The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-03
HILL WANTS OPEN SESSIONS
OF the Select Senatorial Sugar Trust H.
Vsstisatins Committee.
GRAY AND BLACKBURN REPLY SHARPLY
Mr.. AIdrich Opposes the Sugar Schedule
and Messrs. Canery and blanchard De-
fend it-Mr. Harris Impatient.

WASHINGTON, June 2.-The House
joint resolution for the purchase or con-
demnatlon Of land in the vicinity OF the
Gettysburg battlefield was taken up.
upon the motion OF Mr.. Hill, and passed.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. PETER for the taking possession OF
and holding for the public the coal beds
Of the country was taken up and re-
ferred to the judiciary Committee. Then
the resolution offered by Mr. Hill for
open session Of the select committee was
laid before the Senate and Mr.. Hill spoke
in its favor. He thought 1t was in the
usual form and did not authorize secret
session. neither did It refuse that author
ity. There was nothing In the original
resolution that permitted any senator 70
suggest that proceedings should be secret
HII1's FIGHT FeR oPFN srssIoNs.
At 1920 A. NJ. the tariff bill was laid
before the Senate. but Mr. Hill said he
would continue his remarks, availing NM
self OF the latitude of debate authorized
in the Senate. He went on to say the
| Investigation should open TO the pubic
and press, and that would prevent any
suspicion that the Senate desired 10 nave
those proceedings conducted IN the udIh'
A point was made as TO whether sena-
tors had specuiated In sugar STOCKS,
There was no reason why testimony III
regard to that should not be taken IN
open session. He was sure that thefe
had been so many purchases or sugar
stock here around this circle thet
there was not fear that a disclosure OF
the facts would influence the New YORK
stock market, and that therefore II was
not wise TO disclose how many purchases
had been made around this circle,
The sessions of the committee, MT. nm
added. were supposed TO be secret; but
they were neither the one thing nor the
Partial given
public By the distinguished chairman OF
the committee.
Either the proceedings should be wholly
secret or wholly public II the public
was to have any inklng of what was
taking place. it should have the whole
Of IT, As an Illustration Of the unrella,
7 bnlty OF the plan pursued. Mr.. lin
spoke Of Mr. Mcpherson having been
called before the committee a few days
ago. The newspaper men. he said. were
watching the doors Of the committee-room
10 know who went In and who came
out and when witnesses refused to tell
them what they had testified. the news
paper men made surmises. Some news
paper In publishing the statement care
fully prepared by the chairman of the
committee. said that the senator from
New Jersey had admitted speculation N
sugar stocks, and another said that he
had admitted nothing improper. The TWO
statements were entirely different.
II was case Of you pay your money
and you take your choice" So yesterday
morning he learned from the public press
that the Secretary Of the Treasury had
been before the committee. He had picked
up one paper and read that the Secretary
of the Treasury swOre on the stand that
he was responsible for the sugar schedule.
Then he had picked up another paper
and read that the Secretary had denied
that he was responsible for the sugar
schedule. and stated that he had made
no suggestion, but that he had, In the
discharge Of his duty. prepared another
I e..l4 This
ing fast and loose" was unjust 20 the
Witnesses unjust to the great public and
unjust To the Senate. The old-fashioned
way OF public session would have been the
better way.
MR. GRAY REPLIES TO ME, Hill.
Mr.. Gray, chairman of the committee,
replied 10 Mr.. Hill. The duty which had
been assigned TO the connhttee was one
which its members would be glad 10 avoid,
but the duty having been assigned 20 them
they intended to perform Il TO the best
Of their ability ana with the best JudB-
ment that they could bring 10 IT, The
| personal inclination Of the committee and
their personal comfort would have sus-
gested the throwing open OF the doors OF
the committee room while conducting the
investigation, but after dehbera1on and
discussion, and careful consideration OF
the nature Of the duty imposed upon
them they had come TO the conclusion
that. for the present, at any rate, the end
ceeding as they had done.
Mr. Hi having asserted that the Sen
ate had a perfect right 70 direct the
method Of the committees proceedings,
Mr. Blackburn remarked That in a con-
cressionai experience OF twenty years
this was the first time, with one eXcep-
ton, that anybody had undertaken TO
control the action Of committee, ana 70
instruct 1t whether its session to be
with open or with closed doors. He add
ed that he was at Il loss 70 account Tor
the move which prompted any senator
to seek to interfere with the line which
the committee had mapped out for the
prosecution OF its work
case. twenty years ago. In that case the
committee had been instructed, 70 hod
its session In public. lie quoted IN sup
port OF his contention a sentence from
Reeds Parliamentary rules, whch, ne
remarked. should be good authority with
the senator from New YORK.
tee otherwise directs, its meetings are
omen 10 other members Of the assembly,
but the committee may, II so desire eA-
clude all persons from rs meetings
AIR GRAY referred to Mr.. Hhl 5 state
ment the other day that the committee
had better stop investigating the news
paper men and investigate the truth OF
me charges He did not think the senator
from New York, when ne released him
self from the captivating influence OF
newspaper applause, would approve that
statement ,,, -.
annlause OF the press. But there IS some
thing better than the applause or the
Dress, and that IS the consciousness OI
duty performed. Whether we receive tpdt
applause or not We will certainly have
for ourselves the respect which we cannot
do without-and that is our own respect.
With this explanation, / VIII ledFe TIE
matter to the Senate
Mr.. Lodge, a member OF the select com,
mittee. defended its action. lie declared
that IL was the intention OF the COM
mittee to call before II everybody VINO
could be supposed 10 be able 10 thro"
light upon the subject ~.
The discussion was continued by M
Hiu. who said Messrs. Blackburn ana
Gray had INDUCED In unnecessary Hlhss
Mr. Allen asked whether Dir. Hill claim
ed for newspaper men eAShigiitym ig,,isassss aaoii
Finally. Mr. Gordon asked unanimous
consent 10 have the vote taken on the
resolution without further discussion. OD-
lection was made By Ar. Dolph, VINO
hsys them brought before the bar OF the
senate and have them punished FOR con-
,smnt Al the close Of hr. DOlphs re-
ma-ixs Mr.. Gordon referred 10 his sug-
gestion. but objection was made.
I'D. IcH cE TIE srGsH scHRprL7.
The resolution went over without ac-
ton and me consideration Of the sugar
schedule OF the tariff bill was proceeded
Mr Aiarich said Il was an open secret
that the votes OF the TWO senator's from
Jouisiana and the Democratic senator
from New York were necessary for The
could be secured only by the proposition
10 tax 10 such an extent one or the prime