The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-28
SECRETS OF THE SENATE.
AN ATTEMPT TO LEARN HOW
THEY LEAK OUT,

Several Newspaper Men Before the
Dolph Investigating Committee-An
Decline to Divulge the Source of
their Information - Extraordinary
Precautions Now Taken, But They
Prove Useless.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The Dolph in
vestigating committee to-day continued its
inquiry into the methods by which the
proceedings of executive sessions Of the
Senate become public. Jules Guthridge of
the New York Herald, A. J. Halford of
the Associated Press, George Grantham
Balm Of the United Press, NJ. G. Seckendorf
of the New York Tribune, and Frank A.
Depuy of the New York Times testified
that they had written reports of the pro-
ceedings Of executive sessions of the Senate
of the 18th and 18th insts., at
which the nomination of Gen. Nor
gan for Indian commissioner was
confirmed and the British extradition
treaty ratified, respectively; but when
asked to give the sources of their informa.
tion they declined to do so upon the ground
that it would be gross betrayal of conf
dence. Messrs. Seckendorf aud Depuy were
subjecting themselves TO criminal prosecu-
tion, and to this they promptly replied in
the negative. Mr.. Depuy also stated that
in all his experience he had never known
OF an instance where proceedings in execu-
tive session had been dIvulged by an en-
ploye Of the Senate, or that newspaper
man had asked an employe for such informa-
ton. The committee will continue its in
Qutry tomorrow.
GEN. MORGAN BEFORE The COMMITTEE,
Gen. Morgan was before the committee
yesterday aud asked if be could explain the
Item published on Feb. 13, which stated that
he had received five minute bulletins of the
progress of the consideration of his case in
executive session. He said he had come to
the capital in order to answer any questions
that might be asked concerning his war
record or the administration of his Office,
against both Of which charges had been
made. He did not receive five minute bull
letins nor any bulletins, but he had learned
of the fact of his confirmation before leaving
the capitol.
A CLOSE GUARD NOW KEPT.
Under new rule put into effect to-day,
when the Senate went into executive ses-
sion the press lobby, in which are located
the capitol offices of the Associated Press
and the United Press, as we'll as all the
committee rooms on the gallery floor, were
cleared, and a strict watch kept over them
until the Senate doors were opened again.
The door leading into the document room
from corridor twenty feet away from
the Senate walls was securely locked, i'll
order to keep out any newspaper man who
might have succeeded in evading the Gordon
of guards at the bottom Of the stairs
DoORKEEPERS PUSHED FURTHER AWAY.
The doorkeepers were also required to
move their chairs and their persons farther
away from the holy of holies Up to the
present time they have been allowed to
stay within six feet of the doors, but now
they must move to a minimum distance of
ten feet This rule in several instances
pushed the doorksepers into the committee
rooms on the opposite side of the corridors.
Heretofore it has been regarded as suffi-
cient to shut and lock the two doors which
separate the press gallery and the press
lobby, where the workers do most of their
writing.
A MYSTERY.
What the Senate expects to accomplish
by this change is not clear. Reporters gem
orally are not dull of hearing, but it was
never charged that they could hear through
four feet of solid wall or could catch waves
of sound which might float through two
heavy doors-one of iron and two inches
thick, and the other of wood an inch and q
half thick and covered with terra Gotta
baize.
WHAT WAS DONE YESTERDAY.
The executive session this afternoon was
devoted to confirming nominations and re-
ceiving reports from committees. A fav-
orable report was made by the commerce
committee upon the nomination of Fl. G.
Warmoth to be collector Of the port at
Nauy Orlaopa