The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-19
INVESTIGATE OR HUSH.
SENATOR 3. r. TlLlMAN'S PLAIN
TALK TOTHE SENATE.

Ifseuators Speculated in Sugar Stock, as
is Charged, 1t Should be Proven and the
Guilty Ones Punishe d. Havemsyer Want
ed Instead OF Chapman.
After a long period of calm. the
United States Senate was consldera-
bly agitated to day, first in the discus
sion of the sugar Senate investigation
and then by a preliminary skirmish
on the tariff bill. The Allen resolu
ton. to bring Elverton R. Chapman
before the bar of the Senate, was de-
bated in somewhat monotonous style
until Mr.. Tillman OF South Carolina
gave a present interest to the subject,
referring to reports that Senators had
within the last week speculated IN su'
gar stock.
The resolution relative to bringing
Mr.. Chapman to the bar of the Senate
was taken up as soon as the routine
business was out OF the way. Mr..
Allen said he desired to present some
additional facts bearing on the sub
ject. He said the Senate should, IN
Justice to itself, take this matter IN
hand and deal with it promptly. lie
could understand, he said, the anxiety
of Chapman to shield those around
him from the consequences OF the sen,
tence. "But, as the representatives. OF
seventy million people, proceeded Mr..
Allen, 1--WE cannot afford to permit
Mr.. Chapman, the representative OF
q powerful organization, which, 1t has
been charged, exercises great lntlu.
ence over this body, to gounwhlpped "
The discussion assumed q legal snd
technical phase, Messrs. Faulker OF
West Virginia, White of California
and Spooner of Wisconsin arguing
on the law applying TO Chapman.
Mr.. Hosr moved to refer the resolu-
ton to the committee on privileges
and elections.
Mr.. Daniel Dem. Va.) proposed a
modification of the resolution, that
reference to executive clemency be
struck out, leaving the resolution to
require Chapman to appear before the
Senate and purge himself of contempt.
Mr.. Pettus Dem. Ala.) urged that
the investigation be opened afresh
recurring witnesses to appear and tes'
tify, instead of Furnishing them for
past misdeeds.
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire
asked why, if petition was being
circulated in the Senate for the par
don of Chapman and Senators were
being importuned to sign it, it was
not proper to consider resolution on
the subject. Was it necessary, ne
asked, that petition in remonstrance
be prepareda
When Mr.. Tillman (Dem. S. CO.
endeavored to question MIR. Chandler,
the latter suggested that the South
Carolina Senator observe the rule OF
sitting down during the reply.
"When you play ball you always
stand up" said Mr.. Tillman, amid
laughter.
Mr.. Chandler went Oh to say that if
there were any Senators who would
engage in the speculation of sugar
stock-which God forbid is the case
then four years have obliterated the ev.
idence. The old investigation had fail
ed ; the tree had fallen, and it ought
to lie. 1t would be preposterous
proposition, he said, after the tribula-
tions of the committee, of the courts
and of the newspaper press, that the
witness Chapman should be pardoned.
Mr.. Chandler said he could not con-
ceive that any Executive should grant
such a pardon.
Mr.. Tillman was then recognized
for speech, which caused a distinct
sensation on the floor and in the gal
1eries.
1T seems to me-" said Mr.. Tillman,
"that we are not after Chapman; /;
the original investigation was not in
tended to punish Chapman, but to dis
cover whether any Senator on this
floor had been guilty of using his Off
cial position to make money by spe-
.culation in stocks which were infu-
enced by his action as a Senator or the
committee which reported the tariff
bill. It is not worth while to try to
cover up this matter with badinage
and fippancy. The Senator from
NewHampshire will excuse me. l do
not intend that as any reflection upon
his language, but it does appear to me
that he treated it rather hippantly.
'There are today in the newspapers
of this country charges floating about
and being sent broadcast, signed by
correspondents in the gallery, to the
effect that last week. when the new
tariff bill was reported with a change
in the sugar schedule, three Senator's
had speculated in sugar stock. We
have another stencil on our hards,
and instead of it being differential
in favor of the trust of a third of
cent, as that was, it is now two thirds
In favor of the trust.
"There are two correspondents who
have, over their own signatures,
charged that Senators have speculated
within the last week and made money.
Now, If you want to investigate, you
have new reason to investigate. If
you intend to get at the true inward
ness of the matter, to get at the true
hand, to punish those who are guilty,
say 80 and do so, or else hush. That
lis the whole sum and substance of it.
We do not want Chapman. We want
Havemeyer. We want the man who
bought your man, if they were bought.
That is..what we are here for; and now
let the Senator who has moved to re-
fer the matter, and who loves the dig
nifty of the Senate as much as any
other man, take the resolution tc his
committee and bring back a measure