The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-12
WHO'S AFRAID?
Queer Actions in the Senate
Apropos Of Broker Chap
mans Sentence.

WASHINGTON, May 12, 1S9I-The SEN
ate sugar investigation and the convio-
tion Of Elverton r. Chapman for refus-
ing to testify was recalled when Mr.. AL
len (Pop., Neb.), member of the In
vestigating Committee, offered a resolu-
ton in the Senate today requiring Chap
man to appear at the bar of the Senate
and purge himself Df contumaey as a
preliminary to Executive clemeney.
The resolution has a lengthy preamble
feeiting Chapter Of the Revised Stat
utes Sections 1O1 to 104 inclusive, pro-
viding for the examination of witnesses
before Congressional committees and the
punishments in case of refusal to answer.
1t further gives the resolution of the Sen
ate of May II, 1894, providing for com
mittee of five Senators to investigate
charges of alleged bribery and frregu-
larity in connection with the sugar
schedule of the tariff bill and Chapman's S
refusal to answer. Questions asked.
1t then recites Chapman's trial, con-
viction and sentence for his contumacy
and continuing. says
Whereas, Said Chapman is now appli-
cant, as it is said, for Executive clemen-
cy and for relief from said sentence;
therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
Senate of the United States that as a
condition precedent to receiving Executive
clemency in the remission of the penalty
imposed the said Elverton R. Chapman
,should be required to appear before the
bar Of the Senate and purge himself of
the said contempt of which he is and was
guilty, by answering the questions which
he contumaciously refused and declined
to answer during said investigation and
make such disclosures as the Senate Com
mittee then requested him to make or
that may now be required of him by the
Senate.
Close attention was given to the read
ing of the resolution and as it closed Mr..
Gallinger, of New Hampshire, remarked:
s.Do / understand the Senator to object
to the consideration of the resolution
asked Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Gallihger answered that the resoiu-
tlon was very long. Senators had been
summoned TO a committee room to testify.
He had been summoned and had testified
that he never owned coppers worth of
sugar stock. The resolution should be
looked into before this line of inquiry was
resumed
Mr.. Allen said the resolution did not
contemplate a reopening of the investiga-
ton. It was confined to a requirement
that Chapman purge himself as a prere-
qufSlte to pardon.
Mr.. Gallinger said he had misappre-
hended the scope OF the resolution; still
"a hours.
Il hope the Senator will consent to let
the resolution go q the Committee on
Privileges and Elections" began Mr.
Hoar Rep., Mass.).
.Certainly not. certainly not" said Mr.
Allen, emphatically
Mr.. Hoar, with some asperity claimed
the floor and said that Mr.. Allen could
not say what he Cf1oar) hoped would be
done. He would go as far as anyone.
Mr.. Hoar said, to see that this investiga-
fN ~ ~
And ! hope the Investigations will
touch bottom" added Mr. Hoar. Il have
no sympathy with anybody who would
whistle either of those inquiries down the
wind"
This resolution practically gave away
the power of the Senate, the Senator
maintained. He would, he said, when
the resolution was considered, propose
an amendment by which the authority of
the Senate would be retained
Mr.. Allen replied briefly He said he re-
gartled Chapman as a victim rather than
q criminal When before the com, committee itisess
Chapman was very quiet and gentle
manly. He simply declined to answer the
questions, acting on legal advice In that.
said the Senator, Chapman took the
CHANCES of war. MIR. Allen said he be-
leved Chapman was more of an agent.
than principal
After some further discussion the reso-
tuition went over until tomorrow