The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-10-04
WHISPERS AT IT NOW
The Kansas Senator Talks Through
His Whiskers.
He Wants to Know About Bank Stock
and Other Things.
SENATOR SHERMAN AS eANKIsT
Something About Senator Washburne,
but That Concerning His Wheat
and His Flour.

WAsBINGToN, Oct. 4-[Special =
Senator PETERS proposition to investi
the United States senate hold n~ationa
bank stock or are officers of any of those
institutions has caused many inquiries
as to the business connection of members
of hat august body.
1t was Senator David B. Hill who de-
clared that if senators were to be i'm
pugned because they were interested in
institutions to be affected by legislation
they would be incompetent to do any
thing, because there was scarcely a man
on the floor of the senate chamber who
was not interested in something which
would be affected by legislation already
proposed in this congress. He cited the
wide reaching influences of the tariff
bill, which directly affected almost every
man in congress, and declared that if
men who had interests which might be
influenced by legislation were to be
barred out of congress-, no man having
any property, of a personal or real char.
acter, could go to congress. An inquiry
and a look through the autobiographies
in the congressional directory reveals
the truthfulness Of this statement.
1t is often difficult, though, to ascer-
tain the interests in which men in con-
gress are connected. Few who own
bark stock or are bank officers will give
the least intimation Of the fact, either in
private or public.
1t is nc disgrace to tell what one owns
or to state what business a public man is
interested in. 1t is true that Senator
Cameron, who is a protection leader, is
largely interested in iron and steel indus
tries in his state, but Pennsylvania is the
banne protection commonwealth and he
could not come to congress if he were
not a high protectionist. Senator Quay
may nave interests in coal fields, and vet
he would only be serving his states own
best interests by advocating a protective
duty.
Senator Sherman is largely interested
in national banks, it is stated, and for a
score of years has been the leading cham
piOn of our national banking system. 1t
has never been supposed, however, that
he was trying to protect his own inter-
ests. In fact, he did not invest in national
banks until he had helped to establish
the system, and so if he assisted in the
establishing of something which invited
his own capital, it but argued in the direc
ton that his private and public life were
in harmony. The same might be said of
his colleague in railroad interests.
Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, who
had most to do with the revision of the
Mckinley law, is one of the greatest
manufacturers in New England, and his
practical business experience was the one
great argument for pushing him to the
front on the senate finance committee
when the Mckinley tariff bill was re.
Ceived from the house. No one ever sus.
pected that be was serving his private in
terestS in that measure.
Senator W~ashburne, of Minnesota, is
in the world. He is the largest customer
OF t1Our-making cereals, and yet he intro )
duCed and pushed with the greatest vigOr c
the anti-Option bill, which prohibited |
speculation in all products of the farm.
and was intended to prevent fictitious .
values, either high or low, being placed c
upon wheat and other grains. Senator
Murphy, of New York, the great malster, {
will not be held a suspect if he advocates Il
lower duties on hops or fights for a reten i
ton OF the present duty because his bust. :
ness might be adversely or favorably Ii
affected by the legislation. W
Senator German, the Maryland leader O
of the democracy, is credited with being
interested with ex Secretary FL !,
kins and others in coal lands aud rail- l. l.
roads in West Virginia. 1t is said he is
be very wealthy if developments in
Virginia continue, and that if they
are blighted he will MOI be so well Off. :
let he advocates free coal. -
Chairman Wilson,, OF West Virginia, !,
Who has the preparation Of the tariff bill b
49, 81 r--l. l.. IA