc senator denies II. ] know IL T.,
be true. / know ii 10 nave been over and over
again. ! Will explain what ] mean. have been
sixteen The proceedings Of this body
executive session have fOInh their way into the
press all thi, time. II before came here
These accounts published Of executive proceedings
n nIe the T The Leading prc'"c. of ic
country employ gentlemen 10 come here and obtain
news. How do they get IL
We are here doing business Various things come
ND here in executive session nominations. treaties.
debates talks. Does il all stop here, The senator
from Michigan knows il does not. He knows that
in the presence Of other parties, and with other