Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-29
II He Docs No Harm He Causes Some Fun
in the Senate.

gress, called on his associates to in
vestigate the published charges of
| senatorial speculation, and if found
true, purge the Senate of those who
| lebauched it. The senator had pub
| iished article read from the desk. stat
| ing that senators had recently made
| large sums of money in specializing in
| sugar stock and in one instance, the
name of a senator was mentioned. Till
| man spoke for nearly an hour. every
| line of his speech being punctuate,,
with intense invective The Tilman
| resolution was referred TO the COM
| mittee on contingent expenses of the
Senate.
Frye promptly ruled that the resolu-
zion should go to the committee OH
contingent expenses. But Tillman was
not to be stopped. He asked consent
| 70 make statement on the resolution
and this being granted, the South Car
Dina senator began a speech which
proved to be one Of the most sensa-
tional the Senate has heard in recent
years. Tillman spoke with his charac-
teristic vigor of voice. which fairly
rang through the chamber and cor
riders adding expressive gestures e
his utterances.
I'VE have arrived at a time he de-
clared when the Senate can no longer
afford to rest under the damning acusa
tons made against senators. If there
are men here debauching the Senate
then we should be purged of them. If
these reports are ISLANDERS then the
press galleries should be purged. We
cannot afford to lay back on our dig
nifty any longer and say we will not
investigate
Both parties were face to face with
this scandal. The former sugar in
vestigation sought to learn whether
members of the finance committee then
Democrats. were bought and sold like
cattle That investigation involved
the President, the secretary of the
treasury and the finance committee.
Now, he added, we have the same
question, but the parties are changed
and nothing but cowardice would pre-
vent senators from energetic action to
protect our good names. 1t would be
recalled. he said, that it was charged
that President Cleveland met the sugar
magnates on yacht and discussed de-
tails of the schedule of the pending
tariff bill. With nothing to fastening
that ''damning accusation on the
President. Tillman said, but Senator
Jones of Arkansas, had recently fur
nshed evidence to the effect that the
President told him the trust should
have Il of a cent a pound.
Jones quickly arose at this reference
to him. On two occasions, he ex-
planned, Mr.. Cleveland had said to him
that he thought the 4 cent on raw SUI
gar was necessary to the American re- |
finers and that u cent rate would |
drive the refiners out of the business |
Proceeding. Tillman said that it |
might be that Mr. Cleveland desired to |
carry out bargain. He (Tillman) did |
not say this was the case. but was it |
the case? If he (the PresidenD did |
this the Senate ought to find it out.
Here Gray of Delaware, chairman of |
the former sugar investigation COM |
mittee, interrupted. The statement, he |
said, that sugar schedule had been |
made upon Mr.. Benedict's yacht when |
the President was on board with Off |
GERS of the Sugar Trust, was not true /
and it's fasity had been established |
after the committee had probed the |
statement to the bottom.
Both Mr.. Havemeyer and Mr.. Searles |
had testified that no such meeting ever
occurred. and that they never met Mr. !
Cleveland.
Tillman said he was glad to hear this. |
He wanted everything to come out that |
would clarity the situation. He was
attacking no one, but one-half of the |
American people believed he said. that
there a Ie.tIff in
as some of us believe there is something
rotten in Denmark now"
Both parties are involved. exclaimed
the senator. land one is as deep in the
mud as the other is in the mre. You
know of the reports against certain mem
bers of the old finance committee, and
now we have more damning accusations
against the present committee
TlIman began to speak of Mr.. Chap
man. who was now living like a little |
king in the district Jail.
Pettus of Alabama, interrupted at this
stage. Il will ask the senator said Mr..
Pettus, with much elaboration. mot to
Zeal in generalities. If he desires to put
4 mark on a senator on this floor, then
demand that me do ii and not. indulge
n generalities against all the members
IF the Senate
There was a hush through the chamber
md momentary expectation that names
night be given.
THAT is what | want an inquiry for
o mark these men responded Tillman
4 want them marked and do not want
he poor man to suffer while The million
lires are turned loose. | know there are
harges that men have been bought and
old and are We to sit quietly? The SEN
tor (Pettus) is a newcomer here and he
# course, is not a particips criminis.''
1t was for that reason. Pettus declared,
hat he made his demand. True and hon
st men should not have TO sit here and
lave a slur cast on them by generaiized
statements
.'Why don't you wait for the rest of
ny speech?" asked Tillman of Pettus.
(Continued on rara %