New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-03
CALLING FOR INVESTIGATION
Mr. CHANDLER WANTS THE SENATE TO
KEEP AN EYE ON THAT COAL
COMPANY
HE SAYS 1T Is TINE TO TURN THE LIGHT OF
DAY UPON THE DOMINION COMPANY AND
SIMILAR 'PLoTTERs AGAINST THE IN


TEREsTs OF THE PEOPLE"
washington. Aug. 2-Senator Chandler CRepr
n h occupied hour and hat in the Senate
to-day in a statement OF the reasons why he had
offered. and why the Senate should adopt his reso
luton for an investigation Of the history OF the
Dominion Coal Company. of Nova Scotia, IN con-
necton with assurances that the tariff duty OF 10
cents a ton on coal would be removed by Congress
He quoted from the prospectus OF the company to
show that that the principal inducement 10
help out the sale of Its stocks and bonds. which
consisted. he said. OF $5,000.00) common stock (of
which sl3,50OO00 water. 100000 of preferred
stock and 50 100000 OF bonds one-half of which pre-
ferred stock and bonds. he intmated. was to be
retained IN the treasury OF the company for cor
ruption purposes. He gave the names Of Henry
Whitney. of Boston; Frank Jones. OF New-York.
and John Z. Russell. Of Massachusetts. as officers
or representatives OF the company ana referred TO
the statements that Mr. Russell of the
Presidents inn-ktchen Cabinet advisers. who had
been consulted as 10 the famous Wilson letter, and
who had been loud In his declarations about the
hote,s and In the railroad cars. that the President
would insist on free coal He thought that such
a statement of facts not only justified but required
the proposition for investigation.
There a few interruptions of Mr. Chambers
speech but there was no reply made to Il, and Mr..
Hi dem. y. " moved 10 lay the resolution on
the table. That motion wes rejected-yeas. 10;
nays. 60 The resolution then went TO the calendar.
and ony be brought BEFORE the SENATE again
on a m on and by majority vote.
The Slndry Civil Appropriation bill was then
taken I'D, and was. after many amendments, passed.
leaving the General Deficiency bill the only ap-
propriaton on which the Senate has yet to act.
The Populist Senator from Kansas the sponsor
for bill conceived and prepared by the Representa-
tives Of 1.-The United States Industrial Army now
encamped near Washington on It's march 10 the
capital under the of which the Secretary
of War Is to inaugurate system OF pubic I'M
provements that will furnish employment 10 al.
United States citizens who may apply for 1t al the
minimum wages OF g a day. and the Secretary OF
the Treasury is to provide fund for their pay
ment by the issue Of s2500Oo0oo In Treasury notes
When the Vice President laid before the Senate
the resolution offered yesterday by Mr. Chandler for
an investigation Of the organization and history OF
the Dominion Coal Company Mr.. Chandler ad-
dressed the Senate, giving statement OF the crcum-
stances which he thought justified him in Offering
the resolution He had been informed. he said. and
had doubt OF the fact. that the options on the
mining property had been bargained for IN 1892 pre-
viously 10 the Presidential election and that the
final arrangements were not concluded until after
the Presidential election The popularity Of the
prospectus and that which led him 10 offer the
resolution that IL evidently scheme that
to go forward in of legislation Of certain
character by Congress. The whole gravamen Of the
prospectus that by reason OF the success OF
tariff reform IN the United States Of the success
OF some other IDEAS, or or the erection 10 once OF
President. OF some Congress. the duty on
coal OF 70 cents ton was TO be removed so that
the Dominion Coal Company could make money
Mr.. Hill rose st this point. and Mr.. Chandler SAID
that he not surprised at that Senator rising
II understood" Mr. Hill said. that the sugges-
ton of the Senator from New Hampshire was that
he wanted to watch this coal company There is
no objection TO that on the part Of anybody. But
this resolution seems TO comprehend something fur
Their. namely. the investigation OF its affairs"
The Senator from New-York" Mr.. Chandler
said will see exactly to what extent purpose TO
impute motives 20 the advocates OF free coal shall
not say that every advocate Of free coal has been
Influenced by the Dominion Coal Company.
You had better not" Mr.. Gray remarked in an
undertone.
Far be II from me TO say that. Put say that
when you have Nova Scotia coal company with
321 OF capital established the fundamental
provision that duty coal shall be removed, II Is
time for Congress TO see what that company Is
doing and 10 protect the Senator from New-fork
when he goes for free coal in this chamber from
any intimation of being improperly Influenced.
UAughter) And II any officer Of the United States.
be he high or be be low. be he great or be he
small is in danger OF being Influenced In his public
action by this $2 10000 in stocks and bonds. con-
venently on hand. Congress should investigate H.
not for the purpose OF doing injury TO any human
being but for the purpose OF removing good men
all from suspicion and Of driving from the city all
bad men who are engaged, with money in their
hands, In attempting to influence the legislation OF
this pure and upright Senate.
Mr.. Chandler did not intend. he said. to name any
public official. because IL the resolution were
adopted and the investigation carried out all the
facts would be apparent; and II no public onicia
and member Of Congress held stock or bohds
Of the Dominion Coal Company and had no IN.
anybody. but without Investigation. injustice
MI" Mr. GRAY Suggested that II the Senator from New
Hampshire HAD such grounds OF suspicion ss au u
thori1ed him TO offer his se oras
suspected. The matter. he said, had been bruited
Mere endeavoring 10 defeat tariff legislation 1t
had come to the attention OF parties whose names
had drawn from different partes-he did not know
from any member OF the Goyernmen,-specifiiG
o oson. the 81 i Dominion Union Coal Company
am pessS T 1nm M sha MENTION
names. / say that have no knowledge ou'
q public oficer or Senator. shall mention his
s. s ssaa orr has Ss own way MI Chandler
said. The Delaware way is different always from
'n Mr Ne chandIefP Went on to say that NewYSrk
had os yrG% two sh
the United States and I'd one e%se sses and II the
sepat to. from Delaware wanted to bring in names
now, he might send for copy OF TIE paper an no
s ss.s. S@ee He had Very little
iieve that these men were CONNECTED With the n9
INK out Of the fact that this paper said they had
not. -. -. r. p,s..u ~
Massachusetts as being connected with the Domn-
ION Coal Company, and said that a few years ago
new-York newspaper stated that John f. Russe
Rad come 10 Washington to give counsel and advce
United states had written letter. without address.
Ing to anybody In particular ana had nated ~ i,
Svnamits: thai he had written II and kept i on
hand ready TO be launched at some convenieh. op
dent found himself in oompapy with John F. Es HSs
Cah,net advisers: that that letter was submitted
ana that the question whether II should or
ciSed (so the story wen0 that the letter SHOULD
h addressed TO the Chairman OF the House com
DC naa en Wavs and Means The letter had met
the approval Of tina, conelaye that was sat ~ y
ayS'.nu ana had in due course OF time seen light