Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-04
HILL VS.. SUGAR.
He Declares 10 Favor Of a Public
Investigation.
Senator Lodge Says finger Marks Of Sugar
Trust Seen in Schedule.

IS -la-g
WASHINGTON, June 2.-In the Senate,
today, the joint resolution for the purchase
or condemnation Of land in the vicinity of
the Gettysburg battlefield, was passed. The
resolution offered Yesterday by PETER, as
to the government taking possession of end
holding for public use the coal beds of the
country, was taken up and referred to the
judiciary committee. The resolution offered
by Hill OF New York, for open sessions of
the select committee on the sugar trust in
vestigation was laid before the Senate, and
Hill spoke in its support.
At 10. 80 the tariff bill WAS laid before
the Senate, but Hill said he would continue
his remarks, availing himself of the lati-
tude of d. bate authorized in the Senate.
lie said the investigation should be open to
the public and to the press. That course
would satisfy an honest and just public SEN
timent and would not do injustice to any
body. The committee was not q drum
head court martial, organized to convict or
to acquit. 1t was simply for the purpose
of investigating the truth Of certain news
paper assertions. The Senate itself was
not club, although - netimes called so,
and there was no ca on why the public
shonll be excluded from the proceedings.
He had read what had been given to the
public. One of the points of
the investigation was whether the secre-
tary of the treasury had made
suggestions about the sugar schedule, for
the action of the finance committee. Was
there anything, he asked, so peculiar, so
Unprecedented about that, that the testi-
mony in regard TO it should not be taken in
the broad daylight and in the presence of
the press and the people. Another point
was as to whether senators had speculated
in sugar stock. There was no reason why
testimony in regard to that should not be
taken in open session. He was cure that
there had not been SO many purchases of
sugar stock here, around this circle, that
there was any fear that disclosure of the
facts would influence the New York stock
market, and that, therefore, it was not wise
to disclose how many purchases had been
made ''around this circle "
The sessions of the committee, Hill
added, were supposed to be secret, but they
were neither one thing nor the other. Par
tial reports we're given to the public by the
distinguished chairman of the committee.
Either the proceedings should be wholly Sc
crct or wholly public. Mr.. Gray of Della
ware, chairman of the investigating COM
mittee, said the committee was perfectly
willing for the Senate to decide the ques-
ton raised by the resolution of the senator
from New York. The duty assigned to the
committee by the Senate was one which ev-
cry member of the committee would have
been glad to avoid. 1t was a duty which
had no attraction for any member of
the committee. They had realized
perhaps not to the extent that they
now did, that nothing could come to them
but personal destruction snd misreprese nta-
ton. But those considerations did not alb
solve them from their duty, and that duty
they intend to perform to the best of their
ability and with the best judgment that they
could bring to it.
The personal inclination of the committee
and their personal comfort would have sug-
gested the throwing open of the doors of
the committee room while conducting the
investigation, but, after elaboration and
discussion and a careful consideration of
the work imposed upon them, they had
come to the conclusion that, for the pres
ent at any rate, the end in view could be
better promoted by proceeding as they had
done.
The discussion was further continued by
Gray, Lodge, Allen and Hill. Gordon of
Georgia, asked unanimous consent that the
resolution be voted on without further de-
bate.
Dolph of Oregon objected and argued in
favor Of bringing the contumacious wit
nesses before the Senate and Furnishing
them for contempt. Then Gordon renewed
his suggestion and Washburn of Minnesota
objected. The resolution went over with
out action and the consideration of the
tariff bill was proceeded with.
Lodge (Rep.) of Massachusetts, asserted
that the finger marks of the sugar trust were
to be seen in every line of the sugar schcd-
ule, and that it was a refiner's shedulc.
The trust would buy enough raw sugar for
years consumption and then sell it with
duty on. No such gift, he declared, had
ever been made in any bill, by any party,
to any industry in the country.
Mr.. Vest (Dem.) of Missouri, defended
the sugar schedule. 1t had been intimated
that the sugar trust "put in its work" and
obtained what it wanted. The fact was,
however, that the president of the trust
fled with the finance committee q written
statement that it was absolutely necessary
for the sugar refining industry to heve u
duty of 80 1-3 per cent. adj valorem and a
differential of II. A differential of 1-S
had been given, and yet the Senate had
been told that the trust had secured all it
wanted.
At this stage of the discussion Harris
said he hoped that some time on Monday a
conclusion satisfactory to both sides could
he arrived at as to when the bill would be
finally disposed of.
After short executive session the SEN
ate. at . Is z. NJ, adjourned till Monday,
at 10 A. M.
STATE BANK TAX