Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-06-16

, mittee reported that the New Englnnders
had unquestionably expended large sum
| of money, but IL was impossible TO tell
| where it had gone, and SO il was charitably
concluded that it had been paid to writers,
/ lobbyists, attorneys and other agents for
legitimate services. That was, in short,
the testimony of all who testified ut oil,
| The obstinate witnesses were finally re-
| leased by n vote of the house, and the in
| dictments against them by the grand jury
| of the District were nolled.
Tho next fight was over tho investiga-
ton into the John Brown raid. 1t is an
| odd fact that tho oldest Republicans here
| think that Investigation did great good,
| as it proved that no leading northern man
| approved of the raid, while several south
ern men have admitted that it was sad
bIunder. Hon. +. B. Sanborn Of Concord,
Mass, was arrested ON warrant directed
to the sergeant-at-ar arms OF the senate. Ha-
beas corpus was at once applied for at
Concord, and Mr.. Sanborn was released by
Chief Justice Shaw Of that state on a tech
nicality, the Justice declining to discuss
the power of such q warrant, but dcclar
ing that it could not be executed by dep
uty. About the same time Mr.. Thaddcus
Hyatt of New York, who had been sum-
moned rs witness appeared, and refusing
to answer certain questions was by order
Of the senate committed to prison, but
events moved so rapidly that the questions
became of no Importance, and he was re-
leased.
More Recent Cases.
The moro recent cases of HallCt Kill
bourn and of the correspondents RamSdcll
and White are familiar to the public. Mr..
kilbourn refused to answer committee
of the house and was imprisoned 40 days.
He obtained u Judgment against Sergeant
'l,N,,
set aside on the ground that tho amount
was excessive, Tho next trial he got n
verdict for 500, 900, and that was set aside
as excessive. His third verdict was for
$37, 500, and most of that was paid. This
however, turned upon the fact that tho
house was trying to investigate charges
about real estate pool in the District and
so the present committee of Investigation
declares that the case is not in point. The
correspondents were imprisoned for pub
fishing the terms of n treaty pr, maturcly
and refusing to tell how they got it. Mr.
Rars,!rll was nftcrward appointed record
or of deeds, but was removed by the next
president before holding the Office long
The contention of Senators Dolph, Allen
and others is thus stated by the former
There Is not n judicial tribunal in this
country. state or federal. unless 1t may be
the supreme court of the United states
when trying question of faCt-and that
question ] have not examinCd-that has
such ample means for securing testimony
and determining a question Of fact as q
committee of this body
Senator Dolph's Views.
Senator Dolph maintains that there is
no other body in tho nation that has pow
crs equal to congress in this respect, for
the jurisdiction of every court is limited
in some way, while either house may order
a witness here from any part of the ma
tional territory or any place where an
American vessel floats; also that while
there is n limit TO the length of time
judicial tribunal may imprison-and every
tribunal hut one is subject to the review
of higher Cuurt-therC is no limit to the
time congress may impriSon witness in
contempt, and if it chooses to mako law to
suit it is question if any court could
nullify its actions. If" added Senator
Dolph, the senate now yields its author
ity or allows these witnesses to go to be
dealt with alone by the district attorney
or by the court OF this District, then, sir,
the country will have right to believe
that wo are willing that the truth shall
not be aScertaincd, that this matter shall
be slurred over, and that il there has been
anything wrong hero the members OF this
body shall be whitewashcd."
J. b. PARKE.