The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-06-06


Vice President and argued that the
Senate had right to direct the presld-
ing officer not to proceed further IN the
matter until after further action o. shs
Senate. The statute in question was
loosely and careleSsly drawn. But the
Senate had complete jurisdiction OF ths
latter until the last moment. The Sen
ate might see fis to direct that The Ger
tiGcate provided for in the statute
should not be transmitted to the dis
trict attorney; and il had complete Ju
risciction over the matter. He had nc
sort Of interest, he said, personal OF
other wise, in the investigation. It was
proper enough that the Senate should
Investigate the charge Of bribery; but
the report On that question had been
presented, and that portion of the work
had been substantially completed. He
doubted the wisdom Of the other pro
ceedirg. He doubted the propriety Of
endeaYcring 10 tind out whether news
paper men always told the truth. 1t
the Senate undertook that great work
it would be kept busy until the end Of
time. Senators could speculate in SD.
gar stock or in silver or in any other
kind of stock, and would violate no law
in doing so. Why does the committee
not call these Senators instead Of per-
scouting these newspaper correspond
ents, VINO 90 not pretend that they
have eny personal knowledge Of the
subject? Why seek OUT those cores
pondents and then invoke the power OF
this great government to make them
tell the sources of their confidential in
fermation-when the very people about
whom they speak are in the city of
Washington and can be summoned and
compelled to testify.
Tie real question Sas not what these
correspondents said, but what were the
exact facts. That was what the public
wanted to know. And nobody objects
to the committee fading it out, to its
hearts content. If q newspaper man
who had written something as to spec
ulations in sugar was on the stand and
SAID that be wrote it in good faith and
had derived his information from con-
f6ential sources, why, Mr.. Hill asked,
should be be pressed on that point In
stead Of having the parties called
against whom the charge was present.
ed? "HoW are we to ascertain" asked
Allen, "who they sce, when the wit
nesses refuse to disclose their names or
the sources of their information"
"SWear them all, if you have any
doubt about H." Hill replied, with 8
snap; and the galleries applaudsd. and
we're rebuked by the presiding ctilcer
for such q breach of propriety.
$50 long as you have" Hill went on,
entered upon this lDqulry-ioo!lshiy,
in my judgment-it is your duty to ex:
haust 1t and togo to the bottom. II
you have seen 6t to investigate mere
Idle newspaper charges, not founded on
sfi0avlts, not founded on personal
knowledge, then carry it out, and do
not simply take the newspaper men
who strarted the inquiry. There is no
objection to swearing every Senator
around the circle. If any newspaper
man had circulated story which re-
fected on my honor and integrity as a
Senator, and il the Senate had seen ut
to enter Oh an Investigation OF this sort
and if the newspaper man diScia!meo
on the stand, all personal knowledge OF
the matter, should be the next wit
ness to be called. | do not think it was
wise to have entered on to this branch
of the inquiry, but the committee haV-
ing entered upon it should follow 1t up
Two of these newspaper men are resi-
dents of my State and represent news
papers published in my State, and that
IS one reason why I desire to present
these suggestions in their behalf. The
other reason is, because | think that
the Serate is treading on ground on
which it ought not to tread. l think
thar no good will come Of the investl-
CATION il thus seeking to prosecute
these men. Thirdly, l deny the light
of the presiding officer, without any ac-
ton of this body, to certify the facts
to the district attorney of the District
and fourta!y, l believei5 is within the
control of the Senate to say whether
this prosecution or persecution shall go
any farther in that direction. / desire
to cffer resolution On this supJ5cf,
and l withdraw the appeal III regard to
one part OF the ruling OF the chair.
Harris objected to part only OF
Hills appeal being Withdrawn and also
to the reception Of Hills resolution,
but Hill continued to bold the floor and
read the resolution which he desired to
offer: "ThaJ the questions asked and
refused to be answered are not peril
nent TO the inquiry and that the presld-
lug officer be requested not to certify
the same to the district attorney until
further direction of the Senate.
The resolution was not received, and
Hills appeal from the decision of the
chair was laid on the table.