The morning call., 1894-07-22

| looking to prompt and efficient remedy
! for this growing evil should be passed by
Congress and approved by the President.
1.-THE testimony shows that two Sena-
t0rs-John r. Mcpherson of New Jersey
and Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania-did
engage in speculation. in what are known
as sugar stocks or certificates during the
tendency of the present tariff bill before
the Senate. AS their testimony is self
explanatory | will DO no more than to say
that think it fully discloses the necessity
for a law prohibiting this practice. 1t is
delicate matter for me to speak upon this
subject, but a sense Of public duty re-
quires me to condemn the practice as un-
wise and fraught with danger. and as one
which, if INDUCED in to any considerable
extent by Senators and Representative
will inevitably lead to the defeat of needed
reform in legislation.
"The evidence does not show that the
sugar trust had any direct influence in
procuring the presentation to the Senate
of the committee amendment 10 the sugar
schedule, although l think that schedule,
in so far as it pIescribes an ad-valorsm
system of taxation, is entirely satisfactory
to the trust. There Is nothing in the evil
dence TO show that Secretary Carlisle had
any improper interviews with any repre-
sentative of the trust, or that any advice
he may have given or assistance he may
have rendered the Finance Committee was
at all improper or out Of place.
81 am we'll convinced that in what
Senator Jones did in the premises he was
actuated by honorable motives and had no
JnIV fax
any respect. ! believe it 10 be due to all
these officers to say that the evidence does
not cast a suspicion upon their conduct. l
am thoroughly convinced. however, thai
no Senator or Representative should ever
permit himself to be approached upon any
subject by party at interest except on
such occasions when such persons may be
heard by the committee of which he is
member exactly as they would be heard in
a case there pending and to be deter
mined.
ut is proper to call attention to the
reckless and open defiance of the authority
of the Senate to require witnesses to
answer questions that may be put to
| them or make disclosures germane to the
subject-m after of investigation. The de-
fianee Of our authority by witnesses de-
mOnstrates to me that if the Senate ever
expects TO arrive a the truth of any matter
under investigation by a committee ap-
pointed by 1t it must promptly take con-
tumaciOus witnesses in nand and deal
with them without delay as they would be
dealt with in a court Of Justice under like
ciTcum stances. But so long as partisan
politics enters into the discussion and con-
sideraton Of investigations of this charac-
ter the people expect such witnesses to
escape UNPUBLISHED, and no one knows this
truth better than the witnesses them
selves"
In conclusion, Senator Allen urges the
passage of law prohibiting speculation
by Senators and Representatives, and a
law to require witnesses before investigat-
ing cOmm ttses to answer questions.
The investigation committee resumed
work to-day. The most i'm portant witness
was Harry Rood, the New York Herald
reporter. who wrote the articles upon
which the present branch of the inquiry
is based. A special effort was made to get
information concerning the statement that
Senators had been specializing in sugar
stocks since the tariff bill was taken up in
the Senate despite their denials. 1t is I'M
derStoOd Rood prOfcssed willingness to aid
the committee to the extent of his ability.
The other witnesses were w. B. Wheeler,
a New York broker. and A. NJ. Scip OF this
city. Wheeler stated he never placed or
ders for Senators for sugar stocks in the
spring with men then representing Sey-
mour. Young & Co., New York brokers.
To-day's witnesses were warned against
diVuIging the proceedings.