Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17
The Proposed Senate Investigation
Extended in Scope.
SENATORS AND SUGAR TRUST STOCK
The Committee to Inquire Into
Senatorial Speculation.
THE ACTION THIS MORNING

The reading public of America will soon
be RECALLED by entertaining accounts Of what
promises TO be one of the most interesting
investigations ever instituted by Congress-
The resolution introduced yesterday in the
Senate by MIR. Lodge providing for the ap-
pointment of a select committee Of five Sem
ators to investigate the charges that at
! tempts had been made to bribe Senators
Hunton and Kyle to vote against the tariff
| DILL and also the carges connecting the
| celebrated sugar trust with certain amend
ments proposed by the Senate finance COM
mittee to the pending tariff bill, were passed
by the Senate today without a dissenting
vote The resolutions were greatly expanded
by amendments suggested by members Of
both parties, until the final enactment of
the Senate was very much of drag net,
including about everything scandalous that
has of late days been whispered concerning
the Senate and the tariff.
The resolutions were not laid before the
Senate until about IL :25, and from then on
for half an hour the Senate was In a most
interesting condition. The seats were very
full. Senators anticipated the consider
alton of the resolutions, and as one by one
statesmen on both sides of the dividing
aisle arose and made suggestions enlarging
the scope of the investigation amused smiles
crept over the countenances of those men
whose names have not been coupled with
the stories In any way. 1t was a critical
moment when Mr.. Hunton denied the
charges of bribery most fatty, counting an
investigation at the earliest possible mo-
ment. Then Senator Hansbrough came for
ward with a letter from constituent, the
man who has been charged with attempt
| ing to bribe these Senator's denying any
connection with the matter and also court
ing a full investigation. When Mr.. Cock
erill came up with an idea of extending the
inquiry as to the sugar trust to the investi-
nf ha hlRn
contributed by that combination for the
campaign purposes of both political parties
| Senator Lodge. Of course, accepted this ex-
tension and dramatically exclaimed that he
was willing and even eager to probe the
entire subject to its darkest depths. As MIR.
| Kyle was absent, of course he could not
speak for himself. but certfheates OF good
character were given him by Senators Har-
ris Palmer and Allen, who Joined In ridi-
culing the thought that the ex-preacher
who Is now Senator from South Dakota
could be bribed.
| Sugar Stock SpeculatiOns.
Senator Allen sprung the greatest sensa-
ton, however, when he insisted upon ex-
tending the inquiry to include the specula-
tions of Senators in sugar stock. This was
| accepted without demur, and again part
| of the Senate smiled and another part
scowled 1t was very near II o'clock, the
hour when the tariff bill must be laid before
| the Senate, when the resolution was finally
put upon its adoption. When the Xice Pres
| ident put the question the ayes were fuif
| and strong, and then he asked for the nays
There was silence. The Senate had agreed
| to the appointment Of committee that Is to
conduct cne of the widest investigations Of
modern times a committee that is to face
the duty OF probing into the inner recesses
OF tariff legislation, founder in slime of
intrigue and influence and winnow the chaff
of malice from the wheat of truth.
This investigation, as was intimated on
the floor of the Senate, will be begun by an
| inquiry into the charges of bribery, for 1t
| Is matter of the highest personal privilege
that Senator should have the opportunity
of investigation under such circumstances
at the earliest moment possible. This sec
| ton of the inquiry will doubtless be COM
paratively brief. and, though Interesting in
its details, will attract little attention from
those who are waiting with breathless in
| terest for the committee to begin its dig
| ging into the sugar scandal
| The Task Before the Committee.
| 1t is generally believed that the committee
will find itself confronted with a most her
culean task In obtaining facts concerning
the charge that the sugar trust has, by
means best known to Itself, secured favors
at the hands of the Senate committee ON
finance. Though the committee has been
given power to send for persons and papers
it is well-known fact that congressional
investigating committees have always had
and alwavs will have, great difficulty in Sc
curing IL presence Of unwilling witnesses
No doubt, the most interesting testimony
in this case " ould come from the New York
brokers and bankers and members Of the
sugar refining trust, who are on the inside OF
the deal.
That section Of the resolution relating to
the speculations in sugar Of individual Sena
tors may lead to definite results. 1t Is raid
that there are persons ready and willing to
go before the committee at any time and CT
fer proof of such transactions While. OF
course, 1t Is not criminal for a Senator to
buy or sell stocks, 1t Is regarded as highly
improper for such dealings to be had while
the subject of his speculation is being legis-
lated upon in Congress.
The composition of the committee is left
to the Vice President. and this is, perhaps
the mcst interesting fact now to be ascer-
tanned. Upon the character of the member.
ship OF the committee depends everything
and the announcement of the Vice Presi.
dent Is being awaited with much interest
While there are many who believe that the
inquiry will result in a mere water-haul
there are others who think considerab ble
malodorous material will be unearthed by
the committee. to cast an unpleasant aroma
around the tariff bill. Under no circum.
stances could such a committee as this
composed of members of both parties, with
the democrats in the majority, fail to Sc.
cure large amount of material for cam.
palgn purposes to be used on both Sides
Former Investigations.
|
mon In the Senate, though there were three
bribery investigations conducted during the
seventies. All of these. however related
to the use of money for securing of seats
in the Senate. In 1873 Alexander Caldwell
Senator from Kansas resigned just be-
fore vote could be reached on a resolution
reported by select committee appointed
10 investigate charges of bribery in his
election. The committee had agreed to re-
port declaring his seat vacant and his elec.
ton void. when Mr.. Caldwell took time by
the forelock and resigned. At about this
same time Senator S. c. Pomeroy, also a
senator from Kansas, was under investiga
ton upon charges of bribery in securing
his election, but these charges were no,
sustained. In March, 1873, Senate com
mittee investigated Senator Jas. W. Pat.
terson of New Hampshire on similar
charges, but the end of the session was al
hand, and the Senate had no time to com.
plete the investigation, pending which Mr.
Patterson term expired and he retired
from the Senate. Though he was anxious
that the investigation should be concluded
the Senate refused to &C with 1t, deem
ing 1t to be improper to do SO while he was
not member of the Senate.
The most recent bribery Investigation
conducted by the Senate was in relation tC
the second election to that body of Mr.
John j. ingalls, of Kansas, who was charg
ed with bribery to secure his seat in 1879
after long and full investigation of the