The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-29
TO PUNISH REPORTERS.

I
Against Edwards and shriver for Con-
tempt.
WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator Gray.
chairman of the select committee to in
vestigate the alleged operations of the
sugar trust in connection with the tariff
legislation, today submitted a partial re-
port of the proceedings OF that commit
tee bearing upon the refusal of the
newspaper CORES pondeHts, Edwards,
Shriver and Walker to answer questions
propounded by members of the COM
mittee.
Edwards said: 'sThat Isuppose, shall
have to decline to answer; L do it with
the utmost respect to the committee and
the senate. The information was given
to me under obligations of the highest
confidence by the one who entailed that
obligation so that l do not feel at liberty
to reveal his name"
The witness requested time in which
to consult counsel, which request was
granted
The following day, on the 25th of
May, Edwards reappeared before the
committee. accompanied by his counsel
when the committee through their chair
man. repeated the question. WhereupOn
the witness by his counsel filed his OBJ
jections to answering the question.
Bill Submitted to Brokers.
The several objections were overruled.
The report then gives the various ques-
tions asked of Mr.. Edwards and which
he declined to answer. They include
the question about Mr.. Carlisle also
gardlng the informant to the meet
ing of senators in a Washington hotel
with representatives of the sugar trust.
Also the statement that the sugar
schedule was in the hands of Moore
and Schley, brokers, before being re-
ported to the senate and also as to the
statement that the Sunday before the
tariff bill was reported, there had been
Ill,
at the capitol who dictated the sugar
schedule. To each of these questions
Edwards said the same person gave him
the Information and declined to give his
name.
The report next cites the examination
of John 5. Shriver, another Washington
correspondent, who on being shown
copy of dispatch to his paper on the
10Th inst, relating to the particulars of
alleged conference on night
while the tariff bill was in committee at
the Arlington, between certain senators
and members of the sugar trust, which
had been overheard by wire manufac-
turer occupying adjoining room, adj
mitted having sent the dispatch to the
paper, but refused to give the name of
his informant
Didn't Improve His Chance.
The committee dwelt upon one para
graph from Mr.. Shriver's article, read
ing as follows:
There are number of senators who
will be glad if this Investigation should
fail, simply because then they could
charge the correspondents with circu-
lating scandalous reports and have
another chance to denounce the press
upon the senate floor. But if the news
paper men are given chance to tell all
they know, some interesting develop
nents will be made"
The recommendation Of the committee
is as follows: In the opinion of the com
mittee each question put to each of said
Witnesses was a proper question and
pertinent to the question under inquiry
before the committee and was necessary
to make the examination ordered and
that each of said witnesses is in con-
tempt of the senate and ought to be
dealt with for mis- misconduct.
The law provides fine of not more
than $1,000, nor less than $500, and i'm
prisonment in a common jail of not more
than one year nor less than . month.
Senator Gray has prepared and sub
mitted to the vice president a warrant
directing the district attorney to proceed
against the witnesses Edwards and
Shriver under the act of 1885.