The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-26
ATTACKS ON PUBLIC MEN.
THE CHARGETHAT SENATORS sPECU-
LATED IN SUGAR STOCKS.

the Tillnnn Resoiution-lt Says That There
IL NOTHING on which 60 Bnse an InvestiEa-
tion Except Bascless Assertions ana Rumors
WASHINGTON. July 25.-Tho report Of Senator
Jones OF Nevada, Chairman of the Committee
on Contingent Expenses, on the resolution in
troduced by Senator Tillman on May %, direct
ing an investigation into the truth OF certain
newspaper articles alleging that Senators had
speculated in sugar stock, and that the sugar
schedule in the Tariff bill as reported by the
Senate Finance Committee was known in adj
vance to brokers in New York, is a voluminous
document OF over Il, 1000 words, and ono OF the
most remarkable that was ever placed on the
Senate files.
The report says that the only Senator named
In all the clippings presented by Mr.. Tillman
in support OF his resolution was James J.
Smith, Jr., of New Jersey, who was not present
on that date. Subsequently Mr.. smith made o
distinct, positive. and categorical denial, saying
that he had not bought or sold sugar stock at
any time this session, nor at any previous time
when legislation affecting its value was pend.
ing. The newspaper articles unlimited by Mr..
Tillman relating to the construction Of the sugar
schedule are analysed. and many OF their state
ments quoted, from which the committee con.
cludcs
"Whenever we approach n statement that,
judging from the sensational heading Of tho
article, seems about to give us definite and re-
sponsible information which could be reached
by an investigation, we are disappointed to find
that instead OF a~ffordinR evidence OF the alleged
fact, the statement consists of insinuations,
mysterious hints and indefinite illusions, made
on the authority of some person whose name the
correspondent does not disclose. All these
guesses, infercnces and innuendoes are mot in
the most direct and emphatic manner by the
statement of the Senator from Rhode Island,
Mr.. Aldrich, the Chairman Of the sub-committe
of the Finance Committee. having in charge the
arrangement of the details OF the Tariff bill"
For himself, Senator Jones of Nevada says in
the report that the information he received from
scSedS Tst cume 10 him rs' MN i%cgi IL ens o fassf
consultation, and was conveyed by him TO no
human being in any form or manner before the
presentation Of the particulars to the Senate
and their publication in due and orderly course
These reservations, the committe c says, ARE not
to be outweighed or overcome by destinations,
innuendoes. and indefinite assertions and asper-
sions, made by men who are willing 10 make
statements to newspaper correspondents with a
view to publication, and then, like 1ssassins
hind those corresponding and refuse 10
permit their names to DO made known.
e would be- m zone pnsO1 fe the s sNiaen'f to set
in motion the machinery OF investigation upon
e eos n9is." Who S spa dr %n p inso f Rhe eap Of al a
NEWSPAPER correspondent an indefinite hint
on the third day as a charge can thus marshal
before the country every, Senator In this cham;
~ ""N WY "shipN ~ AZ oNhNt Jus NJ -
whom must needs be- dragged before a commit
tee OF investigation and placed on oath with
ever it may please the fancy Of these miscreants.
Contemplate for a moment how little is neces;
sary 10 the manufacture of a rumor. By word
but "A drop OF ink"
afioat, the committee says, has been illustrated
time and again, especially as shown by the re-
the Silver Pool" BY q committee Of the House.
Of which the Hon: Nelson Dinrley. Jr., was
cut OF The Chicago Post, which had printed
many which he admitted had no
to thus besmir,h a public mans reputation
without any ground for II, in order 10 make a
ncwspaper interesting, replied:
well, We must make our newspaper read.
able or leave the gallery"
The report cites refusals Of the Senate to
enter upon inves,iEnti9ns asked for on the
strength of allegations. having similar founda-
tons to those in question. going back as far as
!1s6., One OF the most recent cases was that OF
the senate in &eW Yort in 11l ISL; Even ai Il there re
mittee in this case it is time to create one.
AT n a country such as ours" the report
irresponsible and unsupported rumor or asser-
ton attacking the integrity OF the peoples rep
charge and investigated MS such. a republican
form OF Government would become an object
OF universal contempt. and descrvedly so. 1t
would be an advertisement. addressed to all
peoples living under other forms of Govern
parliamentary procedure. and to adhere to or
adopt the method OF despotic cdicts or imperial
rescripts as the embodiment of human wisdom"
a considerable portion OF the report is devoted
to a discussion OF the question of ADEQUATE pun
ishment tor offences OF the kind under consider.
atIon. Senator Tillman had suggested that II
the reports printed be untrue the correspondents
should be expelled from the press gallery. But
this, the committee say. II it be punishment Mt
all. would be altogether disproportI oncd 10 the
offence. The public g 'llcries would still be open
"A press correspondent" the committee re-
| : "a ia Apth,, Nnnr - "a rpfIEni IN n ~ u ar
certain questions propounded 10 him by one OF
the houses OF Congress-. and was expelled from
prominence. Some time atterward he received
the important appointment OF general manager
OF The leading news organization OF the coun-
The report delves into the history Of prose-
cutions by the Senate for contempt, and shows
that no heavy penalty has ever been imposed
for recnsancy of newspaper Witnesses. The
Philadelphia .Aurora. who was sent to prison
for thirty.tiye days for libe,Iing the Senate. In
a asde in ,he 1 sa7'iI ,&a @ eat tST w Of tRs %a sling I
Tor t a. and soa,, iosii S%Sn HyN$ %Ssni Fs sa11a:
s spS lent Of, of"" the S s%%H YORK tTFSn 'jlie~@ld, 'o was
imprisoned thirty days in ls4s for refusing 70
Mexico, then pending: Twelve years later Thad.
deus I1iG, y 1y Eoin% o. Se NJ, Y i@@h N Mars Ee p i, in J the Dis f.
1860. for refusing TO appear before a special
committee. In that case il was held that i'm
prisonment must necessarily cease with the seS'
sion OF Congress that imposed II.
The concluding portion OF the report is an In.
tcresting presentation OF the conditions under
which men in public life exist to-day in their re.
%lutions with the, press. included in which Is a
brief sketch OF the groNth of the liberty of tho
press from the time OF George H.. when parlia-
mcnt passed an act forbinding the publication
OF its debates. In the course of this. the commit
tee say:
AS to the Imprisonment, Of newspaper CORE
spondcnts, editors or publishers for making
statements not warranted by the facts. yourconl-
mittee consider that nothing but the imperil-
ment OF the gravest public interests should com.
mel n resort to such an extremity, III is out OF
the question, on the eve OF the twentieth cen.
fury. for any one TO undertake to imprison jour
nnlists I every vague, indefinite charge which
they may circulate. as no legislative boil would
, be sustained in such action by the enlightened
public opinion 0fthe country. 1t Is no disparage-
mcnt oflcgislativc bodies to admit the invaluable
function OF the press in the maintenance of free
j.; government. That function is too important to
J be subjected to narrow restriction or circum-
, scribed within illibcral bounds. merely 10 cor
rect u disposition to over.sevcriiy of criticism.
} The remedy would be worse than the disease.
, Lcgislatorswho, in every loose and unsupported
Ia