Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-25
WON'T GIVE NAMES.
Witnesses Who Published the
Sugar Trust Charges.
SENATE INQUIRY so FAB BArrLED,

Accusations Of the Gravest Character
Against . Cabinet Omcer. but the Pub
ishcr Thereof Refuses to Give the Source
Of His Observation-Disclosures of .
Struggle Between Press Privilege and
he senatc-Intcrcsting Stories Told.
WASHINGTON, May IS The witness upon
whom rests to large extent the response
bility for the investigation by the senate
of the alleged sugar trust sinuosity in con-
nection with the tariff bill, and also the
alleged sugar speculations by senators
was the star witness before the senator
rial inquisitors who having, it appears,
squeezed the bribery orange dry, are now
after facts regarding what influence the
sugar trust had in the senate. This wit
ness is F. j. Edwards, a correspondent of
the Philadelphia Press. who wrote long
letter to his paper making the most spe-
cific charges in the matter. The letter al
legged that the sugar trust gave the Dem
ocratic campaign fund 100000; that Sec
rotary Carlisle had gone to the senate tar
i'll subcommittee and insisted that the
trust be remembered for this contribution
in the sugar schedule; that certain broS-
ers knew what the amendments to the
tariff bill would be before any one else,
and other equally grave charges.
Claims the Press Privilege.
Holland Ieasserted these things to the
committee aud gave some sources of in
formation, suggested others, but refused to
give the sources that We're important or
conclusive, claiming that he obtained his
information under pledge of secresy ex-
cept rs TO the use Of the allegations in the
newspapers. Edwards said that his first
information rs to the interest Of the sugar
trust in politics had come to him in the
spring of 1892, when il had contributed
so, 900 to the cause OF the "anti-snappers'
in New York state, but he had thought
comparatively little of this until he heard
of its far larger donations in the fall of
that year. His first iatimation of Have.
meyers interest in tariff legislation had
been received from an interview with that
gentleman published in the Brookly Eagle
n early "a the 25th of January, in which
he had said that the tariff bill would be
looked after when it should reach the SEN
ate. I'VE are net without influence in the
senate Havemeyer was represented to
have said. I'VE are not impotent there"
Edwards also said that Harper's Weekly,
of which eS-Sccretary of the Interior
Schurz is editor. had asserted that the
sugar trust had friends in the cabinet and
in congress, and he said that he had OBJ
tanned his information about the reported
meeting of Havemeyer with Senators
Brice and Smith at the Arlington hotel in
this city from newspaper publications.
With reference to the speculation of sena-
tors in the stock of the sugar trust he
said that il was a matter of common re-
port in New York that four or five sena-
tors had engaged in this speculation, but
owing 10 the fact that their dealings came
under the Class knows as privileges-puts
and calls-there was no record kept Of
them, and the fact of their transactions
would be difficult TO prove. He suggested
that Havemeyer, John L. Searles. ex-Con-
gresham Lefevre. Cord Meyer, II. l.. Ter
rell and Reed be summoned as men who
would be- able to throw light on the opera
tons of the sugar trust.
Refuses to Give His Authority.
The afternoon session was brought TO a
sudden halt by the committee demanding
that Edwards give his authority for the
sta; ements made in his testimony con-
corning Secretary Carlisle's interview with
the subcommittee OF the finance COM
mittee and the committee drafting the
sugar schedule. This Edwards declined
to do and the committee insisting he asked
to be allowed TO consult his attorney,
Judge Dit;enhmter, who is in the city.
The request was granted. and the commit
tee took recess while Edwards went in
search of his lawyer. Edwards returned
| to the committee room after an absence
of an hour, accompanied by Judge Often
hpfer. After brief conference the COM
mittce decide to postpone the matter I'M
til DitteuL,rfer could consult authorities