New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-30
THE INVESTIGATION A FARCE
SUGAR SCANDAL UNPROBED.
NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS TO BE
PROSECUTED FOR CONTEMPT.
SENATOR GRAY's COMMITTEE TURNS IT'S AT
TENT1oN FROM INVESTIGATION TO PERsEcu-
TIoN-MR HILL MAKES AN ABLE FIGHT
FOR MORE THOROUGH WORK
But ALL IN VAN
rsv TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TRrBuSEJ


Washington Nav 29-The Gray investigation
committee to-day frankly avoved It's Intention
which has long been apparent, to shirk any
further serious inquiry into the circumstances
attending the framing Of the sugar schedule OF
the ncnding Tariff bill and to expend It's re-
naming energies in less dangerous and more
coneenial effort TO prosecute for contempt the
newsDaper correspondents who have refusel 10
disclose to the investigators the sources OF lheit
confidential Information. By resurrecuhs All
almost forgotten statute passed In 1891. MT cray
now counts on forcing the District-Attorney OF
the District Of Columbia to prosecute the con-
tumacious witnesses for misdemeanor ana ne TO-
day submitted n report on the strength or whch
the Vice president Is expected to notify TO the
local prosecuting attorney that presentation to
the Grand Jury will be required Of him.
The report was offered by Mr.. Gray while the
Tariff bill was under discussion and objection To
its consideration raised the question at once
whether or not 1t involved matter OF privilege.
The Vice President made series Of bunging de-
cis,ons. which resulted in declaring the Gray
resolution privileged. but all amendments to II
and substitutes for II to be outside the bar OF
privilege Various appeals were taken and
wrangng and highly personal discussion en-
sued which occupied nearly two hours
Mr. Hi took the lead in assailing the folly or
the committee's course In practically abandoning
the inquiry which it was appointed 70 conduct
and devotlng itself 10 petty and ridiculous
persecution " witnesses who we're not bound 10
disclose their confidential sources Of news. In
succession Of telling strokes he quickly
punctured the absurd and puerile pretences of
the committee that 1t could not 60 ahead with
the legitimate work # its inquiry until II had
ff.4 mi mo NJ If
whose testimony had been unsa atisfactOry NJ
Hill contrnled that a vote of the senate was AZ
least necessary q authorize the NIce-fresilent
to call upon the local District-Attorney T. oegih
a prosecution. But the Vice-Presldent. who be-
came more and more confused under the cross-
fire Of criticism, decided that no vote was neces-
sary and on the tabling of all the appeals taken.
though the report Of the committee remained
unapprOvcd. the inference from the rulings made
was that the presiding officer felt himself quail
fed 70 order n prosecution 10 he begun
Mr.. Hill offered a substitute resolution forbid
ding any effort at prosecution until after the
whole inquiry Is finished and Mr.. Dpph - add
n climax of burlesque. proposed that the Senai =
Itself should seize and try the contumecious Wit
ncsses without lowering its dignity by resort 10
the agencies az the local courts. Mr.. DOlph. II
VIII 10 remembered. was the chairman u the no.
torlous Smelling Committee" which four years
ago endeavOred 20 discover how the secrets ~
executive sessions leaked out and got into me
newspapers Several correspondents who refused
10 testify before this committee were threatened
for more than three months with arrest for con-
tempt but when MI Dolph finally offered his
resolution declaring them in contempt ana or
dering their arrest II was eefeAted IN the SehH'
hv a small majority The Oregon Senator as he
said to-day. now sees his chance for revenge
and he will try 10 force the Gray committee TO
adopt his own more direct methods of dlsclphhihg
rocaic,rant witnesses or expose Il 20 the accusa-
tlou II fearing 10 carry out its present erort n,
punishment TO a logical and sef-respecting con-
clusiOn -.
Nv Harris who had allowed Mr.. Gray - offer
tho reDort dld not fOresee the warm opposition
which would arise and frcttcd percepubly under
the long delay which was entailed by the discus
sion Several times ne attempted to take MI.
nm ofY the floor but the New-IOrk Senator was
too much for him. and the parliamentary con-
ductor'' Of the tariff measure found himself twice
ecverelv snubbed Vice President Stevenson's de-
teton ina, the questioning ~ Furnishing witnesses
Ga one ~ privilege will probably return TO plague
tho democratic side FOR the Hill and Dolph res
oiu,,ons will be called mp and discussed by their
am,bors M the very first opportunity which pre-
Ifce