The Globe-republican., 1894-08-17
MUST BE TRUSTWORTHY.
Otherwise Newspaper Men Can
not Secure GOOD Stuff"
How the Secrets of Executive Sessions of
the Senate Reach the Public-The Nc
kinley Bill "Given Away" by
Congressman.
Especial Washington Letter. ]

Especial Washington Letter.
1t is the object of the executive de
partments to keep a great many mat
tiers secret from the people: and tn,
same idea OF secrecy concerning execu
tive business is entertained by the sen
ate.
During the administration of Presi
dent Hayes, one of his annual message.
TO congress was purlOined from the
government printing Office and printed
In New York newspaper on the morn.
Ing before the message was sent tC
congress. 1t caused great deal OF
comment and excitement in this city,
but the lealy employee of the govern.
ment printing office was never discoy.
cred. 1t was stated at the time that
the newspaper which published the
message paid 5000 for the copy.
A little over year ago the Russian
eStradition treaty, which was then be-
ing considered in the senate. was
Stolen and given to the public through
the medium Of Chicago newspaper.
and from those columns it was copied
into every paper in the country. The
secretary of the senate and all of his
employees were thoroughly investigated
at the time, but no evidence could be
obtained to reflect in the slightest de-
gree upon any one of these employees.
Nearly three years ago. practically
correct reports of the proceedings of
the senate in executive session were
printed in the newspapers of the coun-
try; and the most particular sticklers
Tor the maintenance of secrecy in ey-
ecutive sessions instituted an inyesti-
cation. But no discovery was ever
made. which would implicate anv indi-
vldual connected with the senate.
Nevertheless, suspicion was aroused
against the executive clerk of the SEN
ate, Mr.. James Il. Young by one of the
senators who personally disliked that
official. Although no evidence what
ever was obtained which would in the
slightest degree inculpate Mr.. Young.
the pressure brought to bear by the
senator referred to and by his friends
was so great that Mr.. Young resigned.
The proceedings of the senate in exec
utivc session were published from time
to time just as accurately as they had
been before this enforced and unmer-
rited attack upon the honora bic and
popular executive clerk.
A great deal OF excitement. was oc-
casioned in 1872 when the New Yorl,
Tribune printed, in advance Of its rati-
fication, the important Washington
treaty with Great Britain Hon. Ham,
ilton Fish was secretary of state at |
that time and caused his department. to |
be thoroughly investigated to ascer-
tain If possible whether the leakage
occurred under his own official roof.
At the same time the senate ordered an
and summoned as wit
nesses the Washington correspondents
OF the Tribune. These gentlemen fat
~ refused to give any information con-
Corning the manner or method by
means of which they had obtained the
treaty. And after having been in the
custody OF the sergeant-at-arms for
nearly two weeks the newspaper men
were finally discharged by vote Of
The senate. All of the newspapers of
he country at that time INDUCED in
instituted raillery of the senate for its
inability to keep state secrets. or to
discover the methods whereby such
ecrets were given to the public.
In the United States senate there al
ways is, always has been, and prob
IDLY always will be, at least one sena-
or who disagrees with the custom and
'elief OF the majority of the members
Il that body. and who will see to It
hat the actual news upon all impor-
ant subjects shall be given to the pub
lc at the proper time. The giving out
# news by senator's is a matter Ct :
trict confidence between the statesman
no the newspaper representatives
'hom they know thoroughly. and in =
1hom they have absolute confidence.
jnder such circumstances the senator 4,
Tho gives the information is perfectly !,
ale In the hands of his friend. for
o newspaper man has ever re-
ealed the source of his informs.
lon here, nor will any CORE g
pondent ever divulge the name
his informant upon any important r
latter. In the first place a newspaper a
lan must be long in service, personally .