Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-05-28
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, May IS.
9ENATE.

Waning interest in the tariff debate
was indicated by the comparatively
small attendance On the floor and In
the galleries.
A monster petition, said to bear the
names of $4,000 citizens of Philadel-
phia, was presented, favoring Cuban In
dependence.
MIR. Cullom gave notice of two
amendments to the tariff bill. One OF
them proposes to strike out the item
increasing the tax on beer, and to SUBJ
stitute a tax of 70 cents per gallon on
distilled spirits.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
introduced a resolution for the appoint
ment of a special committee to inquire
into recent reports of speculation
by Senators in sugar stock and as to
advance information by New York
spectators as to the sugar schedule OF
The tariff bill; also to continue the in
vestigation made in 1894. The resolu-
ton recites that one man is serving q
sentence in Jail and that another was
yesterday acquitted on a te%chnicality,
aud provides for conducting the inves.
tigation so all questions shall be peril
nent.
Senator Frye, in the chair, promptly
referred the resolution to the commit
tee on contingent expenses. Mr.. Till
man vas allowed to speak on the sub
ject by unanimous consent.
The South Carolina Senator began a
speech which proved to be n of the
most Sensational the Senate has heard
in recent years. He spoke with his
characteristic vigor of voice, which fair
ly rang through the chamber and cor
ridors, adding expressive gestures to
his utterances. 1--WE have arrived at q
time," he declared, "when the Senate
can no longer afford to rest under the
damning accusations made against Sen
ators. If there are men here debauch-
ing the Senate then we should be purg-
ed of them. If these reports are Sian
ders, then the press galleries should be
purged. We cannot afford to lay back
on our dignity any longer and say we
will not investigate" Both parties
| were face to face with this scandal, he
Sid. The former sugar investigation
| sought TO learn whether members Of
the finance committee, then democrats,
were bought and sold like cattle"
| That investigation involved the Presi-
dent, the Secretary of the Treasury
| ard the 6nance committee. Now, be
| added, we have the same question:. but
the parties are changed and nothing
| but cowardice would prevent Senators
| from energetic action to protect our
| good name. 1t would be recalled, he
said, that it was charged that President
Cleveland met the sugar magnates
| on a yacht and discussed details Of the
| schedule of the then pending tariff bill.
There was nothing to fasten that
"damning accusation" Cd the Presi-
dent, Mr. Tillman said, but Senator
Jones, of Arkansas, had recently fur
| nished evidence to the effect that the
| President told him the trust should
have cent q pound.
Mr.. Jones quickly arose at this refer
ence to him. On two occasions, ne ex'
planned, Mr.. Cleveland had said to him
that he thought the cent on raw su.
gar was necessary to the American re-
| liners and that q cent rate would
drive the r%efiners out of business.
Proceeding Mr.. Tillmau said that it
might be Mr.. Cleveland desired to car.
nv out a bargain. He (Tillman) did
not say this was the case. But was it
the case? If he (the President) did
this the Senate ought to find it out
Here Mr.. Gray, chairman of the for
mer sugar investigating committee, in
| terrupted. The statement, he said,
that q 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. One party was rs deep in
the mud as the other in the mire.
MIR. Pettus demanded that Mr.. Till
man should specify his charges and
| that the whole Senate should not be
subject to his sweeping assertions.
Mr. Tillman said the present tariff
bill was made in the rooms of the Ar
lington hotel with close connection by
| telephone and telegraph with New
| York and close touch with the sugar
trust magnates. He said Chapman
was in a jail turned into a club house,
| while the great magnate had gone free
on q technicality.
He had numerous extracts read from
papers showing that the sugar trust Sc
cured the sugar schedule in the new
| bill and also an extract from Q paper
making o charge that Senator Smith, OF
New Jersey, had been specializing in
sugar. Mr.. Tillman closed with q dec
laration that the Senate should either
prove the correspondents liars or prove
the Senators corrupt and then turn
them out.
Mr.. Aldrich replied to Mr.. Tillman.
He denied that any person connected
with the sugar trust had anything to do
with the making Of the sugar schedule.
No person except the republican mem
bers of the committee knew anything
about the sugar schedule, except Sena.
tor Jones, of Nevada, to whom it was
shown Sc hours before its report. He
wanted to say for himself and for the
other members of the subcommittee
that he had not bought or sold a share
| of sugar stock.
at the CONCLUSION vi SeHatoi AiuIiCuo
remarks the tariff bill was taken up.
Senator Aldrich said he and every
member of the subcommittee courted
the fullest investigation of their acts
while considering the tariff bill.
The chemical schedule, the first in
the bill, was completed soon after 2
o'clock and the earthenware schedule
AEAn-n Tho incraaSa in the dutv