New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-12
THE SILVER POOL INQUIRY.
4 SUGGESTIVE SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. DORSEY on THE sTAND-CHARY OF MEN
rIoNING NAMEs-MR. DoCKERY'S ATTI-
TUDE-THE COMMITTEES
METHOD.
,sr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRDUNE.I

u,osbipcton Feb 11-To.day's session OF the Silver
Pool, Investigating Committee was suggestive II
not fruitful one. The testimony OF Representative
Dorsey. Of Nebraska, for example, suggested some
doubts in respect TO the accuracy OF Mr. Dockery's
statement to the committee upon the authority OF
senator Vest-doubts which can be removed only by
additional testimony from one or both OF thenl' MI
Dorsey it is true, admitted conversation Win
senator Cameron about the proposed investigation
but declared that It altogether jocuar or at any
rate was 50 intended by him, and 1t was not OF
nature to Justify the Pennsylvania senator in saying
IN senator Vest that OF the boys' were gctthS
nervous and would like TO have the nveStigat3h
dropped
Colonel Dorsey seemed anxious to refrain from using
the names OF Senators, but half Of one name eScaped
him. II was the Of senator But" now
II one had the tcmerty to supply the blalN WIN tic
SYLLABLE "ler, he would have tho name OF senator
Cancrons bosom friend in the Senate. senator
putlcr's testimony about the Dorsey Cameron inter
view therefore, might throw some light upon the
alleged attempt to have tho investigation dropped
The attitude OF Mr.. Dochery in regard to TINS matter
as well as toward the whole investigation, for which
he is responsible continues to excite considerable com
ment. not all Of which is Of a friendly nature.
Two witnesses were examined today who were asked
to testify Only a. to the reputation Of ownbey IN
respect to truth and veracity. Both OF them testified
that IL not good. but neither Of them aihrmatVeV
testified that he believed that Ownbcy would give false
testimony. Neither OF these witnesses asked
whether he knew Of any senator, Representative or
officer or empoyc of the Government or OF Congress
who was engaged or interested In silver speculations
last year at the present time Inasmuch a. the
chief object of the Investigation is to ascertain that
Hct- is indeed the sole basis of the pending inquiry
omission to ask witnesses any questions relating
10 il caused surprise. That Ownbcy may be the
greatest liar the most truthful man living IS not
matter In which the committee. the House or tho
country is greatly concerned but ii Is important to
know whether the silver legislation Of last
year or the silver legislation pending has
been tainted by corrupt or improper influences one
Senator and one Representative, out Of twelve who
have been examined, have admitted that they were
concerned in silver spcculatons and have explained
and sought to justify the transactions. The question
now is whether other Senators Representatives were
concerned in silver spcCulaOns, and If 80, what weTo
the nature and circumstances Of said transactions
A satisfactory answer to the question can never be
obtained by examining witnesses about Ownbeys
reputation, a half dozen New-lork brokers about
transactions OF which probably they were utterly
ignorant but by thorough examination under oath
Of every member Of the senate and House Of Repre-
scntativcs.
Colonel Dorsey began his testimony to day by read
ing a report OF an interview with Ownbcy published
Yesterday In which Ownbey said a Nebraska Congress
man had told him there $500 waiting for him II
he would forget what he knew when lie went on tho
witness stand. Mr. Dorsey said he was satisfied his
colleagues Messr5 Laws ard C1nnc, had never seen
Ownbcy. NJ. Dorsey said he himself had known
Ownbcy's. face thrc four years but until Ownbey
came hcie to testify. never knew his name. When
Own5cy va, brought here under arrest. Mr. Holmes
thj sergeant at Arms. ret witness about the House
and asked him II he wanted to look at Owntcy. Witness
went TO the sergeant Arms's Office ont OF curiosity,
and found about dozen members around Ownhcy,
whom he recognized. Ownbey greeted witnes. and
saii that he wanted 20 Mr.. Mason. Of Illinois.
Witucs, went out. not being there thirty seconds mo
only other time he bWnbcy was when OWHb'y va,
al the bIr of the IlOu>'. II wltnc,, was the man
Owibrv meant. he Mr. Dorsey pronounced him an
Infamous liar IN all that the term implied. lie never
offered OWnb,y a cent. and never had any interest,"
i'm the invest catOn. lie had never be lntcrsioi
himself In silver. either directly indirc tly. lie
expressed the fear that ;hc committee would never
gcf ANYTHING truthful out Of Owuhcy. T. Nr Payne
Mr. Dorsey said that he had never gone o. anybody
Ia have the Investigation stopped, and had never asked
Senator Cameron any else u have II stopped
EN-Rcpr,scniativc r. b. Thompson. Of kentucky
and j. Rudd # this city. cStlhed that Ownhc' rep
uIatlon was not good Mr.. Thompson said that those
who knew Ownbcy regarded him Il, rumanrcr
l.. Zimmerman. Of zimmerman a fOr,hIy, was cN
amncd with regard 10 sprculauon through the mouse
with which he Is connected. lie snld he had no
know whatever Of Kind OF silver d"alugS bi
his firm account Of Snatprs, Representatives or
Government employees, either directly or indirectly.