Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-18
THE SENATE COMMITTEE
Getting Ready to Investigate the Sugar
Bribery Gases

The sugar-bribery investigating commit
tee of the Senate, composed of Senators
Gray. Lindsey, Allen, Lodge and Davis, will
meet tomorrow for the purpose Of organic
ing and starting the formal part of the in
vestigation. The meetings Of the committee
will be held in the room Of the committee
on privileges and elections. to the chairman
ship of which Mr.. Gray was last evening
promoted. They will be open to newspaper
megj'except perhaps for brief consultations
between the committeeman. Permission Is
to be obtained from the Senate for the COM
mittee to meet during the sessions Of the
Senate. This is necessity, as the Senate
from Monday on will meet at 10 o'clock in
the morning and will doubtless remain in
session until or In the evening
1t was currently rumored today that
Senator Gray was considering the advisa-
bihty' Of withdrawing from the committee,
and It Is said that he even went 80 far as
p conguf with several of his democratic
GendesNpon this subject. Other members
of The committee. however, learning OF this
proposition, pleaded with Mr. Gray to re-
main at the head Of the Investigation, and
during the afternoon member of the COM
mittee told Star reporter that there was
no possibility of Mr.. Gray's retirement The
reasons which actuated Mr.. Gray in desir-
hAS " "itHuIdW were mainly personal IL
Is understood that he does not relish the
task of investigating matters so intimately
connected with the personnel of the demo-
cratic side OF the Senate. AS chairman 1t
VIII be his unpleasant duty to ask many
very personal questions. and there is q
strong possibility that at any time the
committee may unearth a nest of very
disagreeable facts. However the inveSti-
CATION must be conducted, inasmuch as 1t
has been ordered by members of the Senate,
and Mr.. Gray's plea to be excused has been
met by the question: "Who then will serve
from the democratic side?'
II Is generally regarded that the selections
OF the Vice President form an exceptionally
strong committee for integrity, intelligence
and acuteness. Senator Gray is a very
broad man, whose name has never been
associated with any scandalous talk. Both
he and Senator Lindsay are devoted friends
of the administration. but 1t is not thought
that this fact will operate to prevent a per-
fectly fair investigation. Senator Allen will
be the balance of power on the committee.
standing, as he does, between the two great
parties He is especially anxious for a
thorough Investigation, and II was at his
suggestion yesterday that the resolution was
brought up to include specuations of Sena-
tors IN sugar stock. Nothing can be said
Lodge or Davis. both of whom are regarded
very highly. Senator Davis Is considerd
one of the ablest lawyers of the Senate
and he has wide reputation a keen
croSS-eXaminer.
No witnesses will be examined at tomor-
will not begin until Monday next. 1t Is
likely that the bribery charges will be first
taken up, and Senator Hunton is apt to be
the first witness examined. The real inter-
est, however, centers IL the sugar investi-
cation. which may be postponed for a week