The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-10
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR AGAIN
STIRRED UP HIS COLLEAGUES
ON ALLEGED SUGAR SCANDALS.
WAD|AG THROUGH METAL SCHEDULE
Ten Paragraphs COvered-snn An
geIo Public Building Bill Passed.
Another Lively Debate In the
House over Reeds Policy.

made good progress on the tariff bill to-
day, covering about ten paragraphs of
the metal schedule and almost complet-
ing it, The formal contest against the
measure was maintained, but all amend
ments tending to change the bill as re-
ported were voted down and the finance
committee sustained. The debate was
mainly of technical character, the re-
publican senators continuing the policy
of refraining from making speeches.
Before the tariff bill was taken up Sen
ator Tillman of South Carolina gave the
senate another hour of exciting contro-
versy over the. proposed sugar inyestlga-
ton. He defended himself from pub
lished charges relative to his admins
tration of the governorshp of South Car
,olina and then moved that the commit
tee having charge of the sugar resolution
be discharged from further consideration
of 1t, thus bringing the subject directly
before the senate.
Mr.. Gallinger of New Hampshire, in
behalf Of the committee, made II spirited
protest against this course, saying the
senate should not turn aside from it's pub
Tic work TO investigate charges affecting
the private character of senators. There
were frequent lively exchanges between
Mr.. Tilman, Mr.. Gallinger and Mr.. Jones
of Nevada. but in the end Mr.. Tillman
Withdrew his motion.
A bill was passed for public building
mt San Angelo. Tex, to cost 100000.
Mr.. Vest of Missouri offered II reso-
luton, which was adopted, reciting that
skeletons of American soldiers killed at
Buena Vista in 1877 were now cXhumed,
and asking the state department to in
vestigate the subject and report the facts
to congress. A letter was read in this
connection from Consul General Critten-
den, saying the matter should receive the
attention of the authorities mt Wash
ington. A clipping was enclosed, stat
ing that the bones of American soldiers
were bleaching in the sun.
Mr.. Tillman began his statement by
presenting a newspaper clipping, which
referred TO charges against him in con-
nection with his administration while
governor of South Carolina. These
charges, he declared, were stale. He
had met them before, and he read an
open letter written to the people of South
Carolina, characterizing the charges as
ISLANDERS This was AN attempt to di-
vert attention from the sugar schedule,
the senator declared, but the attempt
would fail All the crimes in the deca-
Iogue' had been charged against him. He
had appealed to his people and he had
been sustained, he being sent to the SEN
ate after heated canvass. Now the
SAINT Olu CIliSts NtTt lOTMuTu.
If any man desired to look into his char
acter, said Mr.. Tillman, he courted the
fullest inquiry and any other senator
against whom there was the breath of
scandal should have the charges probed
TO the bottom and the scandal dispelled.
Mr.. Galinger then secured recognition
Tor n statement of the attitude of the
committee.
Every man in public life feels the
OH Of Fnlg nl,n l.
must the senate pause every time such
accusations are brought to spend its
time and the money of the United States
IN pursuing these charges. If this was
TO be the case then there would never be
a thrift bill or any other bill"
AS for himself, Mr.. Gallingcr said he
would decline to enter into an inquiry as
to the character of the senator from
South Carolina or of any other member
after the resolution had been carefully
examined there would be n report to the
senate, Mr.. Gallinger stated.
Here Mr.. Vest suggested that there
was precedent for ignoring charges
against the personal character of Il SEN
ator. He referred to the attitude of
Senator Thurman when an investigation
was proposed against one of his asso-
Gates he having held that the courts
49, 'BNh ioi ItuTtSS anu IUuI
At was not for the senate to undertake
Ito, right private wrongs
Mr.. Iillman was again on his feet.
The newspapers were trying to make
fire on his rear, he said, while he was en-
gagged in fire in front. His resolution
simply sought to determine whether the
finance committe was the creature of the
sugar trust, whether senators were the
tools and paid subjects of the trust" or
vhnthpr tbay hnr AZ,
duties as honorable men.
Mr.. Gallinger, proceeding, said the peo-
pie of each senator's state must pass upon
his character. limitations had been
made against the members of the finance
committee and against the senator from
New Jersey (Smith), Mr.. Gallinger went
on. Those who knew these senators
needed no investigation to show that the
charges were false. Mr. Aldrich had
made n complete and Il sweeping denial
to the senate. SO that. declared the sena-
tor. it was the word of Nelson w. Aldrich
against that of the correspondent of a
newspaper Which was the senate to
accept? Was there to be moments
hesitation in accepting the statement of
Mr.. Aldrich?
Can Senator Aldrich and the commit
tee deny a hearing queried Mr.. Tilman,
when the paper making the charge Of
Tered to prove the charger"
MIR. Gallinger said this Investigation of
charges might go on indefinitely. Sup
pose another paper made another charge
must the senate start on an inyestiga-
ton of that charge?
Mr.. Tillman was still standing at his
desk and hurled back the answer: IF
these charges are false, then it is time
10 stop the lies spread before the public,
this SANDER of senator's, and punish the
guilty, and until you do so you stand con-
victed before the American people,"
1.-The time has not arrived" Mr.. Bal
finger preceded, calmly, when the
American press is to be muzzled in the
manner suggested by the senator from
South Carolina"
Mr.. Gallinger closed with an earnest
protest against "rairoading" the resolu-
lion out of committee, in defiance of
precedent and the usual courtesy pre-
railing.
After Mr.. Gallinger concluded, Mr..
TiIman made the statement that Sena-
tor Jones of Nevada had told him he
was ready to report the investigation res
olution. Mr.. Gallinger said this could
hardly be true, as the committee had
not acted. Mr.. Tillman repeated his
assertion. whereupon Mr.. Jones of Ar
kansas Of the committee rose and in posi-
tive terms declared the chairman could
not have made the statement.
"But he did make it" again asserted