The herald., 1894-05-25
BRIBERY INVESTIGATIONS.
Senators Kyle and HuntOn
EXOnerated.
The Sugar Trust and Tariff
Legislation.
Its Alleged Influence in Shaping the
Senate Bill.
Secret Inquiry Into the Charges %
Corruption - Newspaper Oerre-
spOndents Refuse to Tell
All Thoy Know.
By the AHsociatad Press.

By the Associated Press
| WASHINGTON, May 24-The senate
bribery investigation committee has
sent the testimony taken in the first
part of its inquiry relating to the at
tempted bribery of Senators Kyle and
hunton to the printer, and expects to
report to the senate within few days
the result OF its investigation. 1t 10
understood the report will entirely ex-
onorate Senators Hunton and Kyle in
the matter.
The bribery investigation COMMITTEES
today began a secret inquiry into the
connection of the sugar, trust with tariff
legislstion. E. ]. Edwards, author of
the Holland letter in the Philadelphia
Press, was before the committee several
hours. 1t is known he presented
written memorandum giving the same
| sources of information contained in the
letter. He declined to state his author
ity for the information that Secretary
Carlisle appeared before the tariff sub
committee (Jones, Vest and Mills)
before the original senate bill was re-
ported, and insisted that sugar be given
protection because OF party pledges
made before the election, or for the
statement that Carlisle himself had re-
viBed and written the sugar schedule.
This schedule, as prepared By Carlisle,
he eaid, WAS still in existence. the fact
could be definitely ascertsined by sum-
noning the members of the finance
committee.
Other statements, his authority for
which Edwards declined to give, were
that 100000 was contributed by the
sugar trust to the Democratic cam mpsign
fund in 1892, and Mess-s. Moore q
Seley (who, he said, were Senator Brice's
brokers) had been in possession of the
latest amendments to the tariff bill when
Voorhees, atill insisted that no amend
ments had been agreed to. This firm,
he said. had representative 10 Wash
ington to whom the amendments were
handed.
Edwards stated, according to his
information, the money was not con-
tributed directly to the national COM
mittee, but given to other organizations
nor WAS his information positive that
the sugar trust, as such, made the con-
t-lbution. 1t may have been made
through individuals with the under-
standing, in csse of success, that the
legislation. He instsnced the state
ment by Governor Waller of Connecti-
cut, before the investigating committee
of that state, that wealthy men of New
York contributed 500 600 toward Demo-
cratic success in Connecticut. Edwards
said half had been contributed by Have
meyer and half by Z. @. Benedcr. He
said it was notorious that leading men,
bers OF the Democratic party in Con-
necticut had been in consultstion with
wealthy Democrats of New York prior
to the election.
Mr. Edwards said his first informs-
tion as to the interest of the sugar trust
in politics had come to him in the
spring OF 1892, when 1t had contributed
$4,000 to the cause of the 'anti-snap-
pers" in New York. and he thought COM
paratively little of this until he heard
OF its further large donations in the fall
OF that year. His first intimation of Mr..
Havemeyer's interest in tariff legisla-
tion had been received from an inter-
view with that gentleman published in
the Brooklyn Eagle as early as the 25th
of last January, in which he said the
tariff bill would be looked after when 1t
should reach the senate.
I'VE are not without influence in the
senate" Mr.. Hsvemeyer was reported
to have said. "We are not impGtent
tnere."
Mr.. Edwards also said Harpers
Weekly, OF which Secretary Scherse Ia
edltor, had asserted the sugar trust was
not without friends in the cabinet and
in congress, and he said he had OBJ
tanned his information about the re-
ported meeting of Mr.. Havemeyer and
Senators Brice and smith at the Arling-
ton hotel in this city from newspaper
pu ublications.
With reference to the speculation of
senators in sugar trust stock he said it
was matter of common report in New
York that four or five senators had en-
gagged in this speculation. but he said
owing to the fact that their dealings
came under the class known as privil-
eyed puts and calls, there was no record
Kept of them and the fact of their trad
log would be dlfficulS to prove
He suggested that Messrs. Havsmeyer,
John Searles, ex-Congressma Lefevre,
Cord Meyer, II. M. Terrell and MIR.
Reed be summoned as men who would
oa able to throw light on the operations
oi the sugar trust.
The afternoon session was brought to
d sudden halt by the COMMITTEES de-
rnanding that Mr.. Edwards give his au-
tnority for the statements made in his
restimony concerning Secretary Carl
-le's interview with the sub COMMITTEES
o; the finance committee and the COM
nttee drafting the sugar schedule.
tnis Mr. Edwards declined TO do. The
committee insisting. he asked to De
allowed to consult with his attorney,
udge Dittenhoefer. who vas in the
city. The request was granted and the
80 ut,il la
dr. Edwards went in search of his
awyer.
Mr.. Edwards returned to the commit
zee room after an absence OF an hoar,
accompanied by judge Dittenhoeler.
After brief conference the committee
ecIded to postpone further considera-
ION OF the question of excueing MIR.
Edwards from divulging his authority