New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-29
TRYING TO MAKE THEM SPEAA
THE BRIBERY COMMITTEE TO ASK FOR
INSTRUCTIONS.
TT WILL REQUEST THE SENATE TO COMPEL RE-
r,,c,rp.ST WITNESSES TO TEsTIFY-A CON
FERENCE WITH SUGAR MEN AT
MIR. RRICE's HOUSE

FERENCE WITH SUGAR MEN AT
MR.. BRIcE's HOUSE.
wash,,stor Nav 2s-The Senate Committee
which Ia investigating the alleged interference ..
the Sugar Trust with the preparation OF Inc "ai.l
DILL decided to-day TO report a resolution " '''o
Senate announcing its failure to eompei witnesses
10 answer and asking for further insrucuo"s'
Senator Gray the chairman OF the committee sent
for ex-speaker Sulzer, of New-York, and toid MN
that the committee would not be able to hear MIN
in behalf of Harry Walker, Of DAILY America
who refused to divulge the identity OF pe'so"
given as authority for statement IN MS paper
about the Sugar Trust and the tariff NO witnesses
will be called or arguments heard ne SAID until
the Senate had acted resolution wnich 'he CON
Ynittee would report concerning further procedure
Mr. Sulzer thereupon filed brief protesting against
the jurisdiction Of the committee In the matter
He protested emphatcay against the secret SEES
sion of the committee. arguing that proceedings
Of this nature would be resented by the American
people.
Two OF the witnesses summoned TO appear before
The committee to-day not called. They were
Mr. Edwards New-York correspondent OF Tine
philadelphia Press" and J. S. Shriver' Washington
CORRESPONDENT of The NewYork Mail and Ex-
press" In response to a note from Judge Often
hoefer their counsel Senator Gray, sent an official
notification that their presence would not Dc re-
The report Of the committee, which will be made
TO the Senate tomorrow, Will disclose some testl-
on the subject of conferences between Senators and
members of the Sugar Trust The committee VIII
submit the testimony of Senator CaNery, %hiCh Is
said 10 admit that several conferences were held pc
tween Senators and representatives of the sugar
Trust. IL is said that in his evidence Mr.. tanery
admitted that ne had been present at two CONFER
TOR Brlce 1t is understood that at this conference
Mr. Caffery said there were present, besides MN
self Senators Brice. German and Iiill. Mr.. Rave
rneyer, the president of the Sugar Trust ana other
men interested in sugar whose names could not be
vt Is said, that at this conference the sugar peo-
pie made an argument in favor OF the change from
the specific rate of duty which had at that time
been agreed upon 70 the ad valorem rate which
was subsequently, adopted. but that he tMr. Canery)
opposed this change, believing that the specinc rate
better for the producers OF sugar In THIS couh-
IT Is known that the committees report Will be
voluminous, and will cite number or cases anu
presidents bearing upon the refusal or the witnesses
witnesses have failed 10 appear. or have refused
20 answer when brought 10 the BAR they nave
usually given satisfactory excuses. and have com,
piled with the demand OF the house before wnich
mend q change in the existing law. as It's men,
bers believe the present statute laws are not
sufficient TO cover all cases. They VIII also urge
that the amendment to the statute be passed at
once. they proceed In satisfactory mahne n,
in the examinat of witnesses. Under Section loi
of the Revised Statutes-the act OF ls57-the commit
Zee viii report the failure Of witnesses 70 testify
and Il will become the duty OF the President OF the
Senate at once to certify this fact TO the Dlstrlc
Attorney. who must proceed oefore the Granl
Jury The witnesses will not be called before the
bar Of the Senate
All the witnesses remain firm In their determi-
nation not TO the questions. Judge often
were taken under indictment he would raise me
question OF jurisdiction. and fight the case on that
line from court TO court, as he has before the
committee.