Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-12

THE SUGAR QUESTION
Senator Pefer's Resolution of Inves.
tigation Laid on the Table.
MIR. GORMAN'S VIGOROUS SPEECH
He intlmates Conspiracy to Dis.
credit the Senate.
I HE VOTE IN DETAIL

Ihe Senate came very rear acouiescing
today In Senator PETERS request for an in
qulry into the rumors that have re>entlv
attached the names of certain Senators TO
the fluctuations in the sugar market The
resolution was tabled after a brief but spirit
: ed debate between Senators PETER and Cor
man, but the margin was so slight that the
result OF the roll call was in doubt until the
last moment. The resolution came up after
the routine Business, and bellise-ent
MI Quay Immediately moved that ~
be tabled. and Mr.. Hoar raised the
point in behalf OF Mr. PETER thar
the mover of the resolution usually had the
privilege OF addressing the Senate in expla-
Hatlon or II Senator Harris, who is in the
chair' called attention to the fact that as
the resolution involved an expenditure for
stenographer hire and other matters A.
would have to go to the committee on con-
tlngent expenses, under the rule Acttno
upon Mr.. Hoar's advice Mr. PETER anandaS
Els resolution by taking out all provision
lor expenditures and so avoiding the necae
se, si.y lor It's reference. and spoke for about
nIteen or twenty minutes about the naceS
sity for the Senate taking some ofscSeI
n0uee OF the rumors which he said have
hneo tne public prints for a fortnight past.
Mr.. PETERS Explanation.
Inc Senator made a characteristic speech.
IN winch he alluded to the common people
the groundlings." as he called them. who.
ne SAID met In their little organizations
ana discussed these rumors which found
their way from the metropolitan TO the ru-
raj press. and. not hearing them denied Of
nnclaIIy, they were prone to believe them.
personally he did not know anything about
the charges. He purposely refrained fyo,,
expressing any belief or disbelief In them
ne would neither accept nor reject them
ne aiiuded TO the case of Senator Roche.
though not by name, as furnishing an ex-
ample or where public rumor and newsna-
per charges had eventually become SO ye-
hement that the Senate was obliged 30 take
notice Of the matter in an Official way.
senator Gorman's Speech.
1t was somewhat Of surprise when Sem
ator German sprang to his feet instau.ly
after Mr.. PETER had finished. Folks were
watching Senator Quay and not his silent
counterpart on the democratic side of the
chamber. Mr.. Germans opinion Of Senator
PETER ana his resolution revealed itself
very pointedly in his speech. He Character
lied the charges themselves as outrageous
and false and the attempt 20 investigate
them as needless, needless and almost scan
dalous.
He was not altogether diplomatic in his
phrases in referring to the resolution or its
author, and expressed his surprise that a
Senator should arise in his place ana give
voice TO such groundless and malicious lies
IL seemed, he said, almost as though an or
ganized conspiracy, and very well Organized
at that, to bring discredit and belfttle IL In
the eyes OF the public. In the past few
months, he went on, not a chance had been
lost by certain people, both in ana out OF
the Senate. to call attention TO the scandals
ana unfounded assertions that were afioat
should the Senate take up these rurnors. ne
argued, 1t would find its time so thoroughly
occupied that there would be absolutely no
alternative for transacting legitimate bus-
mess lie went on to speak OF the clamor
that has been raised for speedy mas
sage of the tariff bill. ana he declared tnat
khese demands would not influence the SEN
ate particle, but that the Senators respon-
slble Tor Its passage would take their time
10 perfect the measure and TO pass IL when
the time was ripe. incidentally he let drop
hint to the finance committee lie indi-
Gated that in his opinion the bill would
have to he amended in the Senate He mar
ucularized the matter OF the insufficient
revenue raised by the bill.
At the close of his speech Mr. German
moved that the resolution be laid upon the
table, and In 6 moment Senator Mills was
on MS feet TO demand the yeas and nays
Laid on the Table.
The roll call was a considerable surprise
to both sides OF the chamber. At first IL
was apparent that the vote would be close
and indeed IL almost seemed as tho agh the
resolution would not be tabled. The result
was-yeas 80. nays %. Those voting 10 ta-
Bile the resolution were Senators Allison,
Blackburn. Butler, Caffery, Camden, Carey,
CockreI. Cullon, Faulkner, GallInger, GIb-
son. German, Gray, Harris, Hawley, Hun
ton, lrby Lindsay, McMillin, Manderson,
Martin, Mitchell of Wisconsin, Morrf,.
Palmer. Pascoe. Proctor, Quay, Ransom,
Smith, Stockbridge, Teller, Villas, and Wei
cott Those voting in the negative on this
question were Senators Aldrich, Allen Rate,
Berry Call, Coke. Daniel, Davis Dolph,
Dubois. Frye, George. Hansbrough, Hoar,
Kyle. Mills, Mitchell of Oregon, PETER, Per-
Slns. Pettigrew. Platt Power. Pugh. Rsoch
Stewart, Turpie and Voorhees,.
1t was noticeable that none Of the three
Senators mentioned in the articles that
charged that Senators were engaged IN su-
gar speculatioDs voted on 1his motion.
senators Brice and Mcpherson were out OF
the chamber and Mr.. Vest, the othsr Sena-
tor, was paired with Mr.. Washburn. Mr..
Vest, however. announced that IL Mr.wash-
burn were present he Qdr. vesp would vote
n the negative