Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
FOR OPEN SESSIONS
Mr.. Hills Resolution as to the Sem
ate Investigating Committee.
HIS VIEWS ARE GIVEN At LENGTH
Senators Gray and Lodge Defend
The Committees Action.
SUGAR SCHEDULE AGAIN

At the opening of the session, at 10
o'clock, today, Mr.. Hill IN. " again tried
to secure consideration for the joint resolu-
ton authorizing the Secretary of War to
institute proceedings in condemnation to
secure possession of certain portions of the
battle field of Gettysburg. Mr.. Gray Dell
said that while he sympathized with the
purposes Of the resolution Cto prevent con-
templated vandalism, he was not clear az
to the governments right of eminent do
main in this case
Mr.. Manderson CNeb) and Mr.. Hawley
Comm both appealed TO AIR. Gray on the
ground OF the urgency OF action TO prevent
certain trolley lines from invading the
battle field, and destroying the old land
marks, TO withdraw his opposition They
cited the case of the Chckamauga battle
field as an analogous one.
Mr. Gray finally withdrew his objection
and the resolution was adopted
Hill Favors Open Sessions.
Mr.. Hill then called up his resolution
directing the special committee 10 investi-
gate the charges Of bribery, senatorial
speculation and the influence of the sugar
trust in the framing of the sugar schedule
TO throw open its doors while testimony was
being taken. He took the floor in slpport
OF the resolution. He argued that the term.
OF the resolution under which the special
committee was appointed neither authorized
nor refused authority for secret sessions
1t was drawn In the usual form and could
be assumed TO contemplate open sessions of
the committee unless there was some good
reason In the opinion of the committee why
they should be secret. With regard TO the
first branch of the inquiry, the alleged at
tempts 10 bride Senators. he thought IL
might with propriety have been held in
secret.
There was no reason why the other
branches should not be conducted in public.
As general proposition investigations
should be OPEN Injustice could follow TO no
one.
The Senate made laws in the eyes Of the
public. Why should not committees investi-
gate in the eyes of the public?
Precedents Against secret Sessions
The precedents. Mr.. Hill said. were all
against secret sessions. The Investigation
OF the Credit M6bilier. involving the inter-
est Of a great corporation, the reputation
Of members OF Congress, and even their
title to seats in the House. was held with
wide open doors. He had list Of all the
Investigations made in the last twenty
years, and he found that nine-tenths OF
them had been held in public The investi-
cation in connection with the disputed
Hayes-Tilden contest had been held partly
benind closed doors. but there we're pecu-
liar reasons why the sessions Of that inves-
tigating committee should have been held
in secret.
The committee and the Senate would sub
lect themselves to just criticism II they
kept the doors closed unless some special
ana peculiar reason existed therefor He
could find nothing in the matters now to
be investigated which would warrant secret
sessions. The charge that the Secretary Of
the treasury had suggested a proper sugar
schedule was not anything so Improper
that the public should be debarred from
hearing testimony: neither did the charge
that Senators had bought and sold sugar
stock involve considerations of such a
character as TO warrant secret sessions.
certainly the speculation around this SEN
atorial circle, he said had not been SO
heavy as to influence the market II IL were
to be made public. Senators were not here
10 protect the market The Senate was
discussing the sugar schedule in open ses-
sion, the committee was investigating
charges relating 90 the influences which
framed that schedule in secret. Why should
one be public and the other private
But as matter of fact, the sessions Of
the Senate were neither public nor priyate
The testimony was taken in secret and a
DAY or two afterwari given TO the press
Ihls course dr Hill pointed out did an
injustice 10 witnesses, and necessarily pro-
duced the conflicting reports of the testi-
mony that appeared daily I'm the news
papers. He cited the reports concerning
the testimony OF Senator Mcpherson and
Secretary Carlisle. IL the newspaper men
had been admitted absolutely authentic
ana correct accounts would have gone
Mr.. Hunton asked Mr.. Hill whether he
ever rad known a case where the Senate
mad attempted TO control the manner in
which one OF its committees conducted the
work IL was asked to perform
Mr.. Hill replied that he had no knowl-
edge as TO precedents, but he insisted that
the Senate did not and could not abrogate
Its control over committee when that
committee was appointed
Mr.. Grny's Reply.
tee. replied TO Mr.. HILL The committee of
which he was chairman. Mr. Gray said.
realized that it was a matter OF some deli
cacy to criticise a resolution aimed directly
at the committee. He desired to say for
himself and the other members Of that
committee that they had no personal in
terest whatever in the investigation. and
no personal wishes TO crafty in the man.
ner in which it should be conducted. They
were perfectly willing that the Senate
should decide for itself the question raised
by the Senator from New York with re-
gard TO secret sessions. He desired TO say
further. for the members OF the committed
that the duty assigned them by the Senate
vas one that each one OF them would have
avoided gladly. They realized that nothing
OF fame or credit could come TO them but
that they would be subjected to much per-
Sonal detraction and Misrepresentation.
They realized that they would be exposed
70 much unjust criticism. But those con-
siderations did not absolve the members OF
the committee from the duty imposed upon
them, and the coming tee intended to per
form its work TO the best OF their ability
Mr.. Gray explained that at the outset the
question of how the investigation should be
conducted had been carefully considered by
the committee and IL had been decided 70
hold IL behind closed doors. but TO give out
the testimony as fast as IL could be printed
IL must be borne in mind. Mr.. Gray said
that the committee was not conducting n
trial 1t was not hearing evidence pro and
con on fixed issue. This committee was
ordered TO investigate, discover. probe and
ind out the truth about the matters COM
mitted to them.
They were to explore the sources of evil
dence, 10 follow clues and do everything
necessary to ascertain the truth. He need
not say to the Senate and 10 the intelligent
public that the committee was not charged
TO sit and hear evidence. II the committee
sat with folded arms and asked all to come
and testify they would be Gcrelct TO their
duty, and it would be complete evasion
OF the obligations committed TO them.
Mr.. Biackburn's Interruption.
MIR. Blackburn (KyD here interrupted Mr.
Gray TO say that during twenty years OF
service in Congress he hai never known
OF such an attempt TO control the manner
in which a committee of either house should
conduct an investigation. He was AT a
less to understand the motive that could
ngw DrOmpt an attempt at interference