The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-01
STATES RIGHTS.
Bill Introduced Defining the Rights
of Federal Courts.
A CONTROVERSY IN COMMITTEE.
The Committee Investigating the Sugar
Trust Influence on Tariff Legislation
Find Witnesses Refuse to An
swer-Armor Plates.

WASHINGTON, May 29.-Something of
a controversy over the state sovereignty
question has been stirred in the house
| Judiciary committee over a bill intro
duced by representative De Almond, of
Missouri, to define the duties of federal
courts regarding contempts, which pro-
vides that state. county or city officers
shall not be punished for refusal to col
| lect taxes or assessments under the
/ judgments rendered by federal courts
against states, counties or cities where
/ the levying of such taxes or assess
ments shall be contrary to the laws of
the state as construed by its highest
courts.
| The bill has been favorably reported
from the committee by the democrats
and Representative Wolverton, of
Pennsylvania, in the report giving the
views of the majority, explains that it
is intended to prevent federal court
from overriding the laws of that state
by compelling state officer to violate
them. In many of the states it is ex-
planned there is limit to the indebted
ness which may be contracted or col
lected without the consent of the peO-
pie, therefore judgments beyond a GER
tain amount could not be secured
through state courts and the federal
courts are sometimes resorted to.
The minority report is drawn by
Representative Ray, of New York, and
signed by Messrs. Ray, Powels, Stone,
Updegraff and Childs. The report
characterizes the measure as objection
able, vicious and unpatriotic, one that
strikes blow at good government and
would deprive the judicial department
of the power to enforce its DEGREES
and nullify the purpose for which it
was established. 1t is characterized
as an effort to revive state sovereignty.
THE SUGAR TRUST.
WASHINGTON, May 29.-The senate
committee investigating the alleged in
fiuence of the sugar trust upon tariff
legislation has been in secret session
considering the subject of compelling
witnesses to disclose the source of
information. The committee will re-
port to-day.
Mr.. Walker. one of the correspond
ents, expected to have Mr.. Sulzer ap-
pear for him before the committee yes
terday, but the committee informed
Mr. Walker he should not be wanted
again by the committee. 1t is inferred
from this statement that the commit
tee has decided not to hear any more
from the witnesses until it shall decide
on its course with reference to their
refusal to answer questions.
ARMOR PLATE FRAUDS.
WASHINGTON, May 29.-In the armor
plate investigation yesterday Capt.
SampsoS, in explaining the manner of
taking samples, said an employee of the
Carnegie works took the samples and
subjected them to machine tests. The
Carnegie employees called off the re-
suits and the government inspector
took the figures as called off.
''In other words" said Chairman
Cummings" government tests were
made by Carnegie employees, with a
Carnegie machine, and were accepted
as conclusive by the government" 1
Captain Sampson said this was Gus
tomary the world over.
Chairman Cummings asked for spe-
cific details as to why steel armor
should cost more than steel rails.
Capt Sampson said the Bethlehem
works had spent $1,000, 900 on their first
plant. 1t was largely an investment
on an experiment. The making of
steel rails was simple process. the
making of armor plate was an intri-
cate process covering six months.
Chairman Cummings. asked as to the
statement of Representative Coombs,
of New York, that the first govern
mcnt contract had paid the Carnegie
company for the cost of their plant,
and We. new contracts were being made
at the old rate, thus paying the Carne
gies several times for their plant.
Capt. Sampson said he thought it was
to some extent true that the more re-
cent contracts were based on the ear
lier contracts, when the cost of the
plant was considered in making the
price for armOr.
Chairman Cummings: Ibid you un-
earth any testimony locating any of
these irregularities on Superintendent
Schwab?'
Not directly" said Capt. Sampson,
"but from the circumstances of the
case it was impossible that he should
not have known of the Irregularities.
HAS he been removed?' asked Mr..
Cummings.
His position has been changed" re-
piled the witness.
But he keeps position'with the COM
pany?" asked Representative Money.
Il understand he will be removed"
said the witness.
Capt. Sampson negatived the charges
that bolts and screws of defective sizes
and shapes had been used in securing
the armor plates. This closed Capt.
SIMPSONS testimony.
----------