Evening journal., 1894-05-30
HILL THEIR CHAMPION.
Newspaper Men and the Inves-
tigating Committee.
REPORTED TO BE ooNTUMAoIoUs.
Correspondents Who Would Not Answer
Questions Turned over so the District At
torncy-stnI Probing Bribery Charges.
An Interesting Colloquy.

ported as "contuuacious" to the senate,
and by the senate, through the vice presi-
dent, thoy were turned over to the tender
morcics of the district attorney. The de-
bate over the report of the committee con-
stitutcd the feature OF the days proceed
| inps
senator Hill of New York championed
the cause Of the newspaper men, contend
/ ing, first, that the statute under which
! this action was to be taken was unconsti-
! tutional, and, second, that the most direct
way for the committee TO ascertain the
/ truth i'm regard to the charges it was in.
yostsatng was to examine senators and
others directly involved instead of news
paper men whose information was second
hand.
Hin Defends the Correspondents.
When Mr. Pettigrew had completed the
delivery of his speech, Mr.. Gray (Dem.,
Dcl), chairman of the select committee TO
| investigate the charges of alleged at
| tompts 10 bribe senators and other charges
in connection with alleged speculation in
sugar stock by senators, arose to present
the report of the committee ON the recu-
SAINT newspaper men.
There was "A large attendance on the
floor Of the senate chamber while tn clerk
read the report Tho galleries also were
crowded, especially the press gallery over
hanging the vice presidents chair. Every
word dropped from the clerk S lips was ca
gcrly listened TO, but the senators whose
names were connected with alleged sugar
stock speculation and with being iniiuen-
tinl i'm securing the framing of the sugar
schedule (Messrs. Brce Of Ohio, Smith OF
New Jersey, Jones of Arkansas and CAT
frey Of Louisiana) sat importurbably in
their seats and apparently We're as disin-
terested as any persons within sound OF
the clerks voice
Before reading the report had been com
plctcd the vice president resumed the
chair Mr. Hill was on his feet as soon
as the clerk finished. He began to argue
the point OF order raised as to the priyi.
legged character Of the report There were,
he said, three distinct branches of the in
vestigation The first related TO the charges
of alleged attempted bribery Any report
on this branch of the inquiry, as directly
affecting senators, Mr.. Hill thought
, might possibly present a question OF privi.
lcge and might b. presented to the senate
any time. The second branch Of the in
{ quiry had TO do with the allegation that
( certain senators had speculated in sugai
. stocks This allegation did not involve
. crime although it might involve Il ques
ton of imprupriety.
Mr. Allen interrupted Mr.. Hill TO say Il
was not the truthfllncss Of the correspond
d ents that the committee was charged Il
T. investigate Il was whether the Suga
trust had made large political contribu
tions for tho purpose Of influencing legis
q lation and whether senators had boen spec
ulating in sugar stocks. He asked MI
Hill if he contendcd that tho senate ha
no right to investigate the charge tina
senators had speculated in sugar stock.
Is A Moral Question.
.e "Not exactly, " replied Mr.. Hill, "but
1, have grave doubts IL q senator shoul
< como before a committee and refuse to an
, swer questions relating to his private bus
. ness, whether the committee could comp,
e him to do so. The decisions OF the court
are against it,"
> docs the senator believe a senate
is could invest in sugar stock without tina
o. investment influencing his voteF' in
e quired Mr.. Allen
- "The senator compounds the legal que'
10 tion,n replied Mr.. Hill, with the quc'
10 tion Of propriety. A senator who specr
< lntes in sugar stock violates the law"
E But, interrupted Mr.. Allen, "itwoul
90 not be more proper for a senator to inye'
ie money I'm any enterprise TO be affected b
his vote than it would be for judge O
OF the bench to render a decision in a case
Az which he was interested. This quostio
D. of public morality goes TO the foundatio
ID of the integrity Of the government
"A senator has "a legal right to do whi
Id Is not prohibited, answered Mr. Hill
s, "A legal, " returned Mr.. Allen, "bl
be no moral right.
te lone question at time said Mr.. Hi
AT ! ttTTa would huvo as much rinlf ue % epI
d ator who, being an owner OF silver mimi
he property, would vote on the silver quo
by tion. If, pending action ON the sugi
ed schedule, a senator should speculate
lr- sugar 10 might be an act Of imnrOprict
but it would not constitute "a crime
Mr.. Allen then asked il Mr.. Hin did ~
ny believe the senate had power to expel spc
lie ulating senators. THE constitution
an the United States, replied Mr.. Hi
m gives the senate power to pass upon d
y election and qualifications of It's membe
ng and the right to expel for misconduct.
81 the committee desired 20 get at the fact
he why did they not call the senators who
ng names had been connected with the
iy, charges instead Of prosecuting newspap
DIV men who had TO personal knowledge al
ny. whose information was obtained from co
les fldontial sources
sr- questions asked tho newspaper men We
ID relevant, they should not be exempt fro
it tcstlfying'
ON why call the newspaper men inste
10 Of the mon themselves Ietorted Hin.
of Mr. Gray, chairman of the commits
rty here interrupted 20 compare the investil
zen tion to a coroncr's inquest, and he want
20 know Of Mr. Hill if a witness havi
a statement that he had heard that q
man had been killed by another could
de- fuse to give his authority.
Ter, Suggests General Investigation.
u.s. Mr.. Hill parried this interrogatory.
&C. trial in court, legal Investigation,
said, was very different thing fror
congressional inquiry. There eyewitnes
Vas were wanted.
'om THAT is just about what wo want, S
ueo Mr. Gray.
well, you arc going q long way arot
- the horn TO look for them, rctortcd