The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-06-14
- s---- = --------------- WASHINGTON LETTER,
rom our regular correspondent.


 WASHINGTON, D. C., JUNE 8, 1894.
 Senator Allen, of Nebraska, does not differ from other honest people in think ing that no law ought to be needed to prevent senators speculating in stocks and other things that may be affected by congressional legislation, but the knowledge he has gained as q member of tho committee that is Investigating at a snail's pace--the sugar trust scandal has convinced him that sach law is needed, it having been shown that there are senators whose moral probity has uot been strong enough to keep them from indulgipg in such spec ulation. Therefore he has introduced bill bearing tue suggestive title: "A bill to preserve the purity Of national legislation" and providing that it shall be unlawful for any senator or repre- sentative to own OF be concerned di- rcctly or indirectly ip owning, buying or selling or in any manner dealing in speculative stocks, the value of which may in any manner depend upon vote of congress; also, to De member or interested pecuuiarily in any board of trade, stock exchange, national bank, or other organization in which such stocks arc bought and sold. The pen alty for violation of this act to be ex- pulsion from congress, in addition to being subject to criminal indictment and conviction. The bill also provides that the oath of office taken by senators and representatives shall be made to cover the things prohibited by the bill. It is not fattering to our national pride that such q bill should Do introduced, nor Is the testimony so far taken in the sugar scandal.
 The senate investigating committee has been rather sharply criticised for having adjourned over two days this week to await the arrival of out of town witnesses when there are score of men in the Capitol building who might have been called on to testify. The only two members of the House. Warner, of New York, and Cadmus of New Jersey--who have been witnesses took advantage of their official positions and refused to mention names.
 Representative Conn, of the Elkhart Indiana district, has bought the Wash Iiugton Times, the penny daily that was started few weeks ago as the organ of the wagc-workers of the National Cap ital, and will continue the publication. Although Mir. Conn is Democrat he says that politics shall not enter into the policy of the paper, which will not be changed. The paper has good cir culation for new one, but up to this time its advertising patronage has been very poor.
 Many senators who are loud in their abuse of the sugar trust have no real desire to injure that concern. It does not seem probable that among the nu- mcrous amendments offered to the sugar schedule and voted down one that would have done the business for the trust, simply proposing that refined sugar be admitted free, should have been uuintentioually omitted. Every body kuows that the tariff on refined sugar is wholly and solely for the bene- fit of the sugar trust. Yet no senator proposed that it be struck out. The nearest approach to that proposition being the amendment offered by Sena- tor Peifer to admit all sugar free, which was defeated by vote 37 to 26. This in connection with the testimony taken by the Investigating committee has con- vinced most unprejudiced people that