New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-22
LILLE RIINES INTESTIG 1TION.


name of Quisg is the responsible editor of this
papcr" that Mr. Raincs had pitched his scorn.
as one might say. Just hucklobcrry too high.
And for this reason The gentleman by the
name Of Ouigg" has been twice elected Ia Con
grcsS under circumstances which hav" made him
somewhat conspicuous. II seemed like affocta-
ton on IN" part Of Mr. RaincN Ia speak OF a
member Of Congress as an obscure person whom
he had Just heard of. Bu when In almost III"
next breath he proceeds 10 detail conversations
which he had with NJ tluigC som" months ago
and refer to repeated interviews which he had
had with that gentleman since. he not only be
came slightly ncOhcrcnt. hut raised doubt in
the minds Of his hearers ~ 10 his abSolu," in
scnuousncss ana sincerity. And this seemed to
Us an unfortunate beginning for a man who was
about To demand an Investigation of his own
conduct and invite scrutiny Of his own motives
Senator CoGGcShIll, against whose purity and
uprishtncss the foul breath Of suspicion had also
been blown from the same source. between dou
bic leads and with great velocity, with an added
Whit pertaining Ia his personal habits was more
frank. The matter having come up in the sen
ate "bcIwccn drinks" that statesman happened
10 be present in person. And. although he was
not in IN" habit of dignifying with notice unwar-
rantcd. nu>iihrd. libcouS and unfound"d At
lacks on himself he did not mind saying that
some journalists had III" instincts II i lyona
and The habits Of a pol"cat, and that this one
in particular was "a shipScuttl"r and throat-cut-
ter who ought 10 h" held mp 10 the rxccr ion OF I'll
fair minded mon" This WAS candid. though So
we're II was no doubt III" WAY "Cogsy' fclt
Senator Robertson conlcnicd himself with *
pressing IN" hope that the investigation would
be- 80 complete and thorough that lesson would
he taught irresponsible men who put before th"
public such outrageous stun
III" investigation ordered by The Senate began
last Saturday. senator Robertson defined rs
purpos" with great ccarncsS. II is 10 teach ir
responsible" men who edit newspapers a lesson
Not much progress WAS mad" On Saturday. bu
Mr. George Rainc,. the brother Of. ana attorney
for. Senator John Klincs. made a fair beginning
in teaching HE irresponsible Mr.. Quigs lesson
50 far as the opportunity II examination
could be- made useful for that purpose The cN-
animation If Mr.. Qugg Will be continued next
Friday. when in person that gentleman will b"
forced iu confess that he j. "a ship Sculllrr and
ihroat-cultrr." and will accordingly be- "h'ld NJ
TO- the oxrcration II all far.mind"d men There
is rs vet no intimatiJn IL 10 who VIII ID The
holding up. but that it will be- done scientifically
no one can doubt who has observed the skill
with which the present Senate has held up
pretty much everything within il reach. Ana
"" may be permitted 10 express thr hope that
Mr. Quigg will not be- let Of with any general
admission If ship >cultling and throat cutting.
but that he be- pinned down tU ia" specific cases
In which he has indulgrd his muri"r"uS pro
pcnsiios 50 many ships have gone ont To sea
i'm The last two 81 tire" years ana never returned
and 50 many mysterious disappearance on land
have baiidd The police, that The general public
will never be- satisfied with any general con
frsSion on this point He should be- compelled
10 name The ships ne has scultlcd and The cii
gems whose illgulars he has severed. Mr. George
Kaincs has already shown great talent in cN
tracing from Mr. Quisg information Of deeply
interesting caractc" If he will still further plir
sue that picturesque malcfa"tor with inquiries
as f., specific ships and particular cases of throat
cutting derived from the Morlrc records he will
do the public ana his own brother and "Cogey"
and all lhc rest Of them an inyaluahl" service.
As 10 any member Of the ScnaI" having had
any connection except remote, collateral and
Shadowv with money transactions pertaining TO
the passage Of bills dcar-dcar perish the
ihoneht II is too hidcols to be entertained for
an instant In that view of the investigation II
Is quite unnecessary There is not Il member Of
the Senate who. if the question We're put for
every Senator who had been bribcd to rise and
be counted. would stir out of his scat They are
made OF different stuff Moreover. upon Mr.
Ouiggs own statement nearly all the talk about
the passage Of the bills in connection with which
these Infamous suspicious have been current
took place in the presence Of the Hon Thomas g.
Plat. either at The Kenmore House Albany
or his Office in this city. Nothing could be more
conclusive than that. Mr. Plat has but one pur
pose in life and that Is 10 purify politics and re-
generate politicians For the last three months
he has been undergoing the most poignant pain
because Mayor Strong has not only failed To come
I'D 70 his expectations as rcformcr. but has
turned out 10 be promiscuoliS miscellaneous
dyed in the wool unqualified. deliberate and all
round liar on this important subject. That Mr.
Plat was present during the alleged negotiations
is enough to lift the whole proceeding far above
the level Of common corruption. We presume he
will be called as Il witness His dhidcncc may
prevent his volunteering. but he certainly ought
to be subpocnacd The purity Of his character
would not only carry conviction but would sur
round the whole committee with halo Of several
colors and great Illuminating power. And there
is reason 10 believe that If The committee is in
downright earnest and means to hold up Mr.
Quigg to the cXccratlon Of every righ,-mindcd
man, Mr. Plat would cooperate with them with
unusual enthusiasm. For Mr.. Quigg has lately
joined the innumcrabc caravan Of statesmen
who have broken faith with Mr.. Plat.
The closing scene on Saturday was highly dra
matte. When Mr.. Burns described. as he did
with a paihos that must have appealed To the
better nature Of even the ship scuttlcr and throat
cutter, the manner in which Louis +. Payn re-
jected with infinite disdan and scorn the offer