The morning news., 1894-06-20
SENATORS NOT PLUNGERS.
The Sugar Committee Brings Out
Nothing Startling.

Broker Silsby Goes Over the Ransom
Incident, but Gives no New Infor-
nation of Importance-John w. Ma
cartney Refuses on Principle to Tell
Whether Any Senators Speculated
in Sugar Through His House.
Washington, June 19.-Three witnesses
were examined by the sugar trust investi-
gators today, but the testimony Of none
of them was important George w.
Silsby, a Washington broker. told the com
mittee what he knew of the stock list on
which appeared the name of Ransom,
who was ascertained to be the son of
Senator Ransom, and not the sen
ator himself as a buyer and seller.
he said he was notified by the man.
ager of one of his branch offices
that two or three lists that contained the
original entries of purchases and sales of
stock had been stolen from the Office and
the witness had placed the matter in the
hands of a detective agent aud he
thought he had the thief. Mr. Silsby
confirmed Senator Ransom's statement
that 1t was George Ransom, the senator's
son, who had speculated in stock through
his office, in very small way. He made
statement with reference to the stock
list with the names of Ransom on
them, saying that on the day they were
missed they had been examined by Cor
respondent Howland of the New York
Press. My business has suffered very
materially" he said, "and propose that
you make the guilty party suffer for it."
The committee declined TO have anything
to do with the matter. II do not accuse
Rowland or even think Rowland took
the sheets,'' said Silsby II think he
used them knowing they were stolen
property and that he knew the informa-
tion was false when published"
A REFUSAL TO ANSWER ON PRINCIPLE.
John w. Mccartney, a member of the
New York Stock Exchange and the sole
member of the firm of Corson & Macart-
ney, the Washington correspondent of
Moore & Schley, was examined by Sen
ator Allen, who sought to ascertain
whether any United States senator had
speculated in sugar stock through his firm
since Feb. L last. Mr.. Mccartney said
he wanted to treat the committee with
all respect, but he would decline to an
swer such questions, because, in his opin-
ion, committee had no right to ask
them, and he had been so advised by
counsel; but saying that he did not
mean to convey by inference to any mem
Der OF the committee that any senator
had speculated in his Office He simply
refused to answer as a matter of princi-
pie MIR Allen tried by various means to
secure some sort of explanatory answer
from the witness, but was unsuccessful.
You would refuse even if no senator
had ever bought or sold sugar stock
through you?" asked Senator Gray.
DIDN'T HAVE AN ADVANCE COPY.
II would refuse TO answer" said Mr.
Mccartney. The statement of Correspon-
lStrfo Yaflr -, . j
that copy of the present amendments to
the tariff bill had been placed in the
hands OF the Washington agent of Moore &
SchIey before they had been reported
10 the Senate was denied by
MIR. Mccartney, who said the first knowi-
edge of the matter he had was when it
was given to the press, and he knew Of
no employe of his Office who had received
the amendments. I'VE heard a great
deal of rumor," he said, "but we had no
real accurate information in regard to the
amendments, until everybody had it,
IN answer to Senator Allen, the witness
said he preferred to take the ordinary
consequences of indictment and punish
ment for refusing to answer. He had
quite a spicy little passage at arms with
Senator Allen at this point.
Senator Allen-Do not you conceal the
truth IN refusing to answer2
MIR. Mccartney refuse to saw who or
who are not customers of my firm.
Senator Allen-And YOU refuse to say
whether you do or do not secrete the truth
by your refusal to answer?
Mr.. Macartney-I do not think that
Is fair question.
Senator Allen-I desire you to answer
the question if you see tit to do so. You
seem to be master of the situation.
Mr.. Macartney-I decline to answer
that.
Senator Allen-Mr. Macartney Do YOU
know that your refusal is based upon your
purpose to secrete the names of senators
who have speculated in your firm2
Mr.. Macartney-I do not.
Senator Allen-Or their clerks9
Mr.. Macartney-I do not.
Senator Allen-And that it is your in
tention to shield all such persons as far as
possible2
Mr.. Macartney-That is not my inten-
tion at all
Senator Allen-And because you be-
neve that to give their names would be
injurious to your business in the future?
Mr.. Macartney-Th is not what in
duced my refusal at all
Lester 5. Fisher, telegraph operator
employed by the firm of Corson 81 Mac
artney, refused to tell the committee
whether he sent any order for the pur-
Cnase or sale of stock in behalf of United
states senators on the ground that he
would jeopardize his position by SO doing
ana he would be blacklisted by every
telegraph company