The times., 1898-06-03
Mr.. Butler Creates a Sensation
in the Senate.
HOW FUNDS ARE RAISED
The North Carolina Senator Charges
That Corporations Are Exempt
ed in the Wnr Tax Bill Because
of Their Contributions to the
Campaign Fund.

a notable feature of the proceedings yes
terday was the diversion caused by Mr.
Butler, who created a small political
cyclone by stating that the Republicans
in Congress had been unduly influenced
in framing the war tax bill so as to ex-
empt the great monopolies and trusts
from contributing their share to the eX-
penses of the Government.
Mr.. Butler took the floor Immediately
after the business and spoke for three
hours. After the sensational features
of his speech senators gradually drifted
out into the cloak rooms until the cham
Der was almost deserted, and the roll
was called at the suggestion of Mr.. Can
non in the middle of his speech.
Mr.. Butler began by saying that he re-
GREETED very much that those having
charge of the bill had not seen lit to
present a measure that the members of
all parties could vote for; that if a proper
bill had been put forth it would have
been passed long since by unanimous
vo>e. He placed the responsibility for the
delay the shoulders of those who he
said, had seen fit TO drag into a revenue
bill provisions which had no place there.
In this he referred TO the question of is
suing bonds. Mr. Butler then made the
statement that the Republicans had been
unduly influenced to exempt from taxa
ton and secure means of revenue from
the great trusts and monopolies for the
reason that they had contributed very
largely TO the campaign fund of 1896.
This statement immediately aroused Mr..
Gallinger TO action. Does the senator
say that in his opinion any senator who
Will vote for bonds has been unduly in
fuenced. and If SO viii he be little more
specifc?'
Mr.. Butler: II think the senator from
New Hampshire (Mr Galllnger) has been
unduly influenced, and If he will be pa
tient, ] will try to tell him how. He is a
member Of a party that has drifted from
Its landmarks and Is today in the hands
of the money lenders and financial sharks
of the country Whb contributed SO per cent
of its last campaign fuDd with the under
standing that they were to be taken care
of. He must either carry oul the contract
or be crushed. He must make up his
mind 10 vote for the bill as it is framed,
or he will find the press of the country
under the control OF these influences,
turned against him. If I were a member
of that party l should either make up my
mind to vote for these bonds or leave the
organization.
How Funds Are Collected.
Mr.. Galllnger: "The denunCiation is
very interesting. if true. but If the SEN
ator has any charge to make against any
senator, it would be gratifying to have
him name the charge and the price.
While we permit almost anything TO be
said in debate under the rules of the Sen
ate, unless ne can make specific it
seems to me the country will not be very
much Interested n that kind Df RI I
repudiate that there are any environments
which cause me to vote for any bill. The
senator is altogether wrong. / have my
views and convictions. I do not propose
to arraign him, and he has no right to
arraign me"
Mr.. Butler then said that he had had
some experience in collecting campaign
funds as chairman of the Populist Ma
tional Committee. and that there were
only two ways of getting the money. One
was by contracting with the moneyed
interests to take care of them in Con-
gress. and the other was by popular do
nations. The latter method was a very
slow and unproductive of large results.
Mr.. Kyle tPop) asked Mr. Butler If
he could state as fact that 80 per cent
of the Republican campaign funds were
the contributions of monopolies and
trusts and given under contract.
Mr. Butler, before replying. congratu-
lated the Republican party on its new de-
fender He then said he had not stated
it as a fact but that it was a generally
accepted belief throughout the country.
Mr.. Kyle replied that he was not de-
Tending the Republican party, but wish
ed to learn the truth about the matter.
Mr.. Allen said he had offered resolu-
ton In the last Congress for an investi-
CATION of this matter but that it had died
in the committee. The committee con-
sisted of Senators GalIinger, Jones of
Arkansas and Jones of Nevada.
Mr.. Gallinger stated that no one had
ever produced any evidence before the
committee.
Mr.. Allen replied to this by saying ne
had evidence with the resolution and that
he did not understand that it was his duty
to hunt down a committee to see that it
performed its duty every time he intro
duced a bill or resolution.
Mr. Teller here took hand in the de-
bate. He declared that it was not too late
yet to make an investigation. and, al
though he was not on the committee. he
would be glad to give three months of his
time this Summer to this matter. He de-
clared that 1t was his personal belief that
the Republican party spent more money
in the campaign of 1896 than they had
in any previous canvas.
Mr. Galiinger, replying to Mr.. Teller,
said he was ready to go on with the IN
vestigation, and that he had no doubt
the services of the senator from Colorado
would be gladly paid for by the Populist
party.
This thrust brought Mr.. Teller to his
feet Immediately He declared that no
political party had ever paid him a dol
lar for political work. and that he had
always personally paid his own travelling
expenses when doing political work
When the Eepub1ican party was a de-
cent party, and a party of the people l
have worked for 1t and paid my own
bills said he, 'and when it ceased to
be a decent party have worked against
it without pay, and | am not now talking
for pay
He declared that If one-half was true
that had been charged against the Re-
publican party during the last cam
paign, repetition Of such methods would
work absolute destruction to the insti-
tutions of a free people.
The Reward of Virtue.
Mr.. Chandler. addressing Mr. CALM
ger, who had also risen to reply, said:
''You do not mean money pay, but just
the rewards of an approving conscience"
To this Mr.. Gallinger assented, saying
he did not question the Colorado SEN
ator's patriotism.
Mr.. Chandler then resumed, saying:
"In the Summer of 1896 1 made myself
responsible for certain statements as to
the means that were being employed to
secure a certain Presidential nomination.
and when Congress assembled other
charges were made, of the vast expendi-
ture of money in the Presidential cleo
ton. The senator from Nebraska (Mr
Allen introduced a resolution. and for
ha oh al nj tod ;,,I L;