The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-05-31


fuses to answer questions put by q
congressional committee shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, pun
! ishable by a fine of not more than
$1,000 nor less than 800, and by inn
prisonment in a common Jail of not
more than one year nor less than a
month. The law especially provides
that no witness shall be excused from
testifying on the grounds that such
testimony would disgrace him
the president of the senate
and the president of the house shall
certify the facts to the district attor-
ney OF the District of Columbia.
The report closes as follows:
Wherefore, the committee report and
request that the president of the SEN
ate certify as to each witness his
aforesaid failure to testify and his
his afor said refusals to answer and all
the cts and under the seal of the
senate to the United States district
attorney for the District of Columbia,
to the end that each of said witnesses
may be proceeded against in such
manner provided by law.
The report of Mr.. Edwards testi-
mony, which is not quoted specific cally
by the committee but is printed by
the committee, the part of his letter
referring to the presidents alleged in
terest in the Hawaiian question be-
cause of the sugar interests is given
Referring to this matter Mr..
of last year he met a gentle
man who spoke to me about an article
had written concerning an operation
upon Mr.. CleYeland's jaw for cancer
or malignant growth, which operation
had taken place some weeks before
upon Mr. Benedict's yacht.
This gentleman said to me: GAS i'm
portant as that news is, there is some
thing much more important to this
country besides the fatal disease, and
which is now breaking out" l asked
him if it was something he could give
me. He said not then, because he
was under confidence not to do it,
Later, when he had the information
that an attempt had been made to le-
store the queen of Hawaii and it had
failed this gentleman said that it was
thu news which he could not give. My
recollection is that he either told me.
1t was on Mr.. Benedict's yacht,
at his place, or at some re.
sort or pleasure excursion
of some kind. Mr. Havemeyer,
Mr.. Bendict, Mr.. Cleveland and some
Others were present. There had been
general conservation about the
Hawaiian islands sugar interests end
| think he said Mr.. Havemeyer, at all
events it was said by some one that
there would be a sensation in the
country before congress met"
The chairman-"Who SAID it,"
Mr.. Edwards-Either Mr.. Havemeyer,
Mr.. Benedict, or some one in the party,
because it would be then found that
there was peace in Hawaii and the
queen would be restored. This gentle
man was Colonel Hoyt of Greenwich.
He was the speaker OF the Connects
cut legislature"
Mr.. Edwards said he had not talked
with Colonel hoyt since he had writ
ten his letter AMI the colonel
is now dead. Mr.. Edwards said
Colonel Hoyt did not tell him where
lie got the impression. Mr.. Edwards
admitted that some of the conclusions
were his owD and were cOnjectural.
Mr.. Hill proceeded to discuss the
question inv lved in the decision. He
argued thai the senate could not lose
jurisdiction simply because commit
tee made report; that it still had a
right to recommit the report, and If
recommitted in law it was as if the re-
port had never been made. Mr.. Hill
said he had personal interest in the
investigation. He thought it proper
enough to investigate the charges Of q
member, but he doubted the wisdom
and propriety of this proceeding.
Whether newspaper men told the
truth, or ever told the truth, was a
question which, if the senate entered
upon, could keep it busy until the end
of time.
The senate smiled audibily at this
statement Of the senator, but it led to
very interesting debate between
Senator Hill and Senator Allen, POpu.
list of Nebraska, a member of the
bribery investigation committee.
Senator Allen Interrupted Senator
Hill to say that it was not the truth
fulness Of correspondents that the
committee was charaed to investigate;
1t was whether attempts had been
made 10 bribe senators; whether the
sugar trust had made large political
contributions for the purpose of influ-
encing legislation, and whether sena-
tors had been speculating III sugar
stocks. He asked Senator Hill if he
c1ntended that the senate had no
right to investigate the charges that
senators had speculated In sugar
stocks.
"Not exactly" said Senator Hill.
"But l have grave doubt il sena-
tor came before the senate and re-
fused to answer questions relating to
his person ii business whether the
committee could compel him to do so.
The decisions OF the courts are against
it,"
"Does the senator believe a senator
could invest IN sugar stock without
influencing his vote?" inquired Mr..
Allen.
"The senator compounds the legal
questions, ,"replied Mr.. Hill, with the
question of propriety. a senator who
specnlates in sugar 'ocks violates no
lawn
"But," interrupted Mr.. Allen, cit
would not he more proper tor a senst.
or TO invest money On any enterprise
70 be affected by his vote than it
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