The record-union., 1891-02-26
The Investigating Committee Re-
ports to the House.
NO EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT A POOL
EXISTED.
Only One Senator and One Representa-
tive Speculated in the White Metal.
But their Purchases Were Not Made
While the Bill Was Pending-Owen-
by Alluded to In the Report as a
special to the REcoRp-UN1oN.

special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25.-The report of
the Silver Pool Investigating Committee
was made to the House tonight. 1t is
unanimous. 1t reviews the testimony
briefly. Owenby is alluded to as ro-
mancer who is imaginative.
Senator Cameron's silver purchase is
referred to as having been made and the
silver sold before the bill passed. Repre-
sentative Taylor bought after the bill be-
same law, and when no additional leg
Station was looked for.
The report says it is but just to say that
che statement made by Congressman in
debate in the House on June 9th last, to
the effect that he had been approached to
join silver pools. furnished some excuse
for the publication of the general allega-
ton that silver pool existed pending
legislation, but none for the charge that
certain Senators and Representative ac-
cepted such invitation.
Mr.. Conger, who is now United States
Minister to Brazil, was asked by cable TO
give the committee the names of persons
who approached him, but he declined to
do so
The committee says the fact that exag-
gerated expressions are sometimes used
in the heat of debate may furnish an ex-
cuse for such stories, and affords an addi-
tional reason for a careful avoidance in
debate of intimations that corrupt intiu-
ences are being brought to bear upon
members to influence legislation unless
members making such insinuations are
prepared to substantiate the charge.
The committee has been un-
able to obtain any evidence to
support Owenby's charges. There We're
many spectators buying silver individ-
ually, and probably in some cases in
company, but there is no evidence that
there was any pool or combination OF
such spectators working together to this
end, or that any Senator or Representa-
tive was connected with such pool. The
only organized or combined, effort to in
duce silver legislation disclosed by the
evidence was public organization known
as the Silver Commission, appointed by
the st. Louis Convention, and which has
had headquarters in Washington the past
year.
This commission, according to the tes-
timony of Francis @. Newlands, one of
its members, had printed and distributed
pamphlets and circulars, published arti-
cles in newspapers and maintained agents
in the field to visit organizations, particu-
larly Farmers Alliances, in various parts
of the country for the purpose of working
up and securing an expression of public
sentiment in favor of the free coinage of
3 silver at a ratio of sixteen to one of gold
This had been done at an expense Of not
less than $4,000 nor more than $4,000
during the past year, which expense had
been met by voluntary contributions of
the owners of silver mines and others
favoring such legislation.
There was no evidence, and the COM
mittee has reason to believe that this
commission, which Owenby describes as
the head of the silver pool, had any con-
nection with silver speculations, or ex-
pended any money otherwise than for the
purposes above stated-an organization
designed to influence public opinion to
secure legislation.
There is no evidence that any pool,
combination, syndicate or individual
speculator furnished any money to enable
members of Congress to invest in silver,
or that any Senator or Representative was
interested in any silver pool or syndicate,
as charged by Owenby, nor any evidence
that any Senator, Representative or Gov
ernment official individually invested in
silver bullion. or was directly or indi-
rectly interested in silver bullion or sill
yer speculations pending silver legisla-
ton, except that referring to Senator
Cameron.