The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-12
Executive Clerk Yonng Fired by the Sem
ate for Alleged Betrayal of Secrets.
Accused of Revealing the Proceedings of Star.
Chamber Sessions, but Denied an 0ppor-
tunity to Yindicate Himself.
Two Witnesses Refuse to Answer CUES.
tions Put by the Raum Committee.
Their Scslps Demanded by the Investigators
Decision BY the Supreme Court Sustain
ing Special Taxes Levied by Counties.
BY THE sTAR-CHAMBER PROCESS.

The Executive Clerk of the Senate Dis
missed Without an Investigation.
WASHINGTON, April 11.-After three and
q half hours spent in executive session. be-
hind closed doors, and after stormy de-
bate. the Senate to-day yielded to the pow
erful pressure brought to bear by the CON-
mittee on foreign relations and vacated the
Office of executive clerk. filled for ten years
by James r. Young. When the doors were
closed definite proposition was taken up.
1t was TO order an investigation of the con-
duet of Mr.. Young who had been excluded
from the executive sessions ever since the
Bohring sea treaty was laid before the SEN
ate. This was defeated after spirited
contest, in which Mr.. Henderson freely
commented in terms of bitter sarcasm upon
the course of Senators who were willing to
cast an imputation upon an honorable en-
ploye without affording him on opport unity
to vindicate himself from suspicion.
Mr.. Cameron presented letter from Mr..
Young in which the latter. while signify =
ing his willingness to surrender his office
at the VII of the Senate. in q plain and
manly way requested thorough investi-
cation, stating that If he had betrayed ex-
ecutive secrets. as has been alleged, he was
liable to punishment under the law. and
that he was perfectly ready to abide by
the result. There was much difficulty in
getting quorum. but finally this was Sc
cured and the motion looking to an investi-
CATION was defeated by q narrow majority.
So small, indeed. was the majority that the
members of the foreign relations commit
tee became alarmed. and under the leader
ship of Mr.. Sherman. aided by Mr.. Hale,
they redoubled their efforts to reap the
FIRM Ia 0f thalr VII adj
ton of the alternative resolution.
declaring the office of the execu-
tive clerk vacant. 1t was stated to the
Senators who betrayed reluctance to
without investigation that the committee
on foreign relations had absolutely salts
fled itself of the Justice of the proposition.
lie was said that if the Senate desired to
maintain the secrecy OF the executive ses-
sions the number of employees in whom con-
hdence was reposed must be decreased be-
low the present number. and that secrecy
had been mainta med since the employees
had been excluded. Finally, however, the
committee made the matter q personal is
sue and implied that the Senate must
choose between Its members and Mr..
Young. intimatinR that they would refuse
to participate in executive business If the
clerk was not dismissed. Under this Kind
of statement, despite the efforts of Mr..
Henderson and other advocates of fair
investigation, tho junior Senators who
sympathiZed with the clerk gradually
weakened. and fearful of mourning the i'll
will of the powerful committee on foreign
relations, voted reluctantly for the resolu-
ton vacating the Office. which was carried
by about ten majority.
The Post says editorially: 'In adopting
the resolution which removes Mr. Young
the Senate has committed cruel wrong
against a tried and trusted officer. More
than this. it has, behind closed doors, in
the dark and under the cloak of secrecy.
successfully stabbed at the character of an
official by charging him with betrayal of
his trust. and this. too. without ailowin 6
him to speak in his own defense or giving
him the opportunity by an investi-
CATION to exonerate himself from the
aspersions which his unknown enemies
have cast upon him. The right or the SEN
ate to remove an official is not denied, but
to send him forth with blackened name.
unless the charge is just, is indefensible.
There may come time in the history OF
this Re bile when men holding the high
Office of Senators of the United States will
have the manliness not to lend themselves
to the virtual ASSASSINATION of character.
1t emacks TOO much of the InGuisitiOn ia
have place in this government OF the peo-
pie. The change cannot come too SOON"