The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-17

casm-The Request for an Investi-
CATION Not Based on n Definite Al
legation of WrOng-DOing and the
Inquiry Would BE Merely for the
Purpose of Gratifying Public Curl
Osity.
Washington. April 1e.-After the routine
morning business. Mr.. Morrill, addressed
the Senate to show the necessity of a new
building for the national museum
At the close of Mr.. Morrilrs remarks
the bill for the new museum building
was placed on the calendar.
\ suggestion was made by Mr.. Hoar to
compliment the senator from Vermont by
the immediate passage Of the bill, but Mr..
Morrill, preferred to have it placed on the
calendar. saying that he would offer it
as an amendment to the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill
The Dupont election case was taken up
and Mr.. Gray continued his argument be-
gun yesterday against the claim of Mr..
Dupont TO the vacant seat in the Senate
from the state of Delaware. The whole
drift of the argument was that as the
Senate of Delaware had recognized the
right of Mr.. Watson to exercise his legis-
tive functions as speaker of the Senate at
the same time he exercised the duties Of
governor, its judgment in the matter was
nnal and conclusive; and no right to re-
view that judgment existed in the Senate
OF the United States, or in any other
body. Mr.. Watson's vote counted, Mr..
Dupont had not a majority and was there
fore not elected senator of the United
States. Mr.. Gray closed his speech at 2:2O
clock and the election case went over
without action.
Mr.. PETER claimed the right under the
unanimous consent given yesterday TO
have his resolution for an investigation of
the recent bond issues taken up for consd-
GRAFTON.
Mr. Cullom asked Mr. PETER to allow
the Indian bill to be acted upon. He said
that II congress expected to adjourn this
summer the appropriation bills would have
10 go through pretty soon.
Mr. PETER suggested that this was the
long session OF congress and that as the
senators were paid yearly salaries the
public business should be fully disposed
of before adjournment. He knew that the
presidential campaign was impending, but
there was time enough to do all the bus-
ness before the Senate in reasonable
time; and he regarded the bond resolution
as very important matter.
Mr.. Hale SuggeSt ted to Mr.. Cullom to
move to lay aside the bond resolution and
take up the Indian appropriation bill, say
ing that the unanimous consent was car
rled out as soon as the resolution was laid
before the Senate
The resolution having been laid before
| the Senate, Mr.. PETER stated that the
| friends of the resolution did not intend to
! expend any more time in its discussion.
Mr.. Hin called for the reading of the
resolution and it was read in full.
| Mr.. Allison, chairman of the appropria-
| tion committee, asked unanimous con-
| sent that the resolution be laid aside for
| the time being and that the Indian ap-
| preparation bill be proceeded with. Mr..
! PETER objected.
Mr.. Hill opposed the resolution. He
| commented upon Mr.. PETERS remark that
| the friends Of the resolution did not pro-
| pose to discuss it any further. 1t was he
| said, pOpulstic resolution. 1t had its
| inspira ton in the populist party Investi-
| cation was pressed without formal charg
| es. without specifications; with no allie
| cations of wrong doing, of Irregularities
| or corruption. The only reason assigned
for 1t by the senator from Kansas was
public curiosity" The resolution was TO
| be passed in the dark. 1t was to be pass
| ed, If at all, not because Of specific allie
cations against the honorable Secretary
of the Treasury, but because public curl
oSity was to be gratifed. The eXtraor-
dlnary character of the proceedings should
therefore be commented upon at the out
set. They were to have the spectacle of
a congressional investigation with no one
responsible for any distinct definite ale
CATION of wrong doing. 1t was to be an
investigation for the novelty of it, for the
fun of it, for the mere sake of having
something to do in the near future The
resolution did not charge wrong doing, but
insinuated 1t. The farmers" of the SEN
ate-the senators from Kansas, Nebraska
and South Carolina-Peffer, Allen and Till
man-had at various times denied the au
thority of the Secretary of the Treasury
to issue the bonds under the act of 1870.
There was no question to be investigat
ed. Everybody knew what had been done
and that it had been done in pursuance
of law The annual reports of the Sec
retary of the Treasury showed what had
been done. Special reports had been made
from time to time, detailing all the opera
tions of the treasury. Therefore it was
| silly, it was undignified, 1t was unworthy
| of the Senate TO appoint special investi-
| eating committee to determine facts which
| every senator was absolutely familiar
| with.
Mr.. Hill commented upon the resolution
| in detail. One of the points to be inves-
| tigated was he said, whether any officer
| of the government had received a commits
| sion or a personal reward in connection
with these bonds. What senator?" he
| exclaimed, "dares to rise in his place
| and make the allegation? No one. Has
| anybody made an affidavit to that effect
| No. Where is the senator who rises in his
| place and says he expects to prove that
| Mr.. Carlisle or any subordinate gained
one dollar Of advantage? l pause for a
Mr. Allen-That is not the question at
1.-THE senator from Nebraska" said Mr..
not the question. What is the question
Mr.. Allen referred to a statement made
| in a New York newspaper to the effect
that S1S000,00O had been made by a syndi-
cate out of recent bond issues, and asked
him whether that was not worthy of in
Vestigation.
Mr.. Hin replied that if the Senate was
| to investigate all the insinuations con-
| tanned from time to time in the New York
newspapers, it would have it's hands full.
Mr.. Allen spoke of Mr. Hill getting "as
mad as a Massassagua snake in August, -
| when a question of this kind was ap-
| preached.
Mr.. Hill asserted that the resolution had
| been got up in aid of a speculative law
| suit against the Secretary of the Treas
| ury The House Of Representatives, he
| said, was open to have impeachment pro-
| ceedings begun against the Secretary of
| the Treasury IL he had violated the law
| in any particular, but the trouble was that
| the resolution was only part of the clap
| trap of the times. 1t was part of an en-
| deavor to get up a scandal in order to
effect a political question. He referred
| to the populists in the Senate as having
| been recognized as belligerents, though
| no one could tell on what side they would
| train on any subject. What would the
government have DONE he asked, II the
present Secretary of the Treasury had not
| issued Qaw or no laW) government bonds
| last year? The Secretary Of the Treas
ury Mr. Hill declared. deserved the thanks
Of the Senate for his steady purpose in
maintaining the credit Of the country.
Senator'S might differ with Mr.. Carlisle
| They might think that he had erred in
! the discharge OF a portion Of his duty
| That was one thing and Il did not follow
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