The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-15
MUST BE SQUARE
Otherwise Newspaper Men Can.
not Secure GOOD Stuff"
How the Secrets of Executive Sessions o.
the Senate Reach the Pu5Ilc-The Nc
Kiniey Bill "Given Away" by
Congressman.
Especial Washington letter.

IL Is the OBJECT OF the executive de-
partments to keep a great many mat
tiers secret from the people; and the
same idea of secrecy concerning execu-
tive business is entertained by the SEN
ate.
During the administration of Presi-
dent Hayes. one of his annual messages
to congress was purloined from the
government printing office and printed
in New York newspaper on the morn
ing before the message was sent to
congress. 1t caused a great deal OF
comment and excitement in this city,
but the leaky employee of the govern
ment printing Office was never discov-
cred. 1t was stated at the time that
the newspaper which published the
message paid s., 900 for the copy.
little over a year ago the Russian
eXtradition treaty, which was then be-
ing considered in the senate, was
stolen and given 10 the public through
the medium of a Chicago newspaper.
and from those columns it was copied
into every paper in the country. The
secretary of the senate and all of his
employees were thoroughly investigated
at the time, but no evidence could be
obtained to reflect in the slightest de-
gree upon any one of these employees.
Nearly three years ago, practically
correct reports of the proceedings of
the senate in executive session were
printed In the newspapers of the cOun-
try; and the most particular stichlers
for the maintainance OF secrecy in ex-
ecutiye sessions instituted an investi-
cation But no discovery was ever
made, which would implicate any indi-
vidual connected with the senate.
Nevertheless, suspicion was aroused
against the executive clerk of the SEN
ate, Mr.. James r. Young, by one of the
senators who personally disliked that
official. Although no evidence what
ever was obtained which would in the
slightest degree inculpate Mr.. Young,
the pressure brought TO h>ar by the
senator referred to and by his friends
was so great that Mr.. Young resigned.
The proceedings of the senate in exec
utive session were published from time
TO time just as accurately as they had
been before this enforced and unmer-
rited attack upon the honorable and
popular executive clerk.
A great deal of excitement was &C.
casiOned in 1872 when the New York
Tribune printed, in advance of its rati-
fcation, the important Washington
treaty with Great Britain. Hon Ham
ilton Fish was secretary of state at
that time and caused his department to
be thoroughly investigated to ascer-
tain if possible whether the leakage
occurred under his own official roof.
At the same time the senate ordered an
investigation and summoned as wit
nesses the Washington correspondents
of the Tribune. These gentlemen fiat
ly refused to give any information con-
corning the manner or method by
means of which they had obtained the
treaty. And after having been in the
custody of the sergeant-at-arms for
nearly two weeks the newspaper men
were finally discharged by vote of
the senate. All of the newspapers OF
the country at that time INDUCED in
unstinted raillery Of the senate for its
inability TO keep state secrets, or to
discover the methods whereby such
secrets were given to the public.
In the United States senate there al
ways is, always has been, and prob
ably always will be, at least one sena-
tor who disagrees with the custom and
belief of the majority of the members
of that body, and who will see to it
that the actual news upon all impor-
tant subjects shall be given to the pub
lie at the proper time. The giving out