The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-18
TO BE INVESTIGATED.
The Senate Takes Action on the Various
Charges of Bribery.

Washington, May 1.-THE Senate has
passed the resolution providing for the in
vestigation of the charges of bribery in con-
nection with the tariff bill and the charges
that the sugar trust has interfered with
legislation. The latter part of the resolution
was materially amended so as to include the
question whether or not the sugar trust has
made any contributions to campaign or
election purposes to any party or to secure
or defeat legislation ON the tariff bill. The
last amendment was offered by Mr.. Allen,
Populist, of Nebraska, and authorized the
committee to investigate whether any
Senator had been dealing or speculating in
sugar stocks during the pendency of this
bill in the Senate committee.
The resolution was passed without taking
vote, there being no objection. The COM
mittee will consist of five Senators. An
effort was made by Mr.. Quay to make the
scope of the committee so broad that all
matters relating to the conduct of any
present, past or future charges in regard to
legislation might be referred to it, but this
was withdrawn after brief discussion.
As adopted the resolution read:
s'Re-solved-That a committee of five
Senators be appointed to investigate these
CQdrBSS auu luq luIbu0T Wn0UQ0T any
contributions were made by the sugar trust
to any political party for campaign or
election purposes or to defeat legislation
and whether any Senator has been or is
speculat1ng in what are known as sugar
stocks during the consideration of the tariff
bill.
Resolved, further-That said committee
be authorized to investigate and report up
on any charges that may be fled before it,
allie ing that any Senator has been corrupt
Iy or improperly Influenced in the consider
ation:of the said bill or that any.attempt has
been made so to influence legislation
Mr. Hale, Republican of Maine, said he
did not suppose any Senator believed that
either the Senator from Virginia OF the
Senator from South Dakota, had been im-
properly approached or Influenced. He sup
posed it would be found on investigation
that these reports and these suspicious
sought to be set a1oat were something in
the nature of blackmail and they came from
other matters than those which the commit
tee were to investigate, and were only
stirred up for the purpose of calling away
attention. He thought the committee ought
| to consider all these other subject matters
most thoroughly, and he hoped Mr.. Lodge
would accept any amendments that would
| enable the committee to go to the pro
| foundest depths SO the country might have
| light on what were really the suspicious and
| beliefs of the American people that certain
portions of the tariff bill were surrounded
| by, and subject to sinfuences which
alarmed the people and would disgrace the
Senate if the beliefs were true.
The Senate took up and finished the
| chemical scedule. This brought the tariff
| bill down to medicinal preparations, al
| which point the bill went over till tomorrow
The naval appropriations bill was reported
| and referred to the committee on appropri
| ations. The Vice President announced the
appointment of the following select commit