Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-23
THE sILvER,pooL.

Several Western Senator's Examined
| by the Special House Committee
Interesting Testimony of the Wit.
nesses.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 22-The spe-
cial house committee on the silver pool
this morning examined Senators Stewart,
Teller and Wolcott. They denied all
knowledge of pool. E. N. Hill and
James A. George testified that they knew
of no senators or Representatives who were
interested in a silver pool, but that they
had been told of the existence of pool by
a man named Heidelberg, who sought to
have them interest congressman in its oper-
| atoms. Senator Stewart said he had
talked frequently with various persons
about the silver question, and in the SEN
ate and elsewhere had opposed legislation
for the purchase of the Il, 600, 900 ounces of
silver said to be accumulated in New York
on the ground that it would have the ap-
pearance of passing a special act of CON
gress to relieve those persons who had
purchased silver. He had frequently
said that those who had gone
into the speculation must take care
of themselves. What he wanted
WIS p6Tnhllcut lcSlSldtlOu WHICH, WOULD
stop speculation by keeping the price
steady. He had made no reference in his
conversations to any members of congress
and knew nothing with regard to persons
who had speculated in silver. AS to him
self Senator Stewart stated he had never
bought OF sold silver bullion except years
ago, when he was mining and sold his own
product. He had not for several years
been interested in any silver mine, either
directly or indirectly. 1t might be stated
that he held title to some abandoned silver
mines, but he would sell all his interest
for $40.
E. N. Hill testified that he was lawyer
and writer. He answered an advertise
ment last spring for ready writer
familiar with bi-metallism. The next day
a man called on him and said he was salts
fed there was going to be a difference
between the senate and house bills and he
wanted the question brought before the
people intelligently. The mans name
was Heidelberg, and Mr.. George, who was
present at the time, said he was wealthy
real estate man from Chicago. Subse-
quently, in company with Mr.. George, he
met Heidelberg again and was told the
bill was satisfactory and no writing was
needed. Heidelberg then remarked:
'Here is something perhaps you can make
AAoACy ou9 Va ohS2 PuAtS>h out VI LIS
pocketbook what he said were certificates
for a thousand ounces of silver each,
though witness did not examine them.
Heidelberg suggested that witness could
sell some of the certificates on a margin of
$25 thousand ounces, and he would be
paid one certificate for every one sold.
Witness replied that he might sell some to
his business friends. Heidelberg inter
rupted him with the statement that he
wanted the certificates sold to members of
congress. Witness replied that the mem
bers of congress he knew were so damned
poor they could not put up $25 margin.
laughter He did not want to go into
the thing and turned it off with laugh
Witness had not the slightest knowledge
of single certificate being offered to mem
bers of congress. He had written num-
Der of bi-metallist articles and had written
a number of essays on the subject, which
he believed appeared in the Congressional
Record.
Mr.. Dingley-Do you mean that they
were delivered as speechess
Witness-I do not know what was done
with them. Laughter.
Mr.. Oates-What do you usually get for
speechs
Witness-If you desire, I will make the
terms with you, Mr.. Oates. Renewed
James A. George, who said he ran pro-
vision store in this city, testified to
being present at conversation be-
tween Hill and Heidelberg His
general statements of these CONVEX
sations agreed with Hills. Heidelberg, he
also testified. had told him he (Hedenberg)
had got pool organized which held at
that time million ounces of silver. He'd
enberg wanted witness to see southern
members in the interest of the house bill
and said he did not want free coinage
Witness replied that he was free coinage
man, and that if he knew of a southern
man going the other way he would expose
him and get him expelled from congress.
Hedenberg, in reply to a suggestion from
witness that Heidelberg, coming from Chi
cago, ought to see western members, re-
piled that he would look after them, and
wanted witness to see southern members
After witness statement that he was
free coinage man Heidelberg lodged him
constantly.
Senator Teller said that he had never
heard of any pool or syndicate having any
silver or proposing to buy, sell or handle
the newspapers and heard of Mr.. Conger's
speech on the floor. He had never heard
of any pool. Of course he had heard there
was speculation in silver certificates in
New York, as there was speculation in
everything else, but he had never heard of
it here or of and senator being engaged in
it. Senator Teller added: 81 never dealt
in silver; never bought an ounce of silver
in my life; never mined and never expect
to mine an ounce"
Senator Wolcott said he had no know
ledge of any silver speculation directly or
indirectly, elther before, pending or since
the last legislature. He knew absolutely
nothing of anyone in official life being in
any way interested in the purchase or sale
of silver. He had never even heard it
mentioned in the cloak rooms. AS to him
self he had not, since he had been in the
senate, speculated in any way. He wished
he was as innocent as his colleague about
speculation and gambling of that kind but
unfortunately he had known something of
it to his sorrow. But, he repeated, since
he had been in the senate he had nothing
to do with it. AS to mines, he was the
owner of some mines which had not pro-
duced for some time. Whatever value
they had was therefore still in the mine,
and consequently he might be said to have
no mining interest.
Senator Wolcott expressed surprise at
the constant statement that there was in
New York some large blocks of silver
which could not be handled. Senator
OtoWdIG udu EClCE1Gu ol tl0 uooI VI tuc
senate to set as of silver spectators whom
he did not want to benefit. He suggested
that Mr.. Stewart might have knowledge on
the subject.
Chairman Dingley remarked that Sen
ator Stewart had already jeen on the
stand and disclaimed knowing anything.
"Oh," said Mr.. Wolcott, che was speak
ing generally. 1t is like the robber barons
people are talking about" Laughter
Before leaving the room Senator Teller
said he wanted it understood that he
meant by his remark to cover transactions
for several years past and not simply the
recent speculation.
Death Results From Cold.
BERLIN, Jan. 22.-The grand duchess of
MecklenbergS chwein, sister of the late
Emperor William, died this afternoon at
Scurin as the result of cold caught early
last week.
AN IMPORTANT DECISION.