The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-29
SUGAR SCANDAL AGAIN.
Senator Tillman Wants AnothsrIn-
vestigating Committee
TO PROBE NEWSPAPER CHARGES.

Tho South Carolina Senator startles
the Dignified Senators With Plain
ness OF Speech Seldom Heard About
the Halls of Congress.
Washington, May 2s.-After a long
period of silence, Senator Tillman. of
South Carolina, startled the senate yes
terday by a speech no less dramatic in
Its delivery than sensational in its al
legations. He preceded 1t by present.
ing a resolution for the appointment of
q special committee of five senators to
investigate charges Of speculation by
senators while the tariff bill was be-
fore the finance committee. In advo-
eating the resolution Mr.. Tillman
threw aside the usual conventional
tiles Of the senate, and with a plainness
Of speech seldom heard about the halls
of congress called on his associates to
investigate the published charges of
senatorial speculation, and If found
true to purge the senate of those who
debauched it. The senator had pub
lished articles read from the desk
stating that senators had recently
made large sums Of money in speculat-
ing in sugar stock, and in one instance
the name of the senator (Mr. Smith of
New Jersey) was mentioned. Mr.. Till
man spoke for nearly an hour, every
line of his speech being punctuated
with intense invective.
Mr.. Tillman'e resolution quotes the
senate resolution of May II, 1894, au-
thorizing the original inquiry, and then
proceeds as follows:
Whereas, the committee therein des-
ignated in the pursuance of its duties
examined several witnesses; and.
Whereas, several of these witnesses
refused point blank to answer the ques-
tons put to them; and,
Whereas, one of these witnesses af-
ter three years of legal contest, is now
In prison under sentence of the court
for contempt, said court having declar-
ed the questions put to him pertinent,
and
Whereas, another of these witnesses
was yesterday acquitted on techni-
cality which cannot shield him from
the consequences of refusing to an
swer the questions put to him. if the
senate will renew the inquiry; and
Whereas, within the last 80 days sun
dry newspaper correspondents have
openly charged senators with speeulat-
ing In sugar stocks while the sugar
schedule is under discussion, and also
charged that brokers in New York
knew in advance as to what the sem
ate finance committee would report as
10 tho cpholn1n al pf ,uhiaI, In
wolves a question of the highest priv
ilege, the right Of the senate to protect
its members from Islander and to pro-
tect the body as whole from these
open charges of corruption, therefore
be 1t
Resolved, that committee of five be
appointed, with powers to send for per-
sons and papers, to employ a stenog-
rapher and to administer oaths, to in
quire into the truth or falsehood Of
the charges made in May, 1894, and into
the charges recently made, and the
scope of the investigation shall cover
everything embraced in the resolution
of May II, 1894, as well as the methods
pursued by the American Sugar REIN
ing company, better known as the
sugar trust, in controlling legislation
in its favor at the present time, and
especially whether 1t has in any wise
contributed to- or controlled the cleo
tion of q senator in this body at any
tine.
Mr.. Aldrch, in charge of the tariff
bill, answered Mr.. Tillman in a sweep
ing denial of all irregularity on the
part of the finance committee. and
specific denial of charges that the
sugar trust had dictated the sugar
schedule of the tariff bill.
The Tilman resolution was referred
to the committee on contingent ex-
penses of the senate.
Considerable progress was made on
the tariff bill IS pages being covered.
Several votes were taken during the
day, but the finance committee had q
liberal majority in every instance. The
Democratic members of the finance
committee made strong effort to re-
duce the rates on window glass, but
their amendments to this effect We're
defeated. The bill is being considered
today, the usual Saturday recess being
abandoned.
senator Jones, OIL Nevada, chairman
of the committee on contingent eX-
penses Of the senate, has not yet called
meeting of his committee for the
purpose of considering the Tillman res
olutlon. 1t is believed to be probable
that the resolution will be reported
back to the senate, and that that body
will order an investigation. There may
be some delay on the part of the COM
mittee, in acting on the resolution, but
the presumption is that if report is
not forthcoming motion will be made
to discharge the committee and bring
the resolution before the senate. That
would mean a direct vote, and it is be-
lieved that on such proposition the
senate would vote to consider the reso-
luton and order the investigation.