Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-22
1t is Commenced in the House
by the Investigating
Committee.
". h. Stevens, of rhe st. Louis
Globe Democrat, is First
Placed on the Stand.
His Testimony Shows That Some
thing Has Been Wrong With
Some Members.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE house sill
yer pool investiga ion committee began an
inquiry this morning. ". X. Stevens.
the principal Washington correspondent
of the st. Louis Globe Democrat, which
paper first printed the charges of the con-
gressional silver pool was the first witness.
The witness had an interview with J. A.
Owensby, in which the statements given
in the paper were made. He could not To-
cate Owenoby exactly, but
he was managing the silver
Reef mine in Utah, and could, the wit
ness thought, be reached without Difficult
ty. The witness had no personal knowl
edge of any senator or representative
being engaged in a silver pool and never
heard any member say anything with re-
gard to his own connection with silver
Owenby mentioned some of the names
which the witness left out. In
as to the conduct of the senators and the
representatives. went only to the extent of
the interview. Stevens had a converse
Mo. Hickey said he bought silver while
the legislation was pending and made mon
ey, but not near Y so much as was reported
w IJIltcS COulu lIOL say WucUlSE OT nOU
Hickey stated that he bought silver in
connection with others or as a private
speculation. Rowell asked if Hickey was
a lobbyist.
Stevens-He seems to have great deal
of business about the capital. do not
know exactly what it is He is a banker
and the names of David T. Littler and
Ex-Treasurer Tanner of Illinois,
were brought and as having on hearsay
testimony, some connection with silver
speculation.
The witness had a conversation with
Senator Stewart which, in the witness
opinion, was confrmatory of some of
the statements made to him. Sen Stewart
said he was not personally connected with
the silver speculation, and the
witness added: "But | understood
him to have personal knowledge
of other people being connected with it.
Owensby said, pending silver legislation,
the agents of New York bankers, brokers'
and silver dealers were in the habit of
coming to Washington and having con-
ferences and directing the plans of the
lopby-Owensby had given the witness a
number of names of persons, whom he
said had been assisting legislation.
L ut "ltiitSS COuIu DOL recall
all but would produce them
if he could find hem.
Among the names mentioned were F. 6.
Newlands, who bought ex-President
Cleveland's country place, and H. B. Par
sons, of New York, cashier of Wells,
Fargo & Co. Investigation was then di-
rected toward conversations with Hickey
The names were omitted. Reference was
made by Hickey to a resolution introduced
by a representative asking what he
was after and adding that
Smoth, the Journal clerk of the house,
said to him (Rickey), your friend (men-
tion'ng a senator) is going to get into
trouble in connection with silver pool
Then Hickey went on to say why he
knew his friend was not it-Owenby
had complained its witness that those
with whom he was associated in specula-
ton had robbed him; witness would
not like to give names, he I'M
derstood from Owenby that there
was a numoer Of different groups inter-
ested in silver speculation. Each COM
prised eight Or ten men and worked TO-
gether for the purpose of effecting the
most favorable legislation possible. The
question of requiring witness went over
for the present. Geo. H. Apperson, the
other correspondent of the Globe-Dem
crat, testified much to the same effect