The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-03
SENATOR TILLMAN DELIVERS AN
OTHER ONE OF HIS sENsA-
TIONAL SPEECHES.
CORRUPTION OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
He Wishes Reports of Collision
With Sugar Trust Investigated.
Charges Flatly Denied by MIR.
Aldrich Tariff Bill Progress.

South Carolina startled the senate today
by speech no less dramatic in its de-
livery than in it's allegations. The pre-
coded it by presenting resolution for
the appointment of a special committee
Of five senators to investigate charges
of speculation by senators while the tariff
bill was in the finance committee. In
advocating the resolution, Mr.. Tillman
threw aside the usual conventionalities of
the senate, and with a plainness of speech
seldom heard about the halls of congress
called on his associates to investigate the
ton, and if found true to purge the SEN
ate of those who debauched it.
Mr.. Aldrch, in charge of the tariff
bill, answered Mr.. Tillman in sweeping
denial.
The Tillman resolution was referred to
the committee on contingent expenses of
the senate.
Considerable progress was made on the
tariff bill, three pages being covered.
Several votes were taken during the day,
majority in every instance. The demo-
cratic members of the finance committee
made a strong effort to reduce the rates
on window glass, but their amendments
to this effect were defeated. The bill will
be considered tomorrow. the usual Satur-
day recess being abandoned.
Mr.. Tillman's resolution quoted the SEN
ate resolution of May II, 1894, authoriz-
ing the original inquiry, and then, after
reciting the proceedings in the Chapman
and Havemeyer trials, proceeded:
Whereas, Within the last thirty days
sundry newspaper correspondents have
openly charged senators with speculation
in sugar stocks while the sugar schedule
was under discussion and also charged
that brokers in New, York knew
ate finance committee would re-
port as to the sugar schedule,
all of which involves a question of the
highest privilege, to-wit: The right of the
senate to protect its members from SIAN
der and to protect the body as whole
from these open charges of corruption;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That committee of five be
appointed with power to send for persons
and papers, to employ stenographer and
to administer oaths, to inquire into the
truth or falsehood of the charges made
il. May, 1894, and into the charges re-
Gently made and the scope of the investi-
cations shall cover everything embraced
in the resolution of May II, 1894, as
we'll as the methods pursued by the Amer
lean Sugar Refining company, better
known as the sugar trust, in controlling
legislation in its favor, at the present
time; and especially whether it has in
any wise contributed to or controlled the
election of a senator in this body at any
time
The presiding officer, Mr.. Frye of
Maine promptly ruled that the resolu-
ton should go to the committee on con-
tingent expenses, but Mr.. Tillman OBJ
tanned consent to make statement.
1--WE have arrived at time" he be-
gan. "when the senate can no longer af-
ford to rest under the damning accusa-
lions made against senator's. If there are
men here debauching the senate, then we
should be purged of them. If these re-
ports are ISLANDERS, then the press galleries
should be purged. We can not afford to
lay back on our dignity any longer and
say we will not investigate"
1t had been charged that President
Cleveland met the sugar magnates on a
yacht and discussed details OF the sched-
ule in the then pending tariff bill. There
was nothing to fasten that "damnlng ac-
cusation'' on the president, MIR. Tillman
said. but Senator Jones of Arkansas had
recently furnished evidence to the effect
that the president told him the trust
should have IA cent a pound.
Mr.. Jones quickly arose and stated that
, on two occasions Mr.. Cleveland had said
to him that he thought IA of a cent on
sugar was necessary to the American re-
fners. and that 1-Sc rate would drive the
refners out of business. ..
Proceeding, Mr.. Tillman said that it
might be Mr.. Cleveland's desire to carry
out bargain, and if so the senate ought
to find it out.
of fine former sugar investigating commit
fee interrupted. The statement, he said,
that sugar schedule had been made up
IN Mr.. Benedict's yacht when the presi-
dent 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, Mr.. 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 COM
mittee, and now we have more damning
accusations against the present commit
tee.
Mr. Pettus of Alabama interrupted to
ask Mr.. Tillman not to deal in generali-
ties but to put a mark ON the senators
by name.
"That is what l want an inquiry for,
to mark these men," responded Mr.. Till
man. II do not want the poor man to
suffer while the millionaire is turned
loose"
After protests from Mr.. Pettus that
Mr.. Tillman should name at least one
senator accused, Mr.. Tillman went on to
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 Mr.. Vest of the finance COM
mittee. ''The democratic members of the
finance committee did not go to the Ar
lington hotel or anywhere else outside
their committee room at the capitol"
Mr.. Tillman said he was glad the DEM