The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-05-25
SENATORS AND THU
SUGAR COMBINE.
Edwards Repeats His Story in
the Press.
r Il ii
DECLINES TO GIVE
HIS AUTHORITIES.
Wild-Eyed Rumors Appear to Be His
Stock in Trade.
New York Mail and Express Man
Also Pleads the Confidential Ma
ture of the Communications
Which Inspired a Recent Article
in That Journal-LoOks Very Much
Like a Campaign Lie.

Washington, May 24.-The Senate
bribery investigating committee today
begun a secret inquiry into the connec-
ton Of the sugar trust with the tariff
legislation.
E. J. Edwards, author of the 'Hol-
land'' letter in the Philadelphia Press,
was before the committee several
hours. 1t is known he presented a
written memorandum, giving some of
the sources of the information con-
tanned in the letter. He declined to
state his authority for the information
that Secretary Carlisle appeared be-
fore the tariff subcommittee Zones,
Vest and Mills)before the original Sen
ate bill was reported, and insisted that
sugar be given protection, because of
party pledges made before election. AS
to the statement that Carlisle himself
had revised and written the sugar
schedule, this schedule, as prepared by
Carlisle, he said was still in existence.
The fact could be definitely ascer-
tanned by summoning members of the
finance committee. Other statements,
the authority for which Edwards de-
elined TO give, were that 100000 was
contributed by the sugar trust to the
Democratic campaign fund in 1892, and
a member of the firm Of Moore & Schel
(Wiho, he said, were Senator Brice's
ibrokers,) had been in possession of the
latest amendments to the tariff bill
when Voorhees, still insisted no amend
ments had been agreed to. This firm,
he said, had a representative in Wash
ington, to whom the amendments were
handed.
Edwards stated that according to his
information, the money was not con-
tributed directly to the national COM
mittee, but was given to other organ
iZations. Nor was his information pos
tive that the sugar trust as such,
had made a contribution. 1t may nave
been made through individuals with
the understanding that in case of sue
cess the trust would be protected
against damaging legislation. He in
stanced the statement by Governor
Waller, of Connecticut, before the in
yestigating committee of that state,
that wealthy men in New York con-
tributed 800, 900 towards Democratic
success in Connecticut Edwards said
half had been contributed by Have
myer and half by E. C. Benedict. He
said it was notorious that leading mem
bers of the Democratic party in Col
orado had been in consultation with
the wealthy Democrats of New York
prior to the election.
His First Information.
Mr. Edwards said his first informa-
ton as to the interest of the sugar trust
in politics had come to him in the
spring of 1892, when it had contributed
fn nf "a
pers" in New York state, but he had
thought comparatively little of the
matter until he had heard of its fur
Their large donations in the fall of that
year. His first intimation of Mr. Have
meyers interest in tariff legislation had
been received from an interview from
that gentleman published in the Brook
Ign Eagle, as early as the 25th of last
January, in which he said the tariff
bill would be looked after when it came
to the Senate.
eve are not without influence in the
Senate" Mr.. HaVemeyer is reported to
have said. 1--WE are not impotent
there
Mr.. Edwards also said Harper's
Weekly, of which Secretary Schurz is
editor, had asserted the sugar trust
was not without friends in the cabinet
and in Congress, and he said he had OBJ
tanned his information about the re-
ported meeting of Mr.. Haveueyer and
Senators Brice and Smith at the Ar
lington hotel in this city from news
paper publications.
With reference to the speculation of
senators in sugar trust stock, he said
it was a matter of common report in
New York that four or five senators
had engaged in this speculation; but.
he said, owing to the fact that their
dealings came under the class known
as privileges, puts and calls, there was
no record kept of them and the fact
Of their trading would be difficult of
proof.
He suggested that Messrs. Hayemey-
er, John Searles, ex-Congressman Lee
fevre, Cord Meyer, H. NJ. Terrell, and
Mr. Reed be summoned as men who
would be able to throw light on the
operations of the sugar trust.
Declines to Give Authority.
The afternoon session was brought
to a sudden halt by the committee de-
handing that Mr.. Edwards give his au-
thority for the statements made in his
testimony concerning Secretary Car
isles interview with the subcommittee
of the Finance committee and the COM
nIlttee drafting the sugar schedule.
This Mr.. Edwards declined to do and
the committee insisting, he asked to be
allowed to consult his attorney, Judge
Dittenhoefer, who was in the city. The
request was granted and the committee
took another recess, while Mr. Edwards
went in search of his lawyer
Mr.. Edwards returned to the com
mittee room, after an absence of ar
hour, accompanied by Judge Dittenhoe-
fer. After a brief conference, the com.
mittee decided to postpone further con
sideration Of the question of excusine
Mr.. Edwards from divulging his au.
thority for certain Of his statements
until 10 o'clock tomorrow, to allow
Judge Dittenhoefer to consult authori-
ties bearing on the case.
Pleads Confidence.
John S. Schriever, the WASHINGTON
correspondent of the New York Mai
and Express, was examined in regard
to a dispatch which appeared in his pa.
per on May 49, stating an interview be.
tween certain United States senators
and members of the sugar trust. held ir
"a parlor of the Arlington hotel. haC
been overheard by wire manufacturer
who occupied the adjoining room. Mr.
Schriever was asked the name of his
authority and also the name of the wire
manufacturer mentioned.
Mr.. Schriever said the story had beer
given him by a congressman, bun he
declined to give his name, or the name
of the wire manufacturer, his reason:
being the congressman, while he gave
him the story for publication, did no
wish to be brought into the scandal. OF
be called on to testify, and had made