Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-13
PROBING FOR FACTS.
That Alleged Silver Pool as Mysteri-
ous a Quantity as Ever.
ITS EXISTENCE STILL In DOUBT.
Mckinley Defends the Committee Charged
With Looking 1t Up.
A GENERAL SILVER INVESTIGATION

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Representative
Dockery,. in the House to-day. rose to a
question of privilege and offered a resolu-
tion directing that the Committee on Rules
report the resolution for an investigation OF
the silver pool charges. referred to it some
time ago, to the House for consideration.
Mr.. Dingley, of Maine, made the point
that the resolution did not involve ques-
Slon of privilege.
Mr.. Dockery held that inasmuch as the
original resolution was on a question OF
privilege, it lost none of that privilege by
reason of its reference to a committee.
He changed the phraseology of the pend
ing resolution, so as to discharge the Com
mittee on Rules from the further considera-
tion of the resolution, and so as to bring it
now before the House.
Mckinley Defends the Committee.
Mr.. Mckinley said that whether or not the
original resolution involved a matter of privi-
1ege had nothing to do with the pending
question. 1t had been referred to the Com
nittee on Rules, and that committee was now
considering the matter. 1t was proper that he
should say that the committee had not been
able to make its report He had not the
Slightest objection to the broadest investiga-
tion, but until the committee made its report
q motion to recall the resolution was not a
question OF privilege.
Mr.. Heard of Missouri sal d that it was Just
TO the Missouri delegation that the investiga-
tion be ordered inasmuch as the newspaper
article on which the resolution was based said
that one member of that delegation was a
member of the pool"
The Speaker said that he had ruled upon a
question somewhat similar to this ION a reso-
luton presented by Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, re-
newsDaDer alleuatlOQSl
pointed out the Inconvenience which would re-
suit to the business of the House, if a resolu-
zion reciting allegations not fortified by a
members personal belief should be held to be
one of the privileges. The Chair desired that
In this case the matter should be disposed of
by the House. and be, therefore, submitted the
question as to whether or not the pending
resolution was one OF privilege.
Decided a Question of Privilege.
The House decided-yeas l4S, nays S0-that
The question was one of privilege.
Mr.. Mckinley said that when the resolution
was referred to the Committee on Rules, the
committee supposed that II was referred to it
for purpose, not simply to ascertain whether
there was such publication as was alleged but
for the purpose Of ascertaIning whether there
was any foundation to the accusation. No
names had been mentioned, no member of the
House had been designated; no distinct charge
had been made against any member.
The committee had gone to work to find out
whether there was any basis for the allegation.
'The mover of the resolution had disclaimed
any personal knowledge of the matter. The
two correspondents OF the St. Louis Globe
Denloc at had refused to make any statement
or even TO say who was the author of the article
on which the resolution was founded.
The committee had the intention to go to the
bottom of the matter and to ascertain facts
enough to justify a recommendation to the
House. 1t had presumed that the House
wanted to know whether the committee had in
formation enough to justify an investigation.
From the very first he had desired to have this
matter opened up and thoroughly investigated.
Mr.. Dockery-The gentleman has always ex-
pressed himself to that effect
Setting the Committee Right.
Mr.. Mckinley, continuing, said that he de-
sired only that the action of the committee
should be understood. There had been no
purpose from the beginning TO suppress an in
Vestigation. God knew hefnyited investipa-
ton. Gentlemen must so conduct themselves
that they would be ever ready for an investi-
eating committee. [Applause.1 1t was easy
TO make charges in newspapers. It was an
easy thing to put a paragraph on the wires to
the effect that this was a corrupt and venal
body. That was done over and over again. As
member on this floor for Is years, if he were
called upon to designate a member who could
be bribed or bought, he could not do so, for he
knew no such men. All he wanted to do was
TO set the committee right.
HINT. Dockery said he had no personal knowl-
edge whatever that any member this floor
was connected with the silver pool prior to the
passage of the silver bill. His reason for offer.
ing the resolution was that certain charges had
been made by the correspondents of the Globe
Oemocrdt-men of acknowledged creditability.
The situation was this: The statement had
been made by Alr. Conger, and his statement
would he corroborated by at least one other
gentleman (Mr. GrosVenor), that the silver pool
had existed. pending the passage of the silver
bill. He (Mr. Dockery) had no interest in this
matter further than the interest of every gen.
tleman on the floor.
Charges Should Be Investigated.
tegrity of the proceedings of the House; and
the House owed it to itself to make this in
Vestigation. If the charges were false. that
ought to be established to the country; if they
were true, the House and the country had the
right to know the names of the Senators ano
Representatives who prostituted their official
positions to personal gain, If there were such
in the words of an eminent American, Let nc
,gnllty man escape"
Mr.. Rogers, of Arkansas, offered an amend
ment to the Dockery resolution, providing for
The appointment of a special committee of five
members to inquire into all the facts and cir
cumstances connected with silver pools. ir
which Senators and Representatives are al
legged to be interested; also as to the alleged
purchase and sale of silver prior to and since
the passage of the act of July IA 1890 including
the names of the persons purchasing or selling
the same, and who are the owners of the p
100000 ounces of silver bullion which the United
States is now asked to purchase.
Grosvenor Makes a Personal Statement,
Mr. GrosvenoT, of Ohio said it was due tc
the Committee on Rules and himself that hs
should make brief statement Some days age
Mr.. Dockery had come to him and asked him
whether he had heard a statement made by Mr.
Conger when he had taken his seat after max
ing the speech alluded to. He (Mr. Gsosvenor
had replied IN the affirmative. Mr. Decker,
had asked if Mr.. Conger had made the direc
charge that he had been solicited to enter /
silver pool He had replied that Mr.. Congel
had made direct charge.
day or two afterward Mr.. Mckinley hat
come TO him and asked whether he had mad,
such a statement to Mr.. Dockery: and be haC
answered that he had. In reply to furthe
question by Mr.. Mckinley, he had stated tba
Mr.. ConEer had mentioned the name of NJ
member of Congress. Mr.. Mckinley haC
asked him to appear before the Committee OF
Rules, and he had expressed his perfect will
ingness TO do so. He came to the Capitol thi
morning for the purpose of doing SO: but b,
arrived SO late that the members of the com
mittee had left. He thought that this state
ment was due to the Committee on Rules
Mr.. Rogers amendment was agreed to- ant
the resolution as amended was agreed to.