Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-23
NO SENATORIAL INQUIRY.
MIR. TiIlman's Speculation Resolution
Reported Back to the Senate
InfayOrabIN

Washington, July Ex-senator Jones. of
Nevada, chairman or the committee on
SOhtlnSent expenses To-day submitted the
report of that committee on the resolution
introduced by Senator Tillman for an in
Vestigation of the charges of speculating in
sugar stocks.
The report takes the position that the dis
tlnct assertions of senators are not to be
outweighed by newspaper attacks instigat-
ed by men willing to make statements to
newspaper correspondents with view to
publication, and then. like an assassin who
uses the stfetto in the dark, skulk behind
these correspondents and refuse TO permit
their names to be made known, even for
purposes of evidence"
1t would they continue, be mOnstrous to
set in motion the investigating machinery
of the senate every time such an attack is
made upon a senator. and they conclude
that If every unfathered rumor and un-
supported charge were to be held sufficient
ground on which to base an inquiry into the
official conduct of the peoples representa-
tiVeS, there Is no legislative body in the
world that could for single day carry on
the work for which il was designed"
Its entire time would be given over to the
work of inyestigating rumors. whispers and
charges. Before the investigation of one
such could be completed. another would
have made its appearance, and, when the
second had been investigated third would
have been provided and would be ready,
which, in turn, would be succeeded by
fourth. and the fourth by fifth. There
With reference to the proposition that in
quiry be made whether the sugar trust
has contributed to or controlled the cleo
tion of q senator in this body at any time"
the committee expresses the opinion that
the time to investigate a subject of that
character will be when some evidence is
offered to show cause for the inquiry" and
adds that, upon the election of a senator,
his political or other opponents are suffi-
clently active and alert in their own inter-
est or in the interest of their party to
make known to the senate any irregularity
or cause for contest in his election. Inso-
far as the American Sugar Refining Com
pany may offend against the statutes of
the United States. let II be dealt with ac-
cording to law. We are not the apolOgists
of popularity of that company. or any 9TH
er. can never of itself be held to be a
ground for investigating the right of SEN
ators to their seats. If it be our duty,
upon our own initiative, and without the
slightest warrant. from any known fact to
investigate whethar corporation has COM
tributed to or controlled the election of a
senator in this body at any time why
stop at one corporation? Why not prepare
list of all corporations in the United
States, call up the officers of each and ex-
anime into the question whether any such
corporations have in any way contributed
TO or controlled the election of a senator
at any time?
The process of examination would be end
less, and there would be no time for the
performance of any Legislative duties
AS 10 the Imprisonment of newspaper cor
respondents. editors or publishers for max
the committee consider that nothing but
the imperilment of the gravest public in
terests should compel a resort to such an
extremity. 1t is out Of the question. on
the eve of the twentieth century for any
one to undertake to imprison journalists
for every vague, indefinite charge which
they may circulate. No legislative body
would be sustained in such action by the
enlightened public opinion of the country.
1t is no disparagement of legislative bodies
to admit the invaluable function Of the
press in the maintenance of the free gov
erEment. That function is too important
to be subjected to narrow restrictions.
merely to correct the disposition TO over
severity of criticism. The remedy would
be worse than the disease"