The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-25

WASHINGTON, May 24.-The Sena.
torial bribery committee this morning
took up the sugar trust feature of it's
investigation. 1t was decided TO do this
after long discussion among the man.
oers OF the committee, and tho first wit
ness called was called was r. ]. Ed
wards, better known as HOLLAND. >" the
New York correspondent of tho Phila-
delphia Press.
1t was Mr.. Edwards who made the
original allegations that a deal had
been made between members of the
sugar trust and certain Democratic
Senators by which tho trust was to be
provided for more literally in tho bill.
Edwards was questioned in regard to
his statements In the Press that Secre-
tary Carlisle haa participated in
conference at which the sugar schedule
OF the tariff bill was amended at the
demand OF the sugar trust, and that the
trust had contributed to the Democratic
campaign fund in confederation of a
promise that its interests should be-
protected.
He gave some general information on
these points, but refused to furnish the
sources OF his authority or give any in
NATION whatever concerning names.
HIS testimony in tho main consisted of
repetition OF the statements he had
made IN the Press. with positive asser-
tions that he had the best authority for
making them.
Edwards finally gave to the commit.
tee the names OF tho persons who had
told him that the sugar trust had con-
trlouted 20 the Democratic campaign
fund, but the committee failed signally
with the afternoon session in an en-
deavor 10 obtain FROM him tho name of
his informant about the alleged so called
Carlisle conference.
MIR. Edwards said he would not dis
close this gentleman's name until he
was compelled to do so, and Senator AL
len told him that he could not plead
privilege except on the ground that his
disclosures would tend to incriminate
himself Nj. Edwards therefore asked
that bis eN animation b. suspended I'm
III he could Cunsult with his LAWYER.
Judge DittennOeter, OF New York, and
the committee allowed him to 20 for
that purpose.
Whom he came later in the day he
brought with him his counsel, Judge
Dittenhoefer, Of New York, and he said
tnat by the latter's advice he declined
to give the names OF his informants.
The next witness was John 8. Shriyer.
the Washington correspondent of the
NV York Mail and Express. He was
examined in regard to dispatch which
appeared in his paper on May 10, in
which he stated that prominent wire
manufacturer, who came to Washington
to endeavor TO gain q hearing before the
Senate finance committee, had overheard
conference carried on in a room at his
hoael between Senators and sugar trust
magnates, whose voices he recoqnized.
In the course of this conference the wire
ma mn fua
on the Democratic Senators that the
truss must be cared for or tho Wilson
bill would be killed.
Schr.yer acknowledged that he had
written the dispatch, but declined to
give any names. lie said the wire man
hao told tho story to a Congressman and
the latter had told Schrver and another
cores pondent, but that the Congress
man, while he gave him the story Tor
publication, did not wish to be brought
into the scandal or be called upon to
testify, and had made the witness
promise not to reveal his name.
The last witness was Harry Walker,
the Washington correspondent OF the
New York Daily America. His stten-
lion WAS called 10 a dispatch from Wash
ington in the Daily America last Janu-
airy, in WHICH it was stated that Con-
gresham Bourke Cochran, Nom Der of
the ways and means committee, which
was then engaged in making up tho
tariff bill, was tho attorney OF the sugar
trust and would endeavor to have a
duty put on sugar, and, furthermore,
that ne would nor vote for the bill If
sugar was not sufficiently protected.
Wa4Ser acknowledge that he was the
author of the dispatch, and he said that
two members OF the ways and means
com mittee we're his authority. Cock
ran, said the witness. came to see him
about tho allegations made, and in the
explanation which the Congressman
mate ne gave Walker inform ton on