The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-03
OWENBY ON THE STAND.
HE SAYS THAT LACK OF MONEY
KEPT HIM FROM COMING.

His Explanation Accep ted by the
House-Representative Taylor Tells
Of His Speculation in Silver-Re-
preventative Clunie Feels Injured
by the Newspaper Stories.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-In the House this
afternoon Mr.. Dingley arose and announced
that the sergeant-at-arms, in compliance
with the order of the House, was ready to
present a. its bar the body of ]. A. Owenby,
whereupon Mr.. Owenby, escorted by the
sergeant-at-arms, appeared at the bar, and
the sergeant-at-arms formally delivered his
prisoner to the House. In response Co a
question from the speaker, as to why he
should not be adjudged In contempt of the
House. Mr.. Owenby said:
Mr.. Speaker, when 1 was summoned,
did not have money to come on with, and
demanded my mileage. The deputy SER
geant- alarms stated that he was not en-
powered to give it to me, and he made an
engagement to see me later in the day.
was an hour late in keeping the engage
ment. The following day received a note
from him saying that no fees were
advanced. I supposed that the mat
the newspapers that my arrest was ordered
by the House. l telegraphed MIR. Mason of
illinois to see the speaker and chairman of
the committee and say that if means were
advanced would come. / received a re-
ply stating that Mr.. Mason was in Chicago
and before saw him deputy sergeant-at-
arms arrived"
The Speaker--Are you now ready to ap-
pear before the committed
Mr.. Owenby-I am.
On motion Of Mr.. Dingley a resolution
was adopted to the effect that Mr.. Owenby
had purged himself of contempt and per-
mitting and requiring him to testify, and
in the meantime remanding him to the
custody of the sergeantnat-arms of the
House.
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.
The special House committee investigat-
ing the alleged silver pool met at 2 O'Clock
to-day. Representative Abner Taylor of Illi-
nois said he was a member of the committee
on cottage, weights and measures. Mr..
Hedenburg had come to see him with re-
spect to the bill that was pending in the
committee on banking and currency.
Mr.. Hadenbgrg at that time hadi also
spoken about silver matters, saying that he
had been in New York arranging to buy
and carry some silver. The witness had re-
ceived an impression from his (Mr. Heden-
burg's) talk that there was being formed a
pool to buy silver. Mr.. Hedenburg had
shown certificate for 1000 ounces of
silver. This was in the winter or spring of
1890. The witness had no recollection of
Mr.. Hedenburg's having made him any
offers to go in with him in the purchases.
TAYLoR's PURCHASES.
In answer to further question the witness
said he had purchased some silver, and in
connection therewlth he had two re-
grets to express, viz. that he did not pur-
chase more and that he did not hold longer
that which he had purchased. The
wtt1ess thereupon produced state
ment, showing the purchase by him
through 8. v. White Sc Co. of New York
of 40, 600 ounces of silver at 109al, the value
af which was S43, 900 The date Of the pur-
Aug. Is, 1890, at 1l21S, at a value of S45, 600
The witness had put up margin of $1,000
on his purchase. Mr.. Taylor wanted the
fact to go on record that this purchase was
made three days after the bill became law.
This was the only purchase of silver he had
made.
KNEW OF NO POOL.
He did not know of any senator or other
representatives having bought silver, and
knew nothing of silver pool of senators
and representatives. the witness did not
went into effect, nor did he pur-
chase any while legislation was
pending. In response to Representative
Oates, the witness said he had dealt some in
wheat since he had been in congress, and in
answer to question by Mr.. Peel he said
that he had sent for a statement showing
the transaction in silver above referred to
since the present investigation began. He
wanted to be exact about the facts of the
matter.
THE COINAGE COMMITTEE POSTED.
Mr.. Taylor said he had made statement
to the coinage committee of what ne had
heard from Mr.. Hedenburg In reference to
the buying of >silver. Representative Con-
ger of Iowa, at this time chairman of the
committee on coinage, did not, in speaking
to him of the matter, intimate that
he had any knowledging concerning these
matters other than the witness had given
him. In response to question from
member of the committee the witness gave
it as his opinion that it would not have
been hard, If he had wanted to, to go into
the proposed silver purchase spoken OF by
Mr.. Hedenburg. He also said that he had,
retary of the Treasury and director
of the mint, by whom it was
approved, introduced bill at
the beginning of the present session of con-
gress looking to the purchase of 13.000.000
ounces of surplus silver in the United
States. He did not hold an ounce Of silver
at that time, and ne did not. before the in
PRODUCTION Of the bill, have any conference
with any man supposed to own silver.
CLUNIE MAKES A DENIAL.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Taylor's testimony
Representative Clunie of California took
the witness stand to make statement. Be-
fore commencing, however, Mr.. Clunie had
the testimony of O'Brien Moore, corre-
spondent of the st. Louis Republic, pro-
duced, as it made some reference to him.
Mr.. Moore had said in effect that he had
heard it stated that Representatives Ketch,
am of New York and Clunie Of
California had bought silver, and that
in fact he thought Mr.. Clunie said that he
was sorry because be lost instead of making
anything. Mr.. Clunie said that these state
ments were not true. He had never talked
with Mr.. Moore or anybody else in that
way. He then proceeded to make a state
ment in which he declared most emphatic