St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-01
OWING TO OWENBY.
The Silver Pool Investigating
Committee Make Little
Progress.
It Is Thought the Much-W ant
ed Witness Knows Every
thing.
Senator Teller Explains His
Position on the Elections
Bill.
The Minnesota Delegation
Adopt Resolutions on Mr..
WINDOWS Death.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-J. Mcdonald,
cashier of the Hanover National bank,
of New York, appeared before the silver
! pool investigation committee this morn
| ing and testified that he had paid OW-
enby $3.50 for information with regard
to the progress of silver legislation last
| session, but that Owenby had not fur
| niShed any earlier information than was
| published i'll the newspapers. He knew
of no representatives or senators being
engaged in silver speculation. John
| w. Hedenburg, the Chicago real eS-
| tate dealer, whose name has been
connected with speculation in silver,
testified that he was in Washington
about a month last winter and spring
and advertised for ready writer tamil
lar with bi-metallism. A man named
Hill responded to it, and said he
could do what writing was wanted, but
witness, as soon as he saw him, was sat
iSfied that Hill would not suit him. He
| did not wish to offend the man, and
probably said that he would defer de-
cisiOn. He had no knowledge, he SAID,
of any congressman or government Off
Ger being engaged in silver speculation
in any form. He had talked with num-
berS of congressman on the general sub
| ject Of silver, but never with any view
of inducing them to purchase: He had
shown silver certificates to Congress-
| men Dorsey. PaySOn and Taylor, all Of
whom he knew pretty well, as the Ger
tlficateS were
New Form of Money
about which there was naturally some
curiosity. He never suggested to
Hill or George in any way that they
sell silver certificates TO members of
congress or anybody else. He did not
know of the existence of silver pool.
Mr.. Hedenburg explained his converse
tions at the capitol with Hill and
George. These two men, he said, pro-
fessed to be able to give him informa-
ton as to the course OF legislation.
George, especially, represented that he
was Southern man who knew many
of the Northern Republicans, and as
serted that he could get early lnforma-
ton. Of course. that was what witness
wanted; but he did not follow = up, as
he was not impressed tavorably with
the men, and did not believe that
they were reliable channels OF IN
formation. Witness was back and forth
between here and New York and Hill
andGeorge followed him up to get all ar
rangement. They said it would require
a great deal of labor and time and the
expenditure of some money for ccupeS,
cigars and saloon charges, and desired
witness to advance them money.
Witness did not think much Of
information that came through the sa-
loon, and put the men off. The witness
remarked that the expenses which he
C9i6 lntprVllW borne
further legislation were simply legiti-
mate expenses, such as hotel bills while
here in Washington, printing and the
like. Congressman PaySon, Of Illinois,
then voluntarily went on the stand. He
said that he had known Mr.. Heden-
burg since early boyhood. He knew
him to be like many other persons in
his section of the country, where
The Greenback Question
had been discussed extensively, very
much interested in financial affairs. He
had never been approached by Mr..
Heidelberg, but had simply talked to
him about silver legislation generally as
to newspaper men and others. Mr.. Pay
son said he had, simply from curiosity,
asked Mr.. Hedenburg how silver specu-
lation was carried on, and that MI.
Hedenburg had explained the matter
L.
Hedenburg had also written to him for
advice as to the probable course of legiS-
lation, but witness had replied that he
would not like to advise him, as he
might be mistaken and cause Mr..
Hedenburg to lose money. There never
was, said Mr.. PaySOn, an intimatiOn on
the part of Mr.. Hedenburg that he
wanted him (Mr. Payson) to invest in
silver certificates, and witness had no
interest himself, knew of no govern |
ment officer who had an interest and |
never had heard any senator, repre-
sentativeS or any government officer |
state that he had bought silver. Con- |
gresham Perkins, of Kansas, appeared |
as witness and made denial and |
specific denial of the published intima- |
ton and charge that he had any infor- !
nation regarding the alleged silver |
pool, and also that he had information |
regarding the alleged silver pool, and |
also that he had influenced the speaker |
in regard to the appointment of Mr.. |
Peel as a member of the committee. |
He had never specialized in silver. The |
committee to-day received message |
from the special deputy sent after
Owenby, stating that he had taken
Owenby into custody and would have
have him here Monday. As it will be |
the bar of the house, the committee adj
journed till 2 O'Clock Monday afternoon.
Owenby Called On.
CHICAGO. Jan. 31.-J. A. Owenby,
who was summoned to appear before
the silver pool Investigation committee |
at Washington last Thursday, but did
not do so, was arrested at his apart
mentS to-day in the Beaurivage flats,
where he has been StaVInp nn0er the
name OF Williams, by Assistant Ser
geant-at-Arms Forsythe. AS if expect
ing resistance, Mr.. Forsythe had two
assistants with him. but Owenby pro-
fessed his entire willingness to go to
Washington. Owenby's assuming
another name was not, he says, to avoid
arrest so much as the reporters, to
whom he has by his counsel been in
structed not to talk. Mi. Owenby will
leave for Washington tonight. and APP
ply on Monday for an early hearing.