The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-18
BRIBERY IN THE SENATE.
The Sugar Trust Scandal TO Be In
VeStigated by a Committee.

an AhNesbABaU1Ou OF the Bribery
Soandal-Senator Hunton Makes
a Statement Explaining His Posi-
tion-Senator Harris Springs a Sur
prise in the Tariff Debate.
Washington, May 17.-At the open.
ing of the session of the SEN
ate to-day Mr.. Morgan offered a res
olution reciting the act of June 2,
1890, against trusts and combinations;
and reciting the allegation that a combi-
nation exists in the nature of monopoly
known as the sugar trust, and directing
the Attorney General to inform the Sen
ate whether any action has been taken in
any court of the United States, either
civil or criminal, to restrain or punish the
persons engaged in. such violation of the
law.
Mr.. sherman, the author of the anti
trust law, remarked that the attorney
general had very curtly and very impo-
ltely referred to the antitrust law in
rather rude way, and he thought that the
matter should not be referred to him.
MIR. Morgan said that he wanted it re-
ferred to the attorney general in order 10
The resolution went over till tomorrow.
The House bill for the admission of
Utah as a state, with the amendments,
was reported from the committee on ter
ritories, and was placed on the calendar.
LODGES BRIBERY RESOLUTION.
The Lodge resolution, offered yester-
day, for an investigation of the attempted
bribery of two senators TO vote against
the tariff bill, and of the alleged con-
tribution of 100000 TO the democratic
national campaign by the sugar trust
was laid before the Senate, Mr. Lodge
explained the reasons which led him
to offer the resolution. In relation to the
sugar trust matter, he said, that the
| article in the Philadelphia paper was
| signed by e. J. Edwards, its CORE
| spOndent gentleman whom he did not
know personally, but who, he was told,
was man of standing and responsibility,
| a graduate of Yale college, and well
known in the newspaper world If there
was any truth in the allegations made in
that article, il ought to be known to the
public. If the allegations were false it
was criminal libel Of the grossest kind.
Forty-eight hours after the appearance of
that article there had appeared in
| the New York Sun a statement from its
| Washington correspondent charging at
tempts at bribery OF two senator's. No
graver charge could be made, no Rretyer
| crime committed. The charge was made
accurately and specifically. Such a
charge certainly should not 90 unnoticed
or uninvestigated. If there was a person
who had been Offering bribes, he pre-
sumed that he would come within the
reach of the statute laws.
HUNToN MAKES A STATEMENT.
Mr.. Hunton said "As my name has
been connected somewhat with the reso-
luton, merely desire to say now that
hope the Senate will adopt unanimously
the resolution and investigate this mat
ter to the very depths. 1t probably is
not becoming in me in view of the fact
that this investigation is to be had, to
say more than this, or to state what I'M
derstand to be the facts in regard TO this
alleged attempt TO bribe; because
think that every member of the Senate
knows that this man has never ap-
preached me at ALL l have never seen
him in connection with the matter. But
] do feel annoyed, and very deeply an
noyed, that anybody should suppose that
1 could be bribad, and especially in the
mode selected by this man to reach he,
because the avermentis that he wished
to reach me through well-beloved son,
who is as high above anything of that sort
as / claim to be-. But l desire TO say now
adopted unanimously, and that the in
vestigation shall be most thorough.
THE RESOLUTION BRoADENED.
Mr.. Cockrell-My only objection to the
resolution is that it is not quite wide
| enough. Therefore move to amend it by
inserting these words: "And TO inquire
further whether any contributions have
been made by the so-called sugar trust to
any political party for campaign pur-
poses"
Mr. Lodge-T shall most cheerfully ac-
cept the amendment. 1t is stated in the
article to which have referred that CON
tributions were made by the sugar trust
| to both campaign funds; and / sincerely
hope that the matter will be probed to
the bottom and that the influence of
that trust in our politics will be
! thoroughly exposed
Mr.. Hansbrough, rep, Of North Da-
| kota, said: zone Of the individuals
inferentially mentioned in the resolution,
is a constituent of mine, being, / believe,
a resident of Ransom county, North
Dakota, and being engaged there in the
business of farming. He called upon me
last evening to confer with me in regard
to this matter, and concluded that the
proper thing to do would be to court an
investigation and have it as speedily as
| possible. He sumbitted to me letter,
which / ask to have read.
BUrTzs LETTER.
The letter of Mr. Buttz was read by the
clerk as follows:
My DEAR SlR-The newspapers charge
that l attempted 10 bribe Senators Hunton
and Kyle to vote against the pending tariff
| bill Senator Lodge has introduced resolu-
ton directing an investigation of this charge,
! with one other
l respectfully ask you, as one OF the Sena-
tors representing my state, to advise the
adoption OF the resolution, and the speediest
possible investigation.
AS these scandalous stories derogatory to
my character. have been given TO the press
beg OF you to state that l deny them entirely,
in whole and in part, and denounce them as
false and q slandcr. on course my words do
not refer at all to the two honorable senators
mentioned. l Relieve them both TO be incapa-
bic Of telling anything but the truth. ] sim
ply mean to stamp the newspaper statements
charging me with attempting TO bribe the
'O'''''' G. w. BUrrz.
Senator Harris-Inasmuch as the name
of the senator from South Dakota Kyle
seems to be connected with this charge
desire to say from my personal knowledge
Of that senator, that, if he we're present,
he would ioin Senator Hunton in urging a
thorough investigation of this matter.
TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION.
Several other notifications Of the reso-
lutions were suggested and adopted until
the resolution, as 1nally agreed TO, was
read.
Resoived That a committee of five senator's