Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-31
Baltimore Sun special.

Baltimore sun special
WAsHIHGToN, May 20.--The investi.
CATION committee, which docs not in.
yestlgate, consumed two hours in the
Senate this afternoon of the time be.
longing To the Tariff bill, and with the
most barren results. The impotence of
the committee might excite some COM
passion had 1t only evinced disposi-
ton to reform its ways. Its persistence
in sticking to its silly course can only
increase public distrust and disrespect.
When the chairman of the committee,
Senator Gray, undertook to submit the
confession Of its inability to proceed in
the line it had marked out, Senator Hill
was promptly on the floor with point
of order, holding it did not present such
privileged question rs would Justify
the displacement of the pending
business. Mr.. Aldrich concurred
in the view of the New York
Senator. A running discussion
followed, the spice of which was
much heightened by the repeated but
unavailing efforts Of Mr.. Harris to bring
it to an abrupt termination. Mr.. Harris
is a veteran parliamentariau and he had
the evident sympathy of the chair, but
MIR. Hill is also an accomplished par
liamentary fencer. The galleries en-
joyed the scene very much and several
times broke out into such bursts of
laughter as to draw the threat from the
chair OF the sergeant-at.arms. The con.
test between the Two Senators grew so
warm as to provoke displays of feeling
which were quite marked. The New
York Senator, through much younger
than his Democratic colleague from
Tennessee, possesses the coolei head.
Notwithstanding the continuous efforts
OF the latter 10 take him off his feet, he
succeeded in keeping within the bounds
OF parliamentary practice and preroga-
tive until he had completely finished
everything he wished To say and sub
mitted the resolutions he wished to in.
terpose as checks to the purposes aimed
ut by the committee. Mr.. Hill and Mr..
Harris in rapid turn called each other to
order.
THE yICE-PREsIDENT'S ABILITY.
During this lively encounter the Vice
President displayed, as he has before on
similar occasions, his rare and valuable
qualities as a presiding officer. Not in
this generation, to go no further back,
has any man occupying the chair in the
fairness and decided knotty questions
with more promptness and efficiency.
This afternoon more than once his
quick resolution stepped in to prevent
what might have been an unhappy
scene. ...-
There are hundred men around the
Capitol every day who would not have
the least trouble IN putting their fingers
on the Senators who job and speculate.
They may fancy they are not known,
but it is delusive hope. Therefore, Mr.
Hill was quite correct when he said in
open Senate to-day that everyone knew
what Senators were involved in the
charges which have been made.
summon the Senator's" Mr.. Hill
said. Perhaps it was unintentional, but
it certainly was significant, that at this
very moment he looked directly in the
faces of Senators Brice and Mcpherson,
who sat almost under his nose, and who,
as every one knows, are no strangers to
Wall street. Mir. Hill did not deal out
compliments to his friends on the com.
mittee when repeating the advice OF the
Sun. He told them they were on the
wrong course. Their line of investiga-
ton was not pertinent; let the newspa-
per men alone; bring up the Senators,
bring them all up, bring up the Treas.
ury officials, bring up the others who
have been mentioned as concerned in
the improper transactions. This was
the thing TO do, he declared, if it was
the truth they are after. Then if these
Senators and the others implicated
declared on their honor they were inno-
cent that would end it. All this could
be done while they were running all
around the barn in the vain hunt after
tho newspaper men.
Mr. Hill embodied his views in formal
motions and the subject was left in
such shape rs renders it certain Of COM
ing up again and for lengthy discussion.
In the meantime, it is supposed, the
committee will suspend all proceedings.
Unless they determine to resume on the
proper and sensible line, they might as
well dissolve and be done with it. They
will never make any discoveries on the
present line, and if they do not abandon
it the country can come to no other
conclusion than that they do not want
to make any discoveries.
Senator Hill threw out the intimation,
which Is well founded, that the commit
tee has been diverted from the inquiry
entrusted to in the desire to force news
paper men to concede the power of the
Senate over their honor and conscience.
AS was said in this correspondence last
night, the Senate can never win in any
such battle as this. 1t was understood
at the time Of his appointment as chair.
man of the committee that Senator Gray
Was averse to such service and it is be-
lieved now he is the victim of circum-
stances. Those who knew him best
cannot think his heart is in this move.
But there are certain Senators sitting
ON opposite sides of the chamber
who, however, widely they may differ
on all other subjects, invariably
come together when the independent
press OF the country is on issue. These
Senators hate as much as they fear the
honest, independent press, which ex-
poses and condemns their shortcomings,
and they are always ready to join hands
IN the useless efforts to humble and
cripple it. They exert great influence
over their associates, and doubtless their
influence was brought to bear in the
present instance. The dull Mr.. Dolph is
representative of this set. He has such
an exalted opinion of tho majesty of
the body which he lin his own opinion,
at ieassO dignlties and adorns that he
claimed for it the power to imprison
pefpetually the newspaper men who
may dare TO offend its high mightiness.
Well, why not tryitg
Senator Hill has announced that on
Thursday he will move that the Senate
investigating committee be instructed to
hold open sessions.