Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-29
THE SUGAR REPORT.
Il Viii Disclose Proceedings Entirely
UNLOCKED For.
SEHAToRIAL-TRusT CONFERENCE.
Mr.. Cairery, 1t IL Said, Has Been Telling
of Number Of Meetings Which
He Attended.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. May 2S.-The re-
port of the Sugar Investigating Commit
tee that will be made TO the Senate to-
morrow will disclose proceedings on the
part of the committee entirely unlocked
for, and some testimony that appears TO
have an important bearing upon the sub
ject of conferences between senator's and
mebers of the Sugar Trust.
The committee win report. 1t is said,
that they have directed the United States
District Attorney to proceed against
Witnesses Shriver, Edwards. and Walker
before the grand jury and have them In
dicted for the commission OF a crime.
the committee holding that under an
aImost-forgotten act Of 1851 their ire
fusal 10 testify before the Senate COM
mittee is an offence 50 punishable.
The committee will also submit the tes-
tlmony of Senator Caffery. which Is said
to admit that a number or conferences
were held between senator's and represen-
tatives Of the Sugar Trust. II Is said that
in his evidence Mr.. Canrey admitted tnat
he had been present at two conferences;
of them was held at the residence OF
Senator Brice. II Is understood that at
this conference Mr.. Caffery said there
were present besides himself. Messrs.
Price. German. and Hill, Mr.. Haver-
never. president of the Sugar Trust, and
other gentlemen interested In sugar whose
names the reporter could not ascertain.
Mr. Caffery also told the committee that
al this conference the sugar people MADE
an argument I'm favor Of change from
the specific rate of duty which had az
that time been agreed upon to the ad
yalorem rate which was subsequently
adopted, but that he (Caffery) opposed
this change believing that the specinc
rate was better for the producers oil
sugar in this country.
TRYING THE JOURNALISTS.
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-1f the subject
treated in the report which the Senate
committee now engaged in investigating
the sugar question will make to the Sen
ate tomorrow be taken as basis foi
Judgment. Il looks as IL the committee
had lost sight Of the main issue, ano
were trying the case or the tnret
nswsnaner men. with the ultimate object
I'm view of ascertaining how far theiI
authority extends in compelling news
naner men to tell the source OF IN
formation upon which their news matter
is founded.
The committee, in its report Will re-
commend a change In the existing law
for the reason that the present statute
Is lame and not sufficient TO cover al
cases. They will also urge that an amend
ment to the statute be passed at once
so that they can proceed In a salts
In examination
witnesses.
Under section 104 Of the Revised Statutes
the act of 1876 the committee will report
the failure OF these witnesses to testify
and IL will become the duty OF the Presi'
dent Of the Senate 10 at once certify tc
this fact to the District Attorney. who
must proceed before the grand jury. The
witnesses will not be called before the
bar of the Senate.
THE SCRIBES FIRM.
All these witnesses will remain firm II
their determination not to answer the
questions. Judge Dittenhoefer said to-
night that before any proceedings were
taken under indicuneCts-he would rais'
the question OF JurIsdftuon, and tight th'
case in that line from court TO court
as he has before the committee. Whether
the Investigating Committee will continue
in other branches of the inquiry pending
the prosecution of the cases against thes'
three witnesses has not yet been de
termined. No testimony was taken to
day.
1t was the refusal Of James W. Simon
ton, Washington correspondent OF tn
New York Times, to answer a question
in an alleged bribery case that caused
the act of 1857 TO be passed. He wa!
placed in Jail January q, 1851, and dis
charged February 9th without having an
swered February Sth he was expelled
by the House from the press gallery OF
account OF his failure TO give the informa
ton sought. The law Of 1851 makes tn
offence of the three recaltrant witnesses
a misdemeanor and provides maximum
penalty of thousands dollars fine and
years Imprisonment, and a minimum
penalty Of 500 fine and one month IL
prigOn