Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-17
SHEER CURIOSITY
At the Bottom Of Movements for
Official Investigations
urHE OPINION OF SENATOR HILL

MTHE OPINION OF SENATOR HILL
who Also Makes Some Cemmsnts and
Critieisns on the Popullsts In the Coarss
Il speech Denouncing the Proposed In
auiry into Bond Sales--wants 70 Know
Why Impeachment Il Not Resorted to
and Charges Made Openly.
WASHINGTON, April l7-Although there
were sensational features again in the
house, Blue renewing his attack on Cen
eral Franklin and other members defend
ing the general, the senate yesterday was
the best entertainment, for Hill let loose
some walls of-wrath, probably, rs he was
speaking to the Peffer resolution to in
vestigate bond sales, q resolution he would
gladly have seen throttled because he
thought it waste OF time. Hill said in be-
ginning:' ''This is Populist resolution
and is properly urged by the senator from
Kansas [Peffer]. 1t has its inspiration in
the Populist party. 1t has its inspiration
in the Populistic opposition to all bonds"
Hill said this resolution was presented
without formal charges without speci1ica-
tions without allegations Of wrong do
ing. irreguiarity Or corruption. 1t was,
MS had been admitted by the senators
clamoring for a bond Investigation, q
mere concession to public curiosity. 1t
was fiasco.
Mentions tho 'sFarmers'' Of the Senate.
'This resolution is to be passed in the
dark" declared Hill. at is not urged
after specific allegations against the hon.
orable secretary Of the treasury, but
merely to crafty the curiosity Of the
friends of the senator from Kansas. The
country is to be treated to this spectacle
for the novelty of 1.-THE fun Of it." 1t
was belittling to the senate that it should
Mt this time seek to cast doubt as to the
action Of the secretary Of the treasury in
issuing bonds. The farmers of tho senate
the senators from Kansas (Pcffer), from
Nebraska (Allen), from South Carolina
(Tillman)--these farmers had asserted
that the farmers denied authority to issue
bonds. He insisted that the senate could
not go into the private affairs Of the bond
bidders, and the public transactions were
already known.
Proposes to Investigate PETER.
asked Hill, land utter tho Islander that
the secretary of the treasury or some Of
his subordinates have received some COM
pensation, some reward. There Is no an.
swcr. There is n mean, contemplate in
situation, not q direct charge. Because
senators differ with the secretary of the
treasury-and differ with him at times
must they drag in m insinuatiOn Of dis
honorable dealing against the secrctaryf
What If offered n resolution to investi-
gate the senator from Kansas?"
Il would say go ahead" interposei
PETER
Hill said such a resolution would carry
an insinuation against tho Kansas sena-
tor. Hill declared that the courts were
open if any wrong had been done ON o
bond issue.
Why Didn't the Authors Impeachf
Allen interrupted, rcmarking that this
subject seemed to make Hill '.as mad as
u Massasauga in August" He said the
New York senator knew perfectly we'll
that q suit ut law against the secretary of
the treasury was not permissible under
tho laws. "On tho contrary 1 will
assert and kuow," exclaimed Hill, "that
this resolution is in aid of n speculative
lawsuit: that the suit was instituted In
the courts on the very day when it was ex.
pectcd this debate was to begin in tho sem
| ute" Hill went on to ask why tho
| authors of this resolution, did not propose
impeachment. Instead Of an investiga-
tion, the secretary Of the treasury should
have a vote of thanks fog sustaining tho
| credit of the government"
| Accusation Against Secretary Sherman.
Stewart interrupted frequently, at last
| asking: rs the administration opposed to
| this Investigations"
Il am not authorized to speak for the
| administration" replied Hill in ringing
tones. Il oppose the resolutions because
they embrace silly, foolish, unworthy
propositions. I would oppose whether a
Democratic secretary was involved OF
no." Before he got through, he went on,
| he would examine other low. contempti-
BILE Investigations and charges made
against other secretaries of the treasury
and which had fallen to the ground. He
would speak of the course of men who had
| accused the then secretary Of the treasury
now sitting there, pointing to Sherman
which accusations, in the light OF his
tory, were weak and thin and dissipated.
| ARRANGEMENT or THE POPCLISTS