The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-14
SENATE'S HONOR SMIRCHED.
NEW SPECULATIVE DEALS IN SUGAR
ALLEGED.

flictiOn of Punishment on Chap
man For His Defiance of the Sem
ate.
Washington, May 13.--After a long
period of calm, the Senate was consider
ably agitated to-day, first, by a discus
| sion of the Senate sugar investigation, and
then by a preliminary skirmish on the
tariff bill. The Allen resolution to bring
Elverton r. Chapman before the bar of
the Senate was debated in somewhat mo-
notonous style, until Mr.. Tllman of
South Carolina gave interest to the SUBJ
ject by referring to reports that senators
had, within the last week. speculated in
sugar stock.
The resolution relative to bringing Mr..
| Chapman to the bar of the Senate was
taken up as soon as the routine business
was out of the way. Mr.. Allen said he
desired to present some additional facts
bearing on the subject
Mr.. Allen said the Senate should. In
| justice to itself, take this matter in hand
and deal with it promptly. He could un-
derstand, he said, the anxiety of Mr..
| Chapman to shield those around him from
l the consequences OIL the sentence.
But, as the representative of 100000
| people," proceeded Mr.. Allen, I'VE can
not afford to permit Mr.. Chapman, the
representative Of powerful organization,
which, it has been charged, exercises
great influence over this body, to go un-
whipped"
The discussion assumed a legal and tech
nical phase, Messrs. Faulkner of West
Virginia, White of California and Spoon
er of Wisconsin, arguing on the law ap-
| plying to Mr. Chapman.
Mr. Hoar moved to refer the resolution
to the committee on privileges and cleo
tions.
Mr.. Daniel of Virginia proposed modifi-
| cation of the resolution so that all refer
ence to executive clemency be struck out,
leaving the resolution to require Mr.. Chap
man to appear before the Senate and
purge himself of contempt
| Mr.. Pettus of Alabama argued that the
| investigation be opened afresh requiring
witnesses to appear and testify, instead of
punishing them for past misdeeds.
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire asked
why, if a petition was being circulated In
the Senate for the pardon of Mr.. Chap
man and senators were being importuned
to sign it, it was not proper to consider a
resolution on the subject. Was it neces-
| sary he asked, that a petition in remon-
STRANGE be prepared?
When Mr. Tillman of South Carolina en-
| deavored to question Mr.. Chandler, the
latter suggested that the South Carolina
senator observe the rules of sitting down
| during the reply.
when you play ball, you always stand
| up" said Mr. Tillman amid laughter.
| Mr.. Chandler went on to say that If
| there were any senators who had engag-
| ed in speculation in sugar stock-which
| God forbid is the case-then four years
| have obliterated the evidence The old
| investigation had failed; the tree had
fallen and it ought to lie. 1t would be
preposterous proposition, he said, after
| the tribulations of the committee, of the
courts and of the newspaper press, that
| Witness Chapman be pardoned. Mr..
| Chandler said he could not conceive that
any executive should grant such par
don.
Mr.. Tnlman was then recognized for
speech which caused distinct sensation
on the floor and in the galleries
1T seems to me-" said Mr.. Tillman,
that we are not after Mr.. Chapman; the
! original invetigation was not intended to
| punish Mr.. Chapman, but to discover
| whether any senator on this floor had
been guilty of using his official position
to make money by speculation in stocks
which were influenced by his action, as
| a senator on the committee which report
| ed the tariff bill. It is not worth while TO
| cover up this matter with badinage and
| hippancy The senator from New Hamp
| shire will excuse me. / do not intend
that as any reflection upon his language.
| but II does appear to me that he treated
1t rather fippanuy.
| There are to-day In the papers of this
| country charges floating about and being
| sent broadcast, signed by correspondents
| In the gallery to the effect that last week,
when the new tariff bill was reported with
| a change in the sugar schedule, that three
| senator's had specuated In sugar stock.
| We have another stencil on our hands,
and instead Of Il being a differential In
| favor Of the trust Of a third of cent, as
that was, Il is now twO-thirds In favor OF
the trust.
There are two correspondents who
have, over their own signatures, charged
that senators have speculated within the
last week and made money. Now. II you
| want to investigate. you have new rea-
| son to investigate. If you intend TO get at
the true inwardness OF the matter. to get
| at the truth and 20 punish those who are
| guilty. say so and do So or else hush. That
| Is the whole sum and substance Of II.
| We do not want Chapman. We want
| Havemeyer. We want the man who
who bought your men, n they were bought
| That Is what we are here for; and now
1 let the senator VINO mas moved 10 refer the
| matter, and who loves the dignity Of the
Senate rs much as any other man, take
the resolution 20 his committee and bring
| back a measure here that will mean some
thing. We can now make those men who
| have charged that senators have specula-
ted say where they got the information,
| or we can punish them for contempt We
| can call on Havemeyer and the sugar trust
| grandeos and make them answer or put
them IN jail for contempt Either investl-
gate 70 as 20 find tho truth and punish the
| criminal. or hush"
As Mr.. Tillman closed there was no ap-
| plause, but for a moment there was n
| stir In the gallery, which promised some
thing OF a demonstration. The debate
| promptly proceeded, however, again
| branching into legal channels Messra.
| Hoar Chandler and Allen taking part
Mr. Gray, chairman OF the sugar investI.
| gaung committee, said he agreed with
the senator from South Carolina Crlllman)
| that what the Senate was concerned In
| was not the contempt Of Mr.. Chapman.
| but the ascorfaiumont OF facts relative ~