New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-01
,BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.I
s. v. WHITE & co.

iBY TELEGRAtd TIE
washington, Jan. 3l.-The "Silver POOP invest
ro,ian proceeds slowly and rather spasmodically.
strenuous efforts apparently are made to the at
tendance and obtain the testimony Of witnesses out
edo of Washington, while day after day passes with
ont the appearances of witnesses-some of whom have
,een repeatedly invited to attend and who daily sit
uithin a few feet of the room in which the ooin-
r,ee holds its sessions. 1t is understood, for eX-
annie that Mr.. Taylor, of Illinois, who is member
~ the House Committee on Coinage has been more
than once invited to appear and give his testimony,
,r, he has not degned to do so. There was
renort to the eject that he desired not To- testify
hetore Mr. Hedenberg the Chicago philanthropist and
no,roit who wanted to corner" the silver bullion
marhet last year through August Belmont & Co. had
even his testimony Mr.. Heidelberg testified to-day
INT Mr.. Taylor did not appear, and the committee
a not seem in the least surprised disappointed
aocount of his non-appearance. IN fact, the com
ui,.ee's chief anxiety appears 10 be centred in
NJ, Ovenby who has not yet appeared.
Tho presence of Representative Perkins. of Kansas.
as an incident of to-day's proceedings which it was
,ho,cbt might lend interest; but his examination
developed nothing Of special Importance. That was
not surprising. for the examination was an exceed
,ncy perfunctOry and spshOd performance, as com
norad with the examination of some other witnesses
rbo we're neither Representatives nor Senators IN
congress Probably it would be better for the credit
n the committee recall Mr. Perkins. As his imper-
tt testimony now stands in the record it directly CON
,radcts the testimony of Representative Dockery'
which was based upon information received by MN
from senator Vest
II is plain enough to persons who have carefully
watched the investigation that the committee did not
On far enough today else that it had already gone
too far This remark is not intended rs criticism
~ the motives or integrity of the committee but II
seems TO be clearly justified by the circumstances a'
they appear to unprecedented and careful Observer
If will be extremely difficult. if not impossible for the
committee satisfactorily 10 explain, if It's pro'eedN9
shall be challenged. why it subjected Mr. DochefE |"
On searching and rigid CrOss-examnatlOh "hH1
other witnesses. who are also members of the House.
,,re bcon required 10 stand no such cross'eAamlhd-
zion. Of course, nobody ought TO suppose OF Dc-
leve that the committee desires UT uosiH"'
to make any discrimination. OF course
too everybody is inclined 10 tolerate t"o
feelings and ties Of comradeShip when restrain d
senator or Representative from public criticism oi
,b acts mr. moiyeS of his colleagues and aSsOcateS in
regard TO ordinary matters; but the present case i
different One If any Senator or Representative knows
that one of his fellow members has been pec"'ld'n'
interested i'm silver speculatOns pending ee>ia'h Ill
Concress-even il lie knows it from the adihssloS VI
statements Of the fellow member to nm OF III HIS
presence-it would to be his plain duty to hpae
that information to tie Investigating Committee No'
only that hut the member Of all investigating com
iteo has no right TO be swayed by the fact tat to
wines, happens 10 be a senator or Representative
there is no divinity TO hedge about or protect no'
careful and thorough examination any man. ne ''o
Senator or Representative. or only PLAIN American
citizen who is summoned to testify before cOurt
or a committee of Congress.
J. NJ Mcdonald. cashier of the Hanover
National Bank, Of New-lork. appeared be
to, the Investigating Pool this mornlhE
and testified that he had paid Owenoy 9-'o
for information with regard to the progress Oh silNe
legislation last session, but that Owchoy huu H'
furnished any earlier information than was publsh'o
in the newspapers. The information was desired ho
for speculative purposes, but for the purpose Vi
enabling the bank 10 keep track of affairs. The BANK
did not deal in silver silver certificates lie Khe"
of no Representatives Senators beng engage" !"
silver speculation, and none Of the silver ccf'hc"'e
which the Hanover Bank held aS collateral Tor hoe"
were in the names If Congressman. lie had never
repud,a,ed any arrangement with Owenby. oWehoS
proiessed to be able to see the minutes OF te eleh
Of the committee in charge Of the Silver BILL out olu
not assert that he could further legislation
John W. Heidelberg, the Chicago real estate oeaier
whose name has been connected Win specuIauo" !"
silver testified that he in Washington about
month last winter and spring ana adVerlisen loI a
ready writer familiar with bimetallism For several
wears witness had secured the introduction OF hhahcla
bills intended 10 carry out his views anu ds ''o
subiect was under consideration he wanted some ono
to write articles in the Washington papers dnN
the use by the Government of joint legal tender III
NAN''N
man named Hill responded to it, and said he coma wv
what writing was wanted. but Witness as soon a. ho
saw him. was satisfied that Hill would hoI sun NM
He did not wish to offend the man ana pIODaD'S 'A'
that he would defer decision Inc Wlthess "aN
then examined at length with regard 10 eaeh Vi "'
statements made by Hill and George Ill thcir ,esu
,nony lie did not, he said say to eithef hhi Va
Ceoroe " Here is something you make more money
ONT Of than by writing" and never suggested ID any
way 10 either Of them that they sell silver cerlia
to members of Congress or anybody else All "i'0'
purchases and sales OF silver were maze tihous"
Henry Clews & Co., and he did not know from WHOM
he boucht or to whom he sold. Never sold to any
CONGRESSMAN or Government Olhcer, ana Hdu ~
knowledge Of any such persons being engaged III
silver speculation in any form. lie had never con
yersed with any Senator, Representative or "ONer"
.nent officer with the purpose Of showing theh no"
uro6tabe IL would be to purchase silver. lie hah
talked with numbers Of Congressman on the general
,hicc+ ~ silver but never with any view OF inducing
,bom IN purchase lie had shown silver certificates
10 congressman Dorsey, Payson and Taylor all OF
whom he knew pretty we'll a. the certificates were
new form of money about which there was naturally
some curiosity He had also shown them in the
Capltol to Mir. George. who wanted to see them, but
never suggested tc purchase vi Sdo Vi Uhelh W aiJ
of these gentlemen.
The witness said that il his intention 10 60 into
the purchase of silver OH large scale, and III proof Of
fhis Lc submitted letter from August Bclponts
banking house in relation 10 Arrangements beng
made TO purchase silver for witness III London 1t
was his purpose to get some business associates in
Chicago 10 aid him in carrying the metal OF course,
as wise man. he did not want TO act lgnorahtH ana
he had sought information from all quarters. For this
reason he had made it point to find out II there was
silver pool of the existence of which the Street ard
newspapers were full of rumors
Witness was not in any pool, and obtained no per
,ona knowledge on the subject The best Information
that he had been able, with all his inquiries 70 obtain
was through the house OF ;. '. "H~ 20 Mr.
White was an ex-member Of Congress- and witness be
,,ed yvouId have as good information any one He
therefore called there. Mr.. White was absent MI
Uopkins the other member Of the nrm' tod "i'neSs
the terms on which they would buy silver ioI NM
Witness told Mr. Hopkins distinctly that ne "ah'eu 10
get information and that the head Oi te iouse "u