The herald., 1897-05-29
SENATORS
STARTLED
By Blasts From Tillman'S
Trumpet
WANTS AN INVESTIGATION
OF CHARGES MADE AGAINST
SENATORS
His Resolution Promptly Sent to
Committee and Senators Resume
Grinding at the Tariff Mill
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-After q
long period of silence. Senator Tillman
of South Carolina startled the senate
today by speech no less drastic in its
delivery than sensational in its allega-
tions. He preceded it by presenting
resolution for the appointment Of spe-
cial committee of five senator's to inves-
tigate charges of speculation by sena-
tors while the tariff bill was before the
finance committee. In advocating the
resolution Mr.. Tillman threw aside the
usual conventionalities Of the senate.
and with plainness Of speech seldom
heard about the halls of congress called
on his associates to investigate the pub
lished charges of senatorial speculation
and if found true to purge the senate OF
those who debauched it.
Senator Aldrich, in charge Of the tarin
bill, answered Mr.. Tillman in sweeping
denial.
The Tillman resolution was referred
to the committee on contingent expenses
of the senate.
Considerable progress was made on
the tariff bill, thirteen pages being COW
cred. Several votes were taken during
the day, but the finance committee had
a liberal majority in every instance.
The Democratic members of the finance
committee made a strong effort to re-
duce the rates on window glass. but
their amendments to this effect were
defeated. The bill will be continued to-
morrow, the usual Saturday recess being
abandoned.
The Tillman 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 thirty days sun
| dry newspaper correspondents have
openly charged senators with speculat-
ing in sugar 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 sugar
schedule, all of which involves a ques-
ton of the highest privilege. to-wit, the
right of the senate to protect its menu
bers from ISLANDERS and to protect the
body as a whole from open charges Of
corruption; therefore be it
Resolved, That committee Of five be
appointed, with power to send for per-
sons and papers. to employ a stenogra-
pher and to administer oaths, to inquire
into the truth or falsity of the charges
made in May, 1894, and into the charges
recently made, and the scope Of the in
vestigation shall cover everything en-
braced in the resolution Of May II, 1884,
as we'll az the method pursued by the
American Sugar Refining company, bet
ter known as the sugar trust, in control-
ling legislation in it's favor at the pres
ent time, and especially whether 1t has
in any wise contributed to or controlled
the election Of senator in this body
at any time.
The presiding officer, Mr.. Frye,
promptly ruled that the resolution
should go to the committee on con-
tingent expenses, but Mr.. Tillman OBJ
tanned consent to make statement.
1--WE have arrived at time" he be-
gan, when the senate can no longer
afford to rest under the damning accu-
sations made against senators. If there
are men here debauching the senate
then we should be purged Of them. II
these reports are ISLANDERS. then the
press galleries should be purged. We
cannot afford to lay back on our dignity
any longer and say we will not invests
gate.'
1t had been charged that President
Cleveland met the sugar magnates on
yachting trip and discussed details
of the schedule of the then pending tariff
bill. There was nothing to fasten that
damning accusation on the president,
Mr.. Tillman said, but Senator Jones OF
Arkansas had recently furnished evil
dence to the effect that the president
told him the trust should have a quarter
of cent pound.
Mr.. Jones quickly arose and stated
that on two occasions Mr.. Cleveland had
said to him that he thought the quarter
OF cent on raw sugar was necessary to
the American refineries, and that one
eighth of a cent would drive the refiner-
les out of existence.
Proceeding, Mr.. Tillman said it might
be that Mr. Cleveland desired to carry
out bargain, and if so the senate ought
to find it out.
Here Mr.. Gray of Delaware, chairman
of the former sugar investigation COM
mittee, interrupted.
The statement. he said. that a sugar
schedule had been made upon Mr.. Bene-
diets 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, Mr.. 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 committee, and now we have
more damning accusations against the
present committee" IS.
Mr.. Pettus Of Alabama interrupted to
ask Mr.. Tillman not to deal In generals.
! ties but to put mark on the senator bT
name. Z 81
THAT Is what want an inquiry Tor
i to mark these men. responded Till.
man, II do not wsnt ths poos man u