The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-18

concerned in was not the contempt O
Chapman, but the ascertaiumenJ O
facts relative to speculation in suga
stocks.
Mr.. Gray reviewed the course of tn,
committee and the inquiries put to in
dividual Senators.
The remarks OF Mr. Gray, of Della
ware, were directed mainly to the in
vestigation three years ago conducted
| by a Senate committee o. " hich he
was the Chairman, and his introductor,
words give so clear an insight to the
real force and bearing OF that investi
CATION that they arc copied herewith
The witness Chapman comes before
the Senate now on account of the pro
ceedlngs three years ago, when he re.
fused TO answer the questions put to
him. Mr.. Gray said
Mr.. President, l agree With the
Senator from South Carolina (Mr.
Tlllman) that what we have been con.
cerned in is not the punishment OF
Elverton R. Chapman, or Of any other
man who has been guilty of what ia
called contempt Of the Senate, but it
was to ascertain the facts and TO prose
cute an inquiry with which we were
charged, in order that the truth mig ht
be elected and found in some judicial
shape for the action of the Senate
1T is now three years this month
since committee was formed by order
OF this body to investigate, among
other things, certain charges that had
appeared in the newspapers, TO the Of
iect that Senators had been engaged
In speculating in sugar stocks pending
the discussion Of the tariff bill in this
body, or while the tariff bill was pend
ing in this body. or that committee
had the honor of being chairman, by
the courtesy of the Senate. Its report
OF all its proceedings have beeu placed
before the Senate and the public. The
course OF the inquiry that was had and
all the results that were reached have
been known now nearly three years.
1t is true that we did subject every
member of the then Senate TO an in
quisition personally as to the subject
matter Of which we were charged to
inquire. Every Senator then a mem
Der of this bouy came before the com
mittee and submitted himself to an IN
quisition, which will be found to be.
wien tho record Is consulted, most
searching one as to his personal rela-
tions to any of the charges that had
been made In the newspapers and about
which the committee was instructed
~ VIZ SShooO w LNCIy oeu-
ator appeared before the committee
and answered the questions that were
put to him, and there has been no one
whom | know who has ever said since
that those questions were not truly an
sw cred.
Yet we did proceed further, and,
prompted by information that came
from various sources, we summoned
Certain parties before the committee
and asked them, notwithstanding the
sworn testimony of each Senator,
whether any Senators had through
their agency been guilty of speculating
in sugar stocks. There were certain
witnesses so summoned who refused to
answer, and refused to answer on the
ground that it was an undue intrusion
into private affairs and an inquiry
that the Senate ha no right TO prose
cute. The committee insisted upon the
answering of those questions. In re-
gard to the particular witness whose
name has been so much used here to-
day, Mr.. Chapman, he asked for time
to consult counsel before declining to
answer. The next day, on appearing
before the committee, and the ques-
tlon being renewed, he said that he had
consulted counsel and had been in
Structed that it was his right to decline
TO answer those questions"