The sun., 1891-01-19
SILVER pOoL INyEsT7GAT TON
Groups OF Lobbyists Working for Favor
bic Legislation.

bic Legislation.
WASHINGTON. Jan. l8.-The House Slvor
Pool Investigation Committee peaan It's in
| quiry yesterday. Mr.. W. u. Stevens. tho prin-
cipal Washington CORRESPONDENT OF the st.
Louis Globe Democrat, W hich parer first printed
the charge OF a silver POOL, was called to the
stand rs the first witness. The article IN the
Globe Democrat was shown to Mr.. Stevens. He
identified It IS having boon prepared By him
self from statements made to him by others.
He had an interview with J. A. Owenby. in
which the statements given were made. He
could not locate Owenby exactly, but he " was
managing the Silver Reef Mine In Utah. and
could. witness thought. bo reached without
difficulty. Witness had no personal knowl-
edge OF any Senator or any member OF the
House OF Representatives being engaged In u
silver pool at the time Oi the tendency OF tho
Silver bill or subsequently thereto.
Mr.. Rowell - Have you any knowledge OF
other than members OF Congress being en-
EaSed In q silver pool pending loEiu!s.!oar
Witness-They would be statements made BY
others to me. When you say silver pool 10 me
do you mean silver leeislatiUn2 I have some
little knowlsdge OF that kind. had a couver-
sation with Col Joseph X. Hickey OF Fulton.
Mo. Mr.. Hickey said he had bought some sill.
YER while this silver legislation wns pending.
and had made some money. but not nearly so
much as bad been reported. l cannot say
whether Hickey said he bought silver In con.
nection with others or as a private specula-
tion. do not believe hickey said anything
about having iurthered legislation.
Mr.. Rowell-Do you know OF your own knowl-
edge whether hickey was what Is ordinarily
called lobbyist3
Mr.. Stevsns-He seems 10 have q great deal
OF business about the capitol. l don't know
exactly what it 10. lie is n banker.
The names OF David 7. Li,tlsr and OK Treas
urer Tanner OF Illinois were brought out as
having; IN hearsay testimony some connsction
with silver specu!ption. Witness said he had
which. in witnesses opinion. was eonflrmatory
OF some OF the statements which had been
as
but witness understood him TO have person 81
knowledge OF other people being connected
Mr.. Rowell--Do you know whether. pending
the silver legislation, there were any agent, Of
New York bankers. brokers. or silver dealers
wi.nsss1SHly By report and BY what Owen; W
ing the plans OF the lobby.
these Lobbyists. Mr.. Stevens REPLIED that fe
should not like to call them lobbyists. Owepby
sons who he said Ind been ASSISTING lie isIa,ton Ion
Witness could not recall all Of them. but he
6siieyed he @ lad s made a,a memo andum m Of them
il he could .Gnd them. Among {, he names
Owenby mentioned were T. 6, Newlands. who
Wells. Fargo Co.
WR KekeS ,hs
o. the co%5Tittee' 1,5 names being omitted. and
met Hickey in hotel and he said What
After BY his ! tEYesolusonx I asked Hickey what
"uqna serf The aeSss .pd S' smish n .sa
IN Rcf.y was
tSe Eby ss hs e .e hst Rek, sss Z
wsR IL poo knEss stssos saS
ri 6Snfress so; ~, Hickey said be thep retorted.
Of silver in his !iio. aud viii give % YOU % anew new
1s sS b% Ss a FSos h ST
say why he knew bis friend was D OF IN it." ~
Representatiye Oates then look ,yp tho in
Owenby complained that those with whom he
Witness wSuid not ike SO 70 give M .'a the names Hl;
mentioned BY Owsnby. because they related TO
~ form Private S., HaFs under
81 each erh OF
ten men. who worked together for tho purpose
OF eifecttng tho most favorable legislation DOS
slble.
Mr. Oates-Wss any Senator, Representa-
or other officer OF tho United Ststes Govern
Eent interested in that group ns you learned
from hlmY
tors or Representatives. but prefer not TO
mention tho names.
The witness said that after the investigating
resolution WAS introduced he asked Owenby In
case Of an investigation what parties could
prove the statsments. and Owenby gave some
names.
George h. Apperson. the other correspon-
don't OF the Globe Democrat, said he had heard
spoken to Owenby, though not at any great
length. Owenby told him there was u silver
pool. and witness understood It to he still in
existence