Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1897-06-04
THIEVES IN THE SENATE
SENATORS DABBLING IN SUGAR
STOCK ANNOYED HIM.
Demanded an Investigation and
That the blame BE Fixed
Where 1t Belongs.

Washington, May 29.-After long pc
riod of silence. Senator Tillman of South
Carolina startled the senate today by
speech no less dramatic in it's delivery
than sensational in its allegations. He
preceded 1t by presenting resolution for
the appointment of special committee
of five senators to investigate charges of
speculation by senators while the tariff
bill was before the finance committee. In
advocating the resolution Senator Tillman
threw aside the usual conventionalities of
the senate and with a plainness of speech
seldom heard about the halls of congress
called on his associates to investigate the
published charges of senatorial specula-
ton, and If found true to purge the sem
ate of those who debauched it.
The Tillman resolution was referred to
the committee on contingent expenses Of
the senate.
Considerable progress was made on the
tariff bill, 10 pages being covered. Sew
eral votes were taken during the day,
but the finance committee had liberal
majority in every instance The demo-
cratic members of the finance committee
made strong effort to reduce the ra res
on window glass, but their amendments
to this effect were defeated. The bill will
be considered tomorrow, the usual Satur-
day recess being abandoned.
The T1Ilman Matter.
Senator Tillman's resolution quotes the
senate resolution of May II, 1894, author
izing the original inquiry, and then, after
reciting the proceedings in the Chapman
and Havemeyer trials, proceeds:
Whereas. In the last 80 days sundry
newspaper correspondents have openly
charged senators with specializing in SUI
gar stocks while the sugar schedule is
under discussion, and also charged that
brokers in New York knew in advance as
to what the senate finance committee
would report as to the schedule, all of
which involves a question of high privi-
lege. to wit, the right of the senate to
protect its members from Islander and to
protect the body as whole from those
open charges of corruption; therefore be 1t
Resolved, That committee of five be
appointed with power to send for persons
and papers, to employ a stenographer,
and to administer oaths, to inquire into
the truth or falsity of the charges made
in May. 1894 and into the charges recent
ly made; and the scope of the investiga-
ton shall cover everything embraced in
the resolution of May II, 1894, as we'll as
the methods pursued by the American Su-
gar Refining Company, better known as
the sugar trust, in controlling legislation
In Its favor at the present time; and spe-
cially whether 1t has in any wise contrib
uted to or controlled the election of Il
senator In this body at any time"
The presiding office, Senator Frye.
promptly ruled that the resolution should
go to the committee on contingent ex-
penses, but Senator Tillman obtained con-
sent to make statement. I'VE have ar
rived at time" he began, when the
senate can not longer afford to rest under
the damning accusations made aginst its
senators. If there are men here debauch-
ing the senate. then we should be purged
of them; If these reports are Islander, then
the press galleries should be purged We
can not afford to lay back on our dignity
any longer and say we will not investi-
gate
1t had been charged that President
Cleveland met the sugar magnates on a
yacht and discussed the details of the
schedule of the then pending tariff bill.
There was nothing to fasten that damn
ing accusation, Senator Tillman said, but
Senator Jones of Arkansas had recently
furnished evidence to the effect that the
president told him the trust should have
quarter of cent a pound.
Senator Jones quickly arose and stated
that on two occasions Cleveland had said
to him that he thought the quarter of a
cent on raw sugar was necessary to the
American reflneries, and that one
eighth of cent would drive the refiners
out of business.
Proceeding. Senator Tillman said it
might be that Cleveland desired to carry
out a bargain, and If SO the senate ought
to find II out.
Here Senator Gray of Delaware. chair
man of the former sugar investigating
committee, interrupted. The statement
he said. that a sugar schedule had been
made upon Benedict's yacht when the
president was on board with officers of
the sugar trust was not true, and its
falsity had been established after the
committee had probed the statement to
the bottom.
Continuing, Senator Tillman exclaimed:
Both parties are involved, and one is as
deep In the mud as the other is In the
mire. You know of the reports against
certain members of the old finance COM
mittee. and now we have more damning
accusations aginst the present commit
tee."
Senator Pettus of Alabama interrupted
to ask Tillman not to deal in generalities
but to put a mark on the senators by
name.
THAT is what want an inquiry for-to
mark these men," responded Senator Till
man. II do not want the Door man to
suffer while the mlllionaires are turned
loose"
After the protests from Senator Pet
tus that Senator Tillmar should name
at least one senator accused, Senator Till
man went on to state that when me fer
mer tariff bill was framed the finance
committee had left their committee room
and had taken quarters at the Arlington
hotel.
1.-The senator is grossly mistaken" in
terrupted Senator Vest. 1.-THE democratic
members of the finance committee did not
go to the Arlington hotel or anywhere
else outside their committee room at the
capitol"
After the Republicans.
Senator Tillman said he was glad the
democratic party was relieved to this ex-
tent. but added: Nov, no one denies
that for the last two months rooms at
the Arlington have been occupied Ivy the
finance committee In easy touch with the
telephone to New York and in easy reach
OF the sugar trust. Why is it," he asked
that the sugar trust can always COM
mand a specific instead of an ad valorem
duty? Why was 1t that they cleared sos
Ooo.0OO In three years? 1t was the demo-
cratic party who made II possible in 1894
And now" he proceeded with the dis
graced and demoralized democratic party
out or power. and the republicans in
charge of affairs. we have another damn
ing evidence Of the sugar trusts power"
Tillman said he would now present spe-