The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-25

WAsilISGToN, d. O., May 2i.-Tho
senate bribery investigating committee
to-day began tho inquiry into tho con-
nection OF tho sugar trust with the
tariff legislation. L. J. Edwards, the
author Of tho Holland" letter in the
Philadelphia Pres, was before the com.
mIttcc for several hours. Owing 10 the
fact tho CommittOo sat behind closed
doors and tho additional fact thRt utter
coming from tho committee room Mr..
Edwards was unwilling to discuss the
proceedings, detail, oil the inquiry can
not DO had.
1t is known, however, that Mr.. Ed
wards presented a writton momoran.
dun giving some Of the sources OF the
information contained in his letter, and
Stating that hc could not give his au-
thority in other cases and why no could
not Ho declined TO state his authority
Tor tho information contained IN his
letter to the effect that Secretary Car
Isle had appeared before the tariff sub.
committee consisting OF Senators Jones,
Mills and Vest before tho original cen
ate bill was reported. and had insisted
that sugar DO Civen protection because
OF party pledges made previous to cleo
tion, or for tho statement that Mr.. Car.
Isle had revised and written the sugar
schedule. This schedule Rs prepared
by Mr.. Carlisle Is still in existence and
might DO obtained. The fact could be
definitely asccrtaincd BY summoning
members OF the finance committee.
Other statements in his letter, tho
authority for which Mr.. Edwards de-
clined to give, were those that 100000
was the amour. contributed by the
sugar trust to tho Democratic campaign
fund in 1892, and that Il member OF the
firm OF Moore d Schley, who he said in
his letters were Senator Brice's bro
kers, had been in possession Of the
latest estimates which had been agreed
upon to the tariff bill before the time
when Senator Voorhees, still insisted on
the floor OF the senate that nc amend
ments had been agreed 10.
With reference TO tho contribution OF
q hall million dollars TO the campaign
fund in the last presidential election,
Mr.. Edwards said tina. it would DO a
breach OF faith TO reveal the name OF
his authority. He also stated tina; it
was his information that the money
had not been contributed directly to
the national committee, but had been
given to other organizations, where it
was understood the money would be
used in a way to result in the benefit Of
tho national campaign.
Nor was his information positive that
the sugar trust as such had made the
contribution. 1t may have been made
by or through individual members OF
this trust with the understanding that
in case OF Democratic succoas the trust
should DO protected against damaging
legislation. He %instanCed. in support
OF this information, q statement made
by Governor Waller, OF Connecticut,
before an investigating committee In
that state, in which he snid Governor
Waller had stated that wealthy men OF
New York had contributed 100000 To-
wards Democratic success in Connecti-
cut. Mr.. Edwards said it was his in
formation that hall OF this amount had
been contributed by Mr.. Haycmycr and
TINT tho other half had been raised by
L. q. Benedict. In the case OF Colorado,
which, it had been stated in his letter,
had been carried for the Populists by
the MD OF money thus obtained. he said
TINT it vas n notorious fact that leading
membors OF the Democratic party in
Colorado had been in consultation with
the wealthy Democrats OF Now York
prior TO the election.
Mr.. Edwards said that his first infor-
nation as to tho interest OF the sugar
trust in politics had como to him in the
spring OF 1892, when it had contributed
Sl0,O 900 to tho causo Of tho "Anti-Snap.
pers" in New York state. bnt he had
thought comparatively little Of this un-
Ill be had heard OF its lar larger dona-
lions in the fall Of that year.
With reference to tho speculation oil
senators in the stock OF the sugar trust,
he said that it was a matter OF common
report in New York that four or five
senators had engaged iu this specula.
ton, but he said owing to tho fact that
their dealings came under the class
known rs privileges. puts and calls,
thore was no record kept OF them and
tho fact OF their transactions would be
,j;U; cpl, nj nrnnF