The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-23

TO no human-being before the -presenta-
ton of the particulars to the senate and
its publication in due and orderly
course"
The report takes the position that dis
tinct assertions of senators are not to
be outweighed by newspaper attacks
instigated by men willing to make
statements to newspaper correspondents
with a view of publication, and then,
like an assassin who uses the stiletto
in the dark, stalk behind these CORE
spondents and refuse to permit their
names to be made known even for pur-
poses of evidence" 1t would be, they
continue, too monstrous to set the IN
vestigation machinery of the senate in
motion every time such an attack is
made upon a senator.
They say that the senate has on sew
eral occasions held, when making ref
erence to proposed Investigations into
the conduct of its members, that in
order to warrant so grave a proceeding
there should be some tangible evidence
some specific and properly supported
allegation of the act from a RESPONSE
bic source and not merely vague, gen.
era1 charges of rumOrS.''
The committee say with reference to
the portion of the resolution which re-
quires the re-opening of the inquiry of
1894, that no new evidence has been
produced and that the proceedings in
! the courts 'in the matter of certain
contumacious witnesses do not show
and probability of securing information
beyond that already adduced.
They call attention to the fact that in
all the prosecutions growing out of the
former inquiry there was only one con-
viction, the others being acquitted on
the ground that questions put to them
were not pertinent. The committee con-
cludeS that this status cannot be
changed by re-opening the case.
With reference to the 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
a inns RI inv itrat a n
subject of that character will be when
some evidence is offered to show cause
for the inquiry and adds that upon
the election of senator, his political or
other opponents are sufficiently active
and alert in their own interest or in
the interest of their party to make
known to the senate any irregularity or
cause for contest in his election. In so
far as the American Sugar Refining
company may offend against the stat
uteS of the United States, let it be dealt
! with according to law. We are not the
apologists of that company or any 9TH
er. The want of popularity of that
self be held to be a ground for investi-
eating the right of senators to their
: seats. If it be our duty, upon our own
initiative and without the slightest
warrant from any known fact to in
Vestigate whether a corporation has
contributed to or controlled the cleo
ton of a senator in this body at any
time why stop at one corporation?
Why not prepare a list of all corpor-
atoms in the United States, call up the
officers of each and examine into the
question whether any such corporations
have in any way contributed to or con-
trolled the election of a senator at any
time"
The committee goes at length into the
question of the propriety of expelling
from the senate press gallery newspa-
per correspondents who make such
charges, taking a position against the
suggestion. They say that expulsion
from the gallery would be dispropor-
toned to the offense as the other gall
leries of the senate would be opened to
the offender. 1T might even be- the
committee adds, that the notoriety ac-
quired by a correspondent by the occa-
sion of such expulsion, instead of oper-
ating as punishment, would prove a
source of promotion in his profession"
Furthermore, they conclude that such
punishment would have no influence
upon the newspaper propFietors them
selves and that with the press associa-
ton covering the ground, it would be
impossible to deprive neWSpa perS from
securing the news. The committee sup
plies a list of prosecutions of newspaper
writers by the senate, beginning with
the case of William Duane in 1900, from
which the conclusion is drawn that no
very heavy penalties have been imposed
for the recusancy of newspaper witness
es.''
AS to the Imprisonment of newspaper
correspondents, editors, or publishers
for making statements not warranted
Dy the TACT, the committee cOnSlQeF In3G
nothing but the impairment of the
gravest public interests should compel a
resort to such an extremity.
The committee does not accept the
view that the senate will stand convict
ed of the charge if it does not officially
disprove them.
although, 1.-THE report says, 1.-The press
is most powerful institution, we are
very confident that this is great exeg-
geration of its powers. Neither do all
newspapers make these charges nor be-
lieve them
Reference is made in this connection
to the gauntlet of newspaper criticism
that every man elected to the senate
runs before he reaches that goal, and
the conclusion drawn that every sue
cess gives sufficient evidence that those
who succeed are worthy of the conf
the presumption" it is added, lis one
requiring evidence to rebuff
In conclusion the committee recon-
mended that the subject be Indefinitely
postponed, saying:
1T seems to your committee that the
time has come when the senate should
empha tically declare by its action that
it would not be accessory to attacks up
on itself or it's members from irrespon-
sible source. No investigation of any
charge affecting the integrity of the
senate or it's members should at any
time be undertaken unless such charge
be definite and specific and made by
some known and responsible person not
engaged professionally in sensational
Journalism"
FITZ'S HORSE FRIGHTENED