The National tribune., 1894-05-24
Congress. and who have not before during the
same season been supplied by the Department.
THURSDAY. MAY II.

THURSDAY. MAY II.
| In the Senate, the Lodge. tariff bribery and
| sugar investigating resolution, which came over
| from yesterday, was then laid before the Senate
| by Vice President Stevenson, and Mr.. Lodge
| took the floor. On Monday an article had ap-
peared in the Philadelphia Press, he said, charg
| ing that enormous profit would accrue TO the
Sugar Trust by the fixing ofthe date when the
sugar schedule would 60 into effect at Jan. 1.
which profit was estimated at $50,000,O 600. 1t
charged that this schedule was exHcted by the
trust in fulfilment of pledges made to 1t during
the campaign OF 1892 1t is also charged that the
Jones amendments were in the hands of firm
of New York brokers, whose names were given,
at the very time when their existence was de-
MED by the Chairman of the Finance Commit
tee and Others These charges were made by
E. J. Edwards. a well-known newspaper man,
who wrote over the nom de plume of Holland.
If there were any truth in them, the public
ought to know it; if false, they constituted a
libel of the grossest kind. On yesterday the
New York Sun. from its correspondent here
had printed story of an alleged attempt to
bride United States Senators that had since
been confirmed by an interview with one of the
Senator's Certainly no gyaver charges than
these could be made; no graver crime than at
tempts to bride members OF Congress could be
committed. They could not 60 unnoticed nor
uninvestigated.
As Mr.. Lodge took his seat Mr.. Hunton arose.
AS his name had been connected 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
matter of fact he had never been approach
ed at all. He felt annoyed that any one should
suppose that he could have been bribed, especi-
ally in the form in which the attempt was made,
through well-beloved son, who stood as high
above anything of the sort as he Senator Hun
tom claimed to be.
Mr.. Hansbrough said that as Mr.. C. Wilson
Buttz OF Ransom County, n. d., one of his con-
stitucnts, was charged with having made the
attempt at bribery, he desired to make a state
ment. Mr.. Butte had called upon him last
night 70. a conference, and had concluded that
the best thing to do would be to court the full
est Investigation.
Mr.. Harris, in the absence of Mr.. Kyle, (who
was also one of those whom it was attempted
to bribe,) said he desired to say, from his per-
sonal knowledge of the character of Mr. Kyle,
that he knew if he were present he would join
with Mr.. Hunton in demanding the most COM
plcte and thorough investigation.
After further discussion the resolution was
adopted. 1t states that whereas charges of
bribery have appeared. etc., that a committee
of five Senators be appointed to investigate and
report as to these charges: whether any con-
trbutions have boon made by the Sugar Trust
ical party for campaign or election purposes,
to secure defeat legislation, and whether
any Senator has been or is specializing in what
are known as sugar stocks during the consid-
Grafton of the tariff bill now before the Senate
and with the power to send for persons and
papers and to administer oaths."
The tariff bill then took up the attention of
the Senate, some 10 paragraphs being disposed
OF. Senator Gallinger continued his history of
tariff legislation, and Senator Higgins occupied
the floor for two hours. The only incident
worthy of note during the afternoon was the
remark by Senator Gordon that he would pre-
fer to see action on the bill-even if action
meant defeat-rather than have the question
left in doubt until next November, which
seemed to be the purpose OF the Republican
Senators.
In the House the Agricultural appropriation
bill was the chief business of the day.
Mr.. Sickes offered an amendment, which
was adopted, appropriating $4,000 for expert
ments in the growth of textile fibers, and for
the purchase and distribution of seeds of fbers.
His amendment was intended to encourage the
introduction and growth of ramie, Chinese
plant resembling silk and almost as valuable as
silk, which he said would grow like weed in
the South, West, and Southwest
Amendments were proposed by Mr.. Hatch
and agreed to authorizing the Secretary of
Agriculture to secure an Executive seal for the
Department, and also providing that any per-
son who should knowingly publish any false
weather forecast or warning should be fined in
a sum not to exceed $780, or Imprisonment not
exceeding 80 days, or both.
Mr.. Hatch offered an additional paragraph
making it misdemeanor to publish or make
use of false weather forecasts or warnings, and
fixing the punishment for such misdemeanor
fine not exceeding $780, or Imprisonment not
exceeding 80 days or both. He had read GER
tain communications stating that Weather Bu-
reau warnings were used as vertisements.
The existing statutes did not cover the case.
The bill was passed.