Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-17
Mr.. HILLS SPEECH
His Opposition to the PETER Bond
Investigation Resolution.
THE PQPULIST CHARGES RIDICULED
If They Mean Anything Let Them
FRY Impeachment.
SU GAR TRUST INQUIRY

Senator Hill occupied the floor of the
Senate yesterday afternoon until the time
the executive session was held, al about
o:13 o'clock, when, without concluding, he
yielded to a motion to close the doors,
with the promise that he would continue
his remarks today on the PETER resolution
to investigate the bond sales. Mr.. Hill
was in particularly fine fettle throughout
his speech, and, Notwithstanding the coun-
ter attractions of the opening base ball
game, which somewhat diminished the
size of his audience, he held the close at
tention Of the Senate for nearly an hour
and half.
In the beginning he ridiculed the idea of
Investigating the bond sales of the past
three years without the foundation of
definite charges upon which an investiga-
ting committee might proceed. He said
that the fairest method would be for the
Senators who are claHoring for The lnVes-
tigaton to specify not only the precise
things they desired to investigate, but also
the reasons for their suspicious, the allie
cations of unfarEess, illegality and cor
ruption, in order that when the fasco is
ended somebody would be responsible for
the resolutions. This would preclude Sen
ators from rising in their places when the
report was made and diSCldiming that this,
that or the other thing had been charged
Mr.. Hill devoted some time to a consd
Grafton OF the text of the resolution, and
he ridiculed the idea that there had been
any wrongdoing in connection with the
bond issues Mr.. Allen came to the front
with he statement that il had been widely
published that large sums We're made by
private parties off the various bond trans
actions. Mr.. Hill asserted that he had
never heard the amount of this alleged
criticised the transactions. He therefore
argued that a question Of facts had been
put at issue, such question as is usually
tried before a jury. But the main question
involved in the resolutions was one of law,
whether the Secretary of the Treasury had
acted under the law, and such questions
are not submitted TO jury. He challenged
the populist Senators who were urging the
resolutions 20 take the matter into the
courts.
ImUeachment is Open.
Mr.. Allen persisted in claiming that the
charges were of sufficient ,iefini.eress to be
investigated, which brought out the follow
ing significant statement from Mr.. Hill:
IF the Senator from Nebraska thinks
he can convince a jury the House of Rep
resentatives is open TO him. That is a pref
ty big jury. The House of Representatives
is composed OF men not of the political
party of the Secretary of The Treasury;
they are his opponents. If the Secretary of
the Treasury has issued any bends Illegal
ly, and the case is plain and SO clear
as my friend from Nebraska says it is, why
not present it by impea chment? Then my
friend here can try the question and sit
a juryman on the trial of John G.. Car
Isle because of Tillfully issuing bonds
without any authority of law. That is an
improbable offensc, is it not?'
Some Attention to Mr.. Chandler.
The discussion ran along FOR some time
without any notable points being made,
Mr.. Stewart participating at considerable
length, and then Mr.. Hill took up Mr.. PEI
fer's former speech on he resolution and
and analysed it phrase by phrase.
received from people in regard to the
matter of bond issues, and finally
turning his attention to Mr. Chand-
Ter, he had the secretary read entire two
articles that received recent publication
from Mr.. Chambers pen in a local news
paper relative TO the Mckinley campaign
and what Mr.. Chandler characterized as
II the Senate were going into the investi-
eating business it had better take UP Mr.
Chambers charges well. He asserted
that the republicans would not have or
dered All investigation against a repub!i-
can Secretary of the Treasury upon such
flimsy pretenses. He did not believe they
would do il now against lem ocratic Sec
Ietary of the Treasury.
Il have more confidence IN them" he
said. Il do not believe the two great par
ties here will dance attendance to this
little crowd of populists whose votes we
seem to need in this chamaer now and
them
The Sugar Trust Investfga ton.
In conclusion, Mr.. Hill went into The mat