New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-28

NEWSPAPER MEN UNDER FIFE.
THE DoLPH COMMITTED vAINLY TRYING 10
LEARN HOW THEY GET NEWS OF THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Feb. 81 Cspecihll-The United States
Senate Is probably the only egislstive body In the
world which INDUCES itself in the belief that eighty
odd men for any length Of time keep secret. The
veil Of mystery which cnvelops the dulness OF the
average executive session Is ruthlessly raised BY m IN
feeling press every day and . public which seems 70
think that II has . light TO know what It's rpcsents-
ves doing In Congress Is reading. In dispatches
furnished by the correspondents OF newspaper, sta
toned in Washington the salient poins In these so
called debates, behind closed doors whenever they
call for special mention and comment. OF late, now
ever small numbr Of Senators which attacked under
the cloak of the executive session, the record OF an
honorable gentleman and brought charges against him
Charges which II uttered In public would have been
TO speak. laughed out Of court-has felt deeply ag
grieved because Of the accuracy witch distinguished
the accounts Of discussion preceding the disposition
Of this case-to such an extent. In fact that an In
vestlgatng committee has been charged with tbs duty
Of asceranng the nature of leaks by which executive
secrets" reach the outside public.
This committee has It's chairman Senator Dolph.
and his associates. Messrs. Harris. blackburn Hg
gins, Platt Vest and wolcott. 1t has bad two meet
ings thus far. and at each has examined number Of
newspaper correspondents. among them the core'
spondent of The Tribune The questions asked OF each
covered variety Of subjects. but the principal oues-
tons turned upon the accounts given In The Tribune
Of the discussion leading 10 the confirmation Of Indian
Commissioner Morgan the debate upon the British Ex'
tradition Treaty. and, finally the publication u the
treaty itself I'm the columns Of The Tribune Here
are some Of the questions asked with the utmost ser
ouspess:
@Dh you get that treaty from Scnator''
"Dld you get 1t from empoye OF the senator
Did you get II from the Printing oficeT
"Did you get 1t from the State Department.
To each was made the reply Il must decline 10
answer and here the matter seems TO rest at pres
ent The committee asked witness why he
refused TO disclose the Of his information ana
the reply was, In most To the erect that inc
committee had right tn inquire Into what WOULD oe
regarded by most people ~ the private ahars Vi
private persons. 4, .
II is difficult, at any rate, TO see how such III Q
Of examination is to lead to any results hquah
futile perhaps. seefns To be the attempt TO invoke
section Of the Revised Statutes against thc pup.
caton Of secret state papers. At present. the only
remedy against leakage of executive session business
would seem be- has been suggested by some one,
to deprive Senators Of the privilege OF entering inc
senate Chamber while such business was beins coie
sidered. or better st-and this suggestion Is IN
nnitcly more praCtical-the doors should be thrown
Idle Cd N during executive sessions. III mat "cro
done the Senate might depend upon nothing bnt
the most meagrc reports reaching the pnbhc throug
the medium Of the press regarding the executive
transactions. by all means. let 1t adopt this sueses-