The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-06-03

They Cannot AFFORD to Rest Under
DamninS Charges-Aldrich Says Till
man Tells Untrnths and Misrepresents
the Circumstances-Matter Referred.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (speciaD.-one of the
most sensational speeches heard in the
United States Senate since the Civil War
was made by Senator Tillman, Of South
Carolina, when he offered resolution call
ing for new investigation Of the Senate
sugar scandal The resolution quotes the
Senate resolution Of May II, 1894, authoriz-
ing the original inquiry, and then proceeds
as follows:
'Whereas, The committee therein desiG-
mated in the pursuance of its duties eS-
amined several witnesses: and,
''Whereas, Several Of these witnesses re-
fused point blank to answer the questions
put to them; and,
''Whereas, One of these witnesses, after
three years of legal contest is now in
prison under sentence Of the court for con-
tempt. said court having declared the
questions put to him pertinent; and,
''Whereas, Another of these witnesses
8 was yesterday acquitted on technieality
which cannot shield him from the conSe-
quences Of refusing to answer the ques-
tions put to him, if the Senate will renew
the inquiry; and,
"Whereas, Within the last thirty days
sundry newspaper correspondents have
openly charged Senators with specializing
I'm sugar stocks while the sugar schedule is
under discussion, and also charge that
brokers in New York knew In advance as to
A,,lI
report as to the sugar schedule, all OF which
involves question Of the highest privilege,
to wit: The right ofthe Senate to protect
its members from SANDER and to protect
the body as q whole from these open
charges OF corruption; therefore be it
: RESOLVED, That committee Of five be
appointed with powers to send for persons
and papers, to employ stenographer and
TO administer oaths, to inquire into the
truth or falsehood Of the charges made in
May, 1894. and into the charges recently
shah cover everything embraced in the
resolution Of May II, 1894, as to the meth
DDS pursued by the American Sugar Refn-
ing Company, better known as the Sugar
Trust, in controlling legislation in its favor
at the present time. And especially whether
ii has in any wise contributed to or con-
trolled the election OF Senator in this
body at any time"
Mr.. Frye promptly ruled that the resolu-
tion should go to the Committee on Con-
tingent expenses.
But Mr.. Tillman was not to be stopped.
He asked consent to make statement on
the resolution, and this being granted, the
South Carolina Senator began a speech
which proved to be one Of the most sensa-
tional the Senate has heard in recent years.
Mr.. Tillman spoke with his characteristic
vigor Of voice, which fairly rang through
the chamber and corridors, adding express
i've gestures to his utterances.
''We have arrived at time" he declared,
"when the Senate can no longer afford to
rest under the damning accusations made
against Senators.
s'If there are men here debauching The
Senate, then we should be purged Of them.
II these reports are ISLANDERS, then the press
galleries should be purged. We cannot
afford to lay back on our dignity any longer,
and say we will not investigate.
"Both parties are face to face with this
scandal. The former sugar investigation
sought to learn whether members Of the
Finance Committee, then Democrats, were
bought and sold like cattle. That investi-
cation involved the President, the Sec
retary Of the Treasury and the Finance
Committee"
"Both parties are involved" exclaimed
the Senator, ''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 Committee, and now we
have more damning accusations against
the present committee"
II any man had been Influenced in the
manner charged, the Senator asserted, he
was no better than "the blackleg gambler
who had cards up his sleeve" Such man
should be made to hang his head in shame
II his colleagues allowed him to remain in
the Senate.
= Mr.. Aldrich was at once recognized, and
laid:
(; 81 desire to say to the Senate, to the SEN
ator, and to every man in the United
States, that no person connected with the
Sugar Trust, at any time or at any place,
Influenced the framing Of the sugar
schedule or received information as to its
character. desire to make the statement
as broad as the English language can
make it,
"And any man who says so, or intimates
So" added Mr.. Aldrich, deserves to be de-
nounced in way which would not be par
iamentary here"
without further debate the resolution was
referred to the Committee on Contingent
Expenses