Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17
FOR INVESTIGATION
The Senate Adopts a Dragnet Reso-
luton of Inquiry.
BRIBERY CHARGES AND SUGAR TRUST
Will Afford the Principal Amount
Of Work.
THE TARIFF UP AGAIN
BRIBERY CHARGES and SUGAR TRUST
THE TARIFF UP AGAIN

There was an area of low barometer and
Indications threatening a storm over the
United States Senate when that body met
today The attendance was large on both
sides Of the chamber. Mr.. Morgan opened
proceedings by offering for reference a reso-
luton which. after reciting the existence OF
The Sherman antitrust law Of June 2, 1892,
and the alleged existence of a sugar trust,
called on the Attorney General for informa-
tion as to whether any proceedings were
pending against such corporations; IL so,
what stage they had reached: IL not.
whether. in his opinion. there was any de-
fect In the antitrust law.
The Lodge resolution, which came over
from yesterday, was then laid before the
Senate by Vice President Stevenson and Mr..
Lodge took the floor.
MIR. Lodges Remarks.
He was not friend. he began, of the un-
necessary investigation Of loose allegations
Or Of vague and indefinite statements. But
when specific charges are made by response
BILE newspapers and responsible newspaper
men against persons occupying high official
station. involving their public and private
integrity, he did not think the Senate could
anord TO ignore them On Monday an arti-
Gle had appeared in the Philadelphia Press
charging that enormous profit would accrue
TO the sugar trust by the fixing of the date
.
fect at January l. which profit was esti-
mated at &O.OOO,OOO 1t charged that this
schedule was exacted by the trust in fui-
nllment of pledges made to il during the
Campaign of 1892 1t also charged that the
Jones amendments were in the hands of a
firm Of New York brokers, whose names
were given, at the very time when their ex-
tstence was denied by the chairman Of the
finance committee and others. These charges
were made by E. ]. Edwards, well-known
newspaper man. who wrote over the nom
6a Of II Iol1a
truth in them the public ought to know It;
ff false. they constituted a libel of the
grossest kind On yesterday the New York
Sun. from its correspondent here, had printed
q story OF an alleged attempt to bribe Uni
ted States Senators that had since been con-
rrrned by an interview with one Of the Sem
ators-
Certainly no graver charges than these
could be made; no graver crime than at
tempts TO bribe members of Congress could
be committed They could not go unnoticed
had been made the offenders certainly
would come within the reach of statute
law.
II the charges were false they should be
branded as such. and the men making
them should be stamped as nbelers at the
bar of public opinion He trusted that the
resolution would pass without objection.
Mr.. Hunton's Denial.
As Mr.. Lodge took his seat Mr.. Hunton
(Va) arose. AS his name had been con-
pected with the charges, he desired to say
that he hoped they would be investigated
to the lowest depths. 1t was not becoming
In him, he said. to say more than this at
this time. Yet he desired to say that as a
tnatter Of fact he had Fever been approach
ed at all. He felt annoyed that any one
ehould suppose that he could have been
bribed, especially in the form in which the
Rttempt was made, through a well-beloved
Bon, who stood as high above anything of
Hhe sort as he claimed to be.
n Mr.. Cockrell (Mo.) said his only objection
70 the resolution as drawn was that the
He suggested that 1t be amended so that
the inquiry relating to the sugar trust
should extend to contributions to any po-
litical party for campaign purposes.
Mr.. Lodge declared that he would cheer
gully accept the amendment. He was anx-
lous. he said. to expose the pernicious in
puence OF the sugar trust in American pol
3rics.
Mr.. Buttz Wants Investigation.
Mr. Hansbrough CND) said that as Mr..
C. W. Buttz Of Ransom county. North Da-
kota, one OF his constituents, was charged
with having made the attempt at bribery,
be desired to make statement Mr..
Buttz had called upon him last night for a
conference, and had concluded that the
best thing to do would be to court the
FULLEST investigation. He had letter from
mir. Buttz which he desired to have read In
desk 1t was as follows:
ssTo Hon. H. c. Hansbrough. United States
?, Senate.
= "Dear Sir: The newspapers charge that
j attempted to bribe Senators Hunton and
Kyle TO vote against the pending tariff bill.
Senator Lodge has introduced a resolution
directing an investigation OF this charge
with one other.
'I respectfully ask you. as one Of the
Senators from my state, to urge the adop-
tion Of the resolution and the speedieSt
possible investigation.
"As these scandalous stories derogatins
to my character have been given to the
press and published in every part OF the
country, beg Of you to state that / deny
them entirely, in whole and in part. and
denounce them as falsehoods and ISLANDERS
or course. my words do not refer at all tC
the two honorable Senators mentioned.
believe them both to be incapable of telling
anything but the truth. / simply mean tc
etamp the newspaper statements charging
tne with attempting to bribe the Senators In
question as utterly without foundations
"(Signed) G. w. BUTTZ."
Mr.. Harris Crenn). in the absence of Mr.
Kyle. said he desired 10 say from his per
sonAl knowledge OF the character OF Mr.
Kyle that he knew II he We're present he
would join with Mr.. Hunton in demanding
the most complete and thorough investiga
ton
To Go for the Sugar Trust.
amendment, to include. after words sugar
trust. 'o- any persons connected there
with" and also after words money paid
for campaign purposes. ''or to secure legis
latiOn-'
Mr.. Lodge accepted this amendment also
Mr.. Allen then explained that Mr. XVI,
had been absent for two weeks in connec
tiOn with his work as n member of tn,
committee on Indian depreciation claims
He thought that the scope of the resolution
should be brOadened SO to include thC
Investigation not only of attempts at sena
tortal bribery and the sugar trusts contri
buttons TO campaign funds, but also tn,
charges going the rounds Of the press tha
Senators had been speculating in sugar
stock. He thought the Senators in charg,
OF the resolution should so modify il. A.
Ear as the charges Of attempted bribery o.
eenatOrS was concerned, he entertained M
doubt that they were innocent. There wa!
no response TO Mr.. Aliens suggestion
Mr.. Chandler wanted TO amend the reso
luton so as 10 include money paid by III,
sugar trust not only for campaign. but fo
other election purposes" He had reason I,
believe, he said. that money had been useC
by the sugar trust 10 elect United State.
Senator's
Mr. Lodge accepted this amendment also
Mr.. Faulkner CW. NaD called attention
TO the fact that charges were being con