The record-union., 1897-05-29
Calls Upon the Senate to Appoint an In
YeStisating Committee
To Investigate the Many Charges OF
Speculation
By Senators While the Tariff Bill
Was Before the Senate Finance
Committee-AIdrich Replies in
Sweeping Denial of the Charges.

WASHINGTON, May 2S.-After
long period of silence, Senator TIllmah
of South Carolina startled the Senate
to-day by speech no less dramatlc
in its delivery than sensational IN It's
allegations. He preceded it by present
ing a resolution for the appointment OF
a 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, Mr.. Tillman threw aside
the usual conventionalities of the Sen
ate, and with a plainness of speech sell
dom heard about the halls of Congress,
called on his associates to investigate
the published charges of Senatorial
speculation, and if found true to purge
the Senate of those who debauched it.
Mr.. Aldrich, in charge of the tariff
bill, answered Mr.. Tillman in sweep
ing denial.
The Tillman resolution was referred
to the Committee on Contingent EX-
penses 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 in
stance The Democratic members of
the Finance Committee made a strong
effort to reduce the rates on window
glass. but their amendments to this ef
feet We're defeated.
The bill will be considered to-mor-
row. the usual Saturday recess being
abandoned
Mr. Tillman's resolution quotes the
Senate resolution Of May H. 1894, au
thorlzing the original inquiry, and then,
after q citing the proceedings in the
Chapman apt Havemeyer trials, pro-
s.tie
Nf.f o. the last thirty days sun
sfF fsrfr correspondents have
r aafEfl Senators with speculat-
a HlEar stocks while the sugar
r8ale Us under discussion. and also
snarerl that brokers in New York
kufA bra advance as to what the Senate
Finance Committee would report as to
the sugar schedule. all of which in
wolves question of the highest pris,s
lege. TO wit: The right of the Senate to
protect it's members from slander and
TO protect the body as whole from
those open charges of corruption, there
fore be il
Resolved. That a committee of five
be appointed with power to send for
persons and papers. to employ a stem
ographer 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 investigation shall cover
everything embraced in the resolution
of May Il, 1894, as well as the methods
pursued by the American Sugar Re
fining Company, better known as the
sugar trust, in controlling legislation
in its favor at the present time, and es-
pecially whether it has in any wise con-
tributed to or controlled the election of
a Senator in this body at any time
The presiding officer, Mr. Frye.
promptly ruled that the resolution
should go to the Committee on Contin-
gent Expenses, but Mr. Tillman OBJ
tained consent to make statement.
we have arrived at a time" he be-
gan, when the Senate can no longer
afford TO rest under the danning accu-
sations made against Senators. If
there are men here debauching the Sen
ate, 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 dig
nifty any longer and say we will not in
vestigate"
IL 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 the
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 quar-
ter of a cent pound
Jones quickly arose and stated that on
two occasions Mr.. Cleveland had said
to him that he thought the quarter cent
on raw sugar was necessary to the
American refneries. and that a one
eighth cent would drive the refiners ont
of business
Proceeding, Tillman said il might be
that Mr.. Cleveland desired to carry out
a bargain. and If so the Senate ought
TO find il out.
Here Gray of Delaware. Chairman of
the former sugar investigating commit
tee interrupted. THE statement" he
said. that a sugar schedule had been
made upon Mr.. 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. 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 damaging accu-
sations against the present committee.
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 l want an inquiry for,
to mark these men," responded Tillman
81 do not want the poor man to suffer
while the millionaire's are turned loose. .
After the protests from Pettus. that
Tillman should name at least one Sena-
tor accused, Tillman went on 10 state
that when the former tariff bill was
framed the Finance Committee had left
their committee room and had taken
quarters at the Arlington Hotel.
The Senator is grossly mistaken in
terrupted Vest THE Democratic mem
bers of the Finance Committee did not