Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
FAILED TO APPEAR.
A Large Audience Gathers to Hear
What Cameron Has to Say
In THE SILVER POOL HEARING.
The Senator Does Not Respond to On lnyi-
tation TO Be Present. :
MUCH TALK OF A BIG SCANDAL
lFRoM A STAFF coRKEspoNDENT.1

AohlN GTON, Jan. Z4-OeDatOr Odu-
eron did not appear before the Silver Pool
Investigating Committee to-day, though be
must have known that large and appre-
ciatIve audience was assemo oied to hear what
he might have said. A member of the COM
mlttee said 10 the correspondent OF The
DISPATCH that the committee had not re-
quested the attendance OF the Senator, as
committee OF one branch of Congress never
assumed to investigate a member OF another
branch, but that the Senator had been po-
litely informed that any statement he might
desire to make, if any, would be gladly
heard.
The member of the committee asserts that
if the Senate is of the opinion that Mr.
Cameron or any other Senator has been
guilty of censurable or currupt act, it is
the solemn duty of the Senate to appoint
committee of investigation. Failure to do
this is equivalent to declaration that in
the solemn opinion of the Senate the specu-
lation of Mr. Cameron, or others engaged in
turns" similar to his, was eminently
proper.
Talk of Big Scandal.
All kind of talk is going the rounds in
regard to big scandal that is on the point
of bursting into the "broad sunlight Of pub
licity," but nothing substantial has yet ap-
peared even in the gray dawn of the hori-
zon. The committee is accused by many of
not having any great enthusiasm in their
work, and these accusations are applied
equally to the Republican and Democratic
members. 1t is composed, however, OF as
worthy Representatives as could be selected
from the House, and an accusation of
whitewashing would need a very good foun-
dation to secure general respect.
During the investigation to-day Chair
man Dingley said his attention had been
called to publications charging that in one
way or other the committee had managed to
prevent the evidence which Senator Vest
gave respecting Senator Cameron from COM
ing before the country until after Senator
Cameron's reelection, and that the commit
tee knew what Mr.. Vest would testify to.
r. Dingley said that the fact was that the
committee sent word to Senator Vest on
Saturday to appear, but the Senator had re-
piled that he could not leave the Senate.
No Idea of Vests Testimony.
At the instance of Mr.. Oates, who stated
that he had an engagement in New York,
an adjournment had then been taken until
Wednesday. The committee had no idea
that Senator Vest was going to make any
statement respecting Senator Cameron, and
had no information on the subject until
Senator Vest had testified
Representative George w. Dorsey, of
Nebraska, who is also banker, testified
that he had no knowledge Of any Congress
men or other Government officers being in.
terested in any silver pool or silver specula-
tion. In response to Mr.. Oates, the witness
said that he knew OF but one gentleman in
his acquaintance who had any interest in
silver speculation. His name was Heden-
burg or Hardenburg, a real estate man in
Chicago, with whom he had, few years ago,
some dealings in Nebraska real estate.
Wioness never did have any interest d.
rectly or indirectly in silver bullion or sill
yer speculation. He did not think Heden-
berg had ever proposed to him to go into
silver speculation, though it was possible he
might have remarked that silver was good
purchase. Witness had no knowledge of
any silver speculation and Hedenberg had
never suggested TO him the propriety OF
offering silver certificates to Congressman.
Important Letter From Owenby.
H. V. Parsons, Of Brooklyn, was called
TO the stand, but before he testified, Mr..
Stevens, the correspondent of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, said that he wished to with
draw one or two names which he had, at the
request of the committee, given from recol-
lection They were those of Mr.. Newlauds
and Mr.. Parsons. Since testiiving he had
received from Owenby letter, dated the
Hotel Richelieu, Chicago, saying that he
was in error as to persons. Mr.. Stevens Of
fered to read the letter, but at the request of
the committee merely handed it to the clerk.
d. Mr.. Dingley said the letter would be made
public Monday.
Mr.. Dingley said Owenby seemed to be
willing to answer letters from others, but not
from the committee. and that they had been
trying for some days to get him. Mr. Stew
ems said, in answer to further questions, that
in a conversation with Owenby, something
was said about firm which had charge Of
the Colorado" pool; and, at the request of
the Chairman, Mr.. Stevens privately indi-
Gated this firm. Mr.. Stevens said he had
read the letter from Owenby two or three
dsys ago, and in answer to a number of
questions as to why he had not shown it to
some members of the committee be ore, said
that he had shown it to Mr.. Dockery, who
suggested that he hold it Tor awhile.
No knowledge of Any Pool.
Mr.. Parsons, who is the New York agent
of Wells. Fargo & Co., then testified that
part of their business was the sale but not
the purchase of silver bullion on commits
sion. He had sold bullion for many years,
from day to day, to business houses. He
never, either directly or indirectly, bought
or sold silver for any one connected With the
Government, except the Government itself,
and knew absolutely nothing about any
silver speculation by Government officers.
Mr.. Parsons said he knew Owe1by slight
ly. Owenby, when in New York, fire.
quently came in the office of Wells, Fargo
81 Co., and witness made his acquaintance
in that way. In response to large number
of questions, he gave the substance Of con-
versations with Owenby. His testimony
was, in effect, that Owenby had stated that
he had an Interest in silver given him in
consideration of information furnished.
Witness paid but little attention to it, but
remembered that Owenby said cashier OF a
New York bank was his associate in the
enterprise. Aiterward Owenby spoke in
denunciatory terms OF this cashier, and said
he had repudiated his (Owenby's) interest.
No Faith in Owenby.
After number of questions the witness
finally said he could not remember the name
Of the cashier, because it was that of man
he did not know, but that the bank mem
toned was the Hanover National. The wit
ness was Questioned rather closely as to why
he had not paid much attention to Owenby,
and after saying he should prefer not to au-
swer, said: Il would not, like to give a
man a bad character"
Mr.. Leech, the Director of the Mint, sub
mitted Il statement of the visible domestic
supply of silver on December / and Janu-
ary last. He also submitted list of con-
Germs that since the last silver act was passed
had offered 10000 ounces or more of silver to
the Government.
Mr. Leech gave an outline to the commit