The herald., 1894-08-03
Finds No Evidence OF Bribery
in the Senate.
No Money Paid to Campaign Fund to
Influence Legislation.
The Havemsysrs Did Not Bave an In
tsrvisw With President cisvs-
lsnd-smith and Camd-n
Exonsratod.

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-Senator Gray,
chairman of the sugar investigating
committee, presented report t. the
senate today and asked tina. the commit
tee be discharged. The main report is
signed by all members OF the committee.
Lodge and Davis presented supple-
mental report, and Allen presents his
own views of some features OF the case.
The report cites the facts which have
been published 80 to the refusai Of cor.
respondent Edwards to anewer cues.
tions.
Secretary Carlisle is sxonerated, and
parts Of the article in the Philadelphia
Press, rejecting on him, are declared
without foundation.
The committee also says: There
has been no testimony presented before
your committee, and your committee
has been unable to discover any. tend
ing to show that the sugar schedule WAS
made up as 1t then stood in the proposed
amendment to the tariff bill, in consider
alton Of large or any sums OF money paid
for campaign purposes of the Lemocrstic L
party. No witness has testified beioro
your committee that such was the fact,
and all the Democratic memb bere OF the
finance committee and all the senators
whore names have been mentioned in the
public press "a especially interested in
protecting the sugar refining industries,
or in whose states sugar refneries ex-
iated, have under oath denied that they
had any knowledge or information as to
any sums Of money, large or otherwise,
having been paid Tor campaign purposes
OF the Democratic party by the sugar
truHt, by those connected with it, or by
any body, Rs y confederation for favors-
BILE treatment OF its interests by said
party"
The COMMITTEES also reports the sub
stance OF the testimony OF the sugar
refners as saying that the campaign
contributions were made only to the
local committees, and not for the pur-
pose of influencing national campaigns
or for the purpose of securing or defest-
ing national Legislation.
mo other testimony has," the com.
mittee says, "been offered, suggested or
discovered which would tend to support
the statements OF Edwards in this re-
gard. Nor is there any evidence in sup.
pun Vi bhO bb6toAlonb bhNb citAoL Va bno
Mesers. Havemeyer had An interview
with President Cleveland on 1cht in
the summer of 1892 or 1893 in regard to
the sugar of the Hawaiian islands or any
other sugar interests, or the policy OF the
administration in regard to them. On
the contrary, it has been affirmativsly
shown that the statement is untrue az
to any such interview having occurred.
1T 10 shown by the evidence chat one
or more officers of the sugar truet were
in Washington and that they saw several
senators, generally those representing
states in which sugar refneries we're
located, with the view of influencing
legislation. but these gentlemen deny
the use OF any improper motives to that
end. Both the mem bers of the trust
and the finance committee denied that
any meeting took place between them
at the capitol or elsew here. as was stated
in the Holland letter to have taken
place, and there is no evidence in sup.
port OF the statements in this regard"
The committee also unite in saying
that no evidence has been adduced
tending to show improper conduct ON
the part OF those engaged in the framing
of the sugar schedule in the tariff bill.
The committee strongly deprecste the
NJ
Ders are subjected by the representa-
tives of great industrial com blnatons,
'whose enormous wealth tends to sug-
gest undue influence and to create in
the public mind demoraizing belief in
the existence of corrupt politics.
The committee reports in the mega.
tive upon the question: Whether any
senator has been speculsting in sugar
stocks during the confederation OF the
tariff bill p"
AS to the latter branch of inquiry
which brought out Photographic copy
OF an order to buy sugar stocks. dated
March I'd, and purportins to be signed
by Senator Camden, the committee
gives credsnce to the denial of Senator
Gamaen and says that Battershall,
whose testimony was ex xpected to bear
up the inference from the Photographic
copy, is a man of doubtful character.
Senator Smith is also exonerated from
blame.
Summing up, the committee says that
no charge or charges have been filed
before them alleging that the action Of
The senators has been corruptly or i'm.
properly influenced in the consideration
OF the tariff bill and no attempt has
been made to influence legislation.
AL tho bonbhohy sahoh by tuc CUM
mittee is submitted as part of the
report.
Messrs. Davis and Lodge (Reps. sub
mitted supplemental report devoted
entirely to the subject of the influence
OF the sugar trust, 60 called, on tho augsr
schedule as it now stands in the tariff
bill. They cay that mo evidence mas
been submitted to the committee which
proves the sugar schedule was made up
in order to fulfill obligations to the sugar
trust for campaign contributions" but
they considered it their duty to 60 into
more details as to the method employed
in making up the sugar schedule for
which the Democratic members OF the
finance committee. it is pointed OUT, are
publicly responsible.
1t is also submitted, says tho report,
and it 10 proved by the sworn testimony
of every witness called, that the plat