Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-19
Secret Sessions Of the Senate Bribery
Investigating Committee.
ALL NEWS THROUGH MR. GRAY
Bribery Cases First and Then the
Sugar investigation.
A THOROUGH SEARCH

Senator Gray Of Delaware. chairman OF
the special committee to investigate the
charges Of bribery In the Senate. called a
Eeeting of the committee at Il o'clock to-
day. fot the purpose Of preliminary Or
Ganization, and TO take steps as to the sum-
moning of witnesses, the employment of
stenographer and clerk II is the inten ton
Of the committee to dispose Of the Hunton
and Kyle cases first, and then to take up
the other branches OF the resolution, es-
pecially that portion relating to the sugar
trust
The Investigating committee remained in
session only about twenty minutes, when
all left the committee room except Senators
Gray and Lindsay. who remained In con-
ference for some time 1t is understood that
the committee decided upon secret sessions
for the investigation
Senators Gray and Lindsay concluded
thelr conference at 12:45. and after they
separated MI Gray stated that the commit
tee had decided to hold its first meeting
Monday next. beginning at 10 o'clock. The
subjects of investigation will be taken up
by the committee in the order named in the
resolution authorizing the inquiry, and the
FIRST work. accordingly, will be upon the in
Nesngation Of the alleged attempt to bribe
Senators HuntOn and Kyle. The summons
pf both the Senators named, of Senator
tary and Mr.. c. W. ButtZ. who has been
represented as the man who undertook to
bribe the Senators. has been decided upon.
and others will be summoned later IL the
developments should indicate that there are
others who can throw light upon the sub
Ject. The committee did not decide upon any
course of proceeding with reference to the
alleged operations OF the sugar trust, leav-
ing the details of that branch of the inquiry
20 be taken up when the first part of II
shall have been concluded.
The investigation will be conducted be-
hind closed doors. Senator Gray said the
committee had been unanimously favorable
to private inquiry after canvassing the
question
Reason for Secrecy.
'At first glance" he said. I'VE were in
clined to think that the work should be
public. but after canvassing the subject In
all its bearings We agreed that the inquiry
could be made more thorough and more
complete justice done to all by examining
witnesses in private One reason for reach .
ing this conclusion is found In the proba-
bility that we expect to get many clues as
to other testimony from those who may be
teStifying, and We fear that the publication
of these facts would defeat the ends Of
Justice"
II is also understood that another reason
which actuated the committee in its de-
cisiOn to hold secret sessions is found in the
fact that some of the points on which the
tons and discuss will be OF very delicate
nature. touching. as they may, upon the
private characters of Senators and others.
but Senator Gray did not cite this as one
of the reasons controlling the decision of
the committee
The chairman Is to be authorized from
day to day to give out for publication the
purport OF the testimony.
II Is the intention Of the committee to
have a complete stenographic report of the
testimony made, which will be published
when IL Is completed. This, members of the
committee say, will show whether the fina
report which the committee will make Is In
accordance with the testimony taken.
The members OF the committee agree thai
the investigation is to be a thorough one
and that all the testimony which can be
brought to bear upon the question at issue
viii be taken. 1t Is. although, proposed tc
push the inquiry as rapidly as possible
tanned. and 1t is probable that the committee
VIII sit every day.