The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-23
ADVERSE REPORT ON THE TILL
MAN RESOLUTION FROM THE
SENATE COMAMITTEE.
ONE SUGAR SCANDAL ENOUGH
ARGENENT AGAINST
STIRRING UP THE BATTER
ONCE MoRE.f
ONLY ONE SENATOR Isl INVOLVED.
Against Him There Are Only Vague
And Indefinite Newspaper
Charges. a

WASHINGTON, July %. - Senator
Jones (Nev), chairman of the commit
tee on contingent expenses, today sub
mitted the report of that committee on
the resolution introduced by Senator
Tillman for an investigation of the
charges of specializing in sugar stocks,
ETC. The report takes a strong position
against ordering the investigation, and
is very exhaustive in it's review of pre-
cedure Of the senate in the past in such
matters. The report takes the position
that, aside from the names of the news
paper men themselves, only the name
of Senator Smith, of New Jersey, is
mentioned in the newspapers making
the charges, on which the resolution
was based The position is taken that
the newspaper men do not count, Gin
asmuch as those gentlemen do not pro-
fess to write from knowledge, and usu-
ally, If not always, decline to disclose
the sources of their information"
whenever" the report states, 1--WE
app zach a statement that judging from
the sational heading of the article,
seems about to give us definite and
responsible information which could be
reached by an investigation, we are
disappointed to find that instead of
affording evidence of the alleged fact,
the statements consist of insinuations,
mysterious hints and indefinite allu-
sions made on the authority Of some
person whose name, the correspondent
does not disclose All these guesses,
differences and innuendoes are met in
the most direct and emphatic manner
by the statement of the senator from
Rhode Island, Mr.. Aldrich, the chair
man of the subcommittee of the finance
committee, having in charge the ar
rangement Of the details of the tariff
BILL
With reference to :he proposition
that inquiry be made whether the sugar
trust has contributed to, or controlled
the election of a senator in this body at
any time" the committee expresses
the opinion that 1.-The time to investi-
gate a subject of that character will
be when some evidence is offered to
show cause for the inquiry" and adds
that, upon the election of a senator,
his political or other opponents are
interest or in the interest of their party
to make known to the senate any ir-
regularity or cause for contest in his
election. Insofar as the American
Sugar Refining company may offend
against the statutes of the United
States, let it be dealt with according to
law. We are not the apologists of that
company or any other. The want Of
popularity of that company or any
ether, can never of itself be held to be
a ground for investigating the right
Of senators to their seats. If it be our
duty, upon our own Initiative and with
out the slightest warrant from any
known fact to investigate whether a
corporation has contributed to or con-
trolled the election of a senator in this
body at any time why stop at one
corpora ton? Why not prepare a list
Of all corporations in the United States,
call up the officers Of each and examine
into tr OF eStion Wheth:r eny such r.
porations nave lin any way contribut-
ed to or controlled the election of a
senator at any time" The process OF
examina ton would be endless and there
would be no time for the performance
of any legislative duties.
RIGHTS OF THE PRESS.
The committee goes at length into
the question of the propriety of ex-
pelling from the senate press gallery or
sending to prison newspaper CORE
ing a position against both sugges-
tiGns. Expulsion from the gallery
would be disproportionate to the Of
Tense, as the other galleries of the
senate would be open to the offender.
1T might even be-" the committee
adds, that the notorfety acquired by
correspondent by the occasion of sucn
expulsion, instead Of operating as IA
punishment, would prove source of
promo ton in his pIOf6SSiCn.'
Furtherr ore, such punishment would
have no influence upon the newspaper
proprietcrs themselves, and with the
press association covering the ground,
it would be Impossible to deprive news
papers from securing the news. The
committee supplies list of prosecu-
tons Of Newspaper writers by the SEN
ate, beginning with the case of William
Euane, CT 1900, from which the conclu-
sion is drawn that TO very heavy pen
alt1es have been imposed for tie recu-
sancy OF newspaper witnesses"
AS to the Imprisonment Of newspa-
per corr spondents, editors or publish
ers for making statements not war;
ranted by the facts, the committee con-
slders that nothing but the irnperiI-
ment Of the gravest public interests
should compel a resort to such an en-
tremity. 1t is outvof the question, on
the eve CT the twentieth century for
ally one to undertake to imprison jour-
nallsts fer every vague, indefinite
charge which they may circulate. No
legislative body would be sustained in
such action by the enlightened public
opinion of the country. 1t is no dis
paragement of legislative bodies to adj
NIT the invaluable function of the press
in the maintenance of free government.
That function is too important to be
subjected to narrow restrictions or cir
cumscribed within illiberal bounds
merely to correct the disposition to
over-severity of criticism. The rem-dy
would be worse than TIE disease.
Legislators who, in every loose and I'M
supported charge affecting the action
of their body, see the spectre of accu-
sation, and insist upon imprisonment
in default of proof, should take occa-
sion to reflect upon the injury that
would be done to free government by
the attempt on every occasion to
bring to book members, of the press
who exercise over freely the right of
criticism of pubic acts. While the
right must ever be maintained by the
laWmak1r power to protect itself from
assault, Whenso5 yer erlanating, yet
with the exercise of this right should
be reserved for occasions of extraord.-
nary Importance. Freedom Of the press
is guara nteed by the constitution, is
essential to the existence of free gov
eminent and should nota lightly be in
terfered with