Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-20
SUGAR WITH SPICE.
a Broker Master Of the Senate
Investigation.
REFUSAL TO ANSWER
Senator Allen Not Little Nettied ~ inc
Witness's Firmness-rbe hans""
Transaction.


nesses were examined by the sus"r
Trust Investigators to-day Oh, 'he "'
timony OF none OF them was important
George w. Silsby. a Washington Drohe''
,o,d the committee what be knew OF the
stock list on which appeared the h"'n'
NJ Ransom fwho was ascertained 70 ne
the son OF Senator Ransom, and not ,he
Senator HIMSELF az buyer anu se''''
He said that he was notified by 'ne man
acer OF one OF his branch oinces onaS
two or three lists that contained the ofls'-
nal entries OF purchases ana saIoS VI
stock had been stolen from the ONCE
and the witness had placed the matter
in the hands OF detective agent ANU
he thought he had the thief.
Stlsby confirmed Senator Ransom
statement that II was George RANSOM
the Senator's son, who lad speculateu
in stock through his Office IN very shiai
way He made statement with reier-
ence TO the stock lists with the name Oh
Ransom on them, saying that on the
day they were missed they had been ex,
amined by Correspondent Howiand, OF
the New York Press. MY business has
suffered very materially" he said, ana
/ propose that you make the guilty parry
suffer for IT," But the committee de>
clined to have anything to DO with tho
matter 81 do not accuse Rowland, or
even think Rowland took the sheets,
said Silsbv. II think h. used them,
knowing they were stolen property, ana
that ne knew the information was false
when published"
John W. Mccartney. MEMBER OF inc
New York Stock Exchange and sole menl-
Der OF the firm OF Gorson & Mccartney
the Washington correspondents OF Moore
e. Schley. was examined by Senator Allen.
who sought 20 ascertain whether any
United States senator had specuiated IN
sugar stock through his firm since Feb-
ruarv list last. Mr.. Mccartney said he
wanted 10 treat the committee with all
respect. but he would decline to answer
such questions because In his opinion the
committee had no right to ask them, and
ne had been 50 advised by counsel But
by saying that he did not mean to convey
by inference to any member OF the COM
mttee that any senator had speculatei
in his office He simply refused TO answer
as a matter OF principle Mr.. Allen trlea
by various means 20 secure some sort or
explanatory answer from the witness, but
he was unsuccessful
you would refuse even II no senator
had ever bought or sold sugar stock
through you?" asked Senator Gray.
IL would refuse TO answer said Mr..
Mccartney.
The statement of Core spondent Ed
wards in the Philadelphia Press that
copy of the present amendments to the
tariff bill had been placed in the hands
OF the Washington agent of Moore ~
Schlcy before they had been reported 10
the Senate was denied by MIR. Mccartney,
who said the first knowledge OF the mat
ter he had was when IL was given 10 the
press, and he knew no employee Of his
office who had received the amendments.
I'VE heard a great deal Of rumor." he
said "but We had no really accurate In
formation in regard 70 the amendments
until everybody else had it,
In answer TO Senator Alien. the witness
said ne preferred TO take he ordinary
consequences Of Indictment and punishment
for refusing to answer
THE SPICE.
lie had quite spicy littlc passage-at-
arms with Senator Allen.
Senator Allen: Don't you conceal the
truth in refusing to answer?
Mr.. Mccartney: | refuse 10 answer as 10
who are or who are not customers OF
my firm.
Senator Allen: And you refuse 10 say
whether you do or do not secrete the truth
by your refusal TO answer?
Mr., Mccartney: / do not think that Is a
fair question.
Mr.. Allen: 1 desire you 20 answer the
question--if You see ut, do 81. You seem
TO be master of the situation.
Mccartney: I decline TO answer that.
MIR. Allen: Mr.. Mccartney, do YOU not
know that your refusal is based upon
your purpose to secrete tho names OF
senators who have speculated through
your firm?
Mccartney: / do not.
MIR. Alien: Or their clerks
Mccartney: / do not.
Mr.. Allen: And that IL Is your intention
to shield all such persons as far as pos
slble?
Mccartney: That Is not my intention
at all.
Mr.. Allen: And because you believe that
70 give their names would be Injurious
TO your business in the future
Mccartney: That is not what induces
my refusal at all.
Lester S. Fisher a telegraph operator,
emDloved by the firm Of Corson & Me-
Artney. refused to tell the committee
whether he had sent any orders for the
purchase and sale of stock a. behalf OF
United States senators, on the ground
that he would jeopardze his position by
so doing and would be black-listed by
every telegraph company.