The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-15
Lobbyists and Trusts Discussed In
the Senate.
SCANDALOUS OPERATIONS
ENORMOUS SUMS PAID FOR sPF-
CIAL LEGISLATION.
Southern Methodist Claims and John
Roach Appropriation Are In
stances-Proposition to Organize
the Pan-American Bank De-
nounced.

Washington, June 14.-At today's ses-
sion of the senate the resolution of Mr..
Lodge (Mass.), directing that an in
quiry be made into the disposition made
of the Methodist Book Concern claim,
which was paid recently by congress,
was adopted without a dissension
| In the course of the debate upon it,
Mr.. Morgan (Ala.) charged that the
| resolution was insincere, and had been
drawn for political effect. This state
rGent Mr.. Lodge denied vigorously, say
| ing his only purpose in Offering the res
olution was that all the facts concern
ing the matter should be laid before the
people, to the end that more care
| should be exercised in the future He
hoped that as a result of the proposed
| investigation a general law would be
passed to eliminate the professional
lobbyist from the legislative equation.
In the course of the discussion, Mr..
Morgan said that only today he had
been informed that a. claim of $3SS, 900
paid recently by congress to the estate
of John Roach, had been lObbied
through congress, and that the lobby
list had received 80 per cent of the
money. He maintained that if the SEN
ate was going into the investigating
business, this and other similar re-
ports should be looked into.
The measure to incorporate the in
ternational American bank was under
discussion for three hours. Final action
was not taken on the bill
A house joint resolution aDpropriat-
ing $473, Isl, to pay the Bering sea
award, was adopted.
A senate bill to provide a home for
aged and iufirm colOred men was
passed.
TRUSTS DENOUNCED.
At o'clock the bill for the roganiza-
ton of a Pan-American bank was
placed before the senate, and Mr.. PettUs
spoke in opposition to the granting of
the proposed charter. He said such
institutions as this were calculated to
stimulate such gambling transactions
as those which had recently occurred in
Chicago, where it was made impossible
for the poor to secure bread, nOtwith-
standing the abundance of wheat.
Speaking of the Chicago transactions,
Mr.. Pettus said he thanked God that
ought to go. Speaking further along
of the law which condemned trusts, he
said:
THAT law will not reach this institu-
ton, yet here is the most damnable
trust ever conceived. a trust that has
and almost unlimited pow
ers''
III oh c&lGnQcQ reply lOSOlllC VI tic
legal propositions advanced by Mr.. Pet
tus, Mr.. Foraker said the committee
on foreign relations had most careful
ly considered all phases of all questions
bearing on the bill and had unanimous
~ reported it in the belief that it was
an excellent measure.
Mr. Pettus offered an amendment to
the bill, providing that the proposed
bank should not charge or receive
more than per cent interest on loans.
Pending vote upon the amendment,
Mr.. Perkins of California, presented
an argument in favor of the bill He
argued that the proposed bank was a
1uty to the people of this country who
desired to do business with our Gen.
raj or South American neighbOrs, and
t was a notice to the world that the
United States proposed to make an
,ffort to reach out for the business Of
he western hemisphere.
Mr. Frye of Maine was surprised that
here should be a serious objection to
pan-American bank. This proposed
,ank, he said, is simply an instrument
atty for the promotion of our export
rade
TELLER'S OBJECTION.
Mr. Teller of Colorado maintained
hat the proposed bank would not re-
feve the situation, and it would not be
elieved until we held ships doing bus
ness with South and Central America
7he failure to sell goods in the south
IN countries was not, in his opinion,
ue to lack of banking facilities in
he United States.
Mr.. Bacon view the bill very much
s Mr.. Teller viewed it.
1.-The great purpose of the bill" he
eclared, lis to incorporate a bank
-hich shall have the name and power
nd prestige and authority of the
United States government. There is
othing else in it. Is it proper that all
he other banks of the country shall be
rought into competition with a gigan-
c bank backed by the name and pres
ge and authority of the government
f the United StateS?"
After Mr.. Foraker, in reply, had cit
additional authority in support Of
is contention, the senate, at $40 p
l., went into executive session, and
BON after adjourned.