The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-06
so DECLARES PETHGREW
He Was to be Given Contracts For
War Ships.
BACON REPEATS PElTIGREW'S CHARGE
Hanna and Carter Are Both Attacked by Petit
grew Who Declares Cramp Hims' In
formed Him Of the Facts. A Sem
sa.iona Scene Follow
(By Associated Press.)


Washington, June 5.-A tornado of par
tisan debate swept over the Senate today
with Senators Hanna, of Ohio; Pettigrew,
of South Dakota and Carter, of Montana,
the chief figures. For sensational crimi-
nations and determinations, for bitter
personalities and for poignant invective
the debate exceeded anything heard on
the floor of the chamber for many years.
The lie was not passed directly but the
truthfulness of statements was challenged
very sharply.
Mr. Bacon (Ga.), precipitated the scene
by repeating a charge made several days
ago by Mr.. Pettigrew that Mr.. Cramp,
the Philadelphia ship builder had con-
tributed $500, COO to the Republican cam
paign fund in 1892, with the understanding
that he would be reimbursed by con-
tracts for the construction of warshlps
for the Government. This charge, Mr..
Bacon said, had been denied neither by
Mr.. Hanna, the present Chairman of the
Republican National committee, nor by
Mr. Carter who was Chairman or the
committee in 1892. Then the storm broke
Mr. Hanna vigorously denied any knowl-
edge of such transaction and expressed
his opinion that it was false. Mr.. carter
declared the statement properly could be
branded only as a lie. Mr.. PettigreW
not only reiterated the statement but
created a tremendous sensation by as
sorting that his authority was no less
a person than Mr.. Cramp himself, and
that in a conversation with Mr.. Carter
that Senator substantially had verified
the story. He also attacked Mr.. Hanna,
relative to his election to the Senate.
Mr.. Hanna replied in kind and ex-
pressed doubt of the South Dakotans
sanity Mr.. Carter also vigorously de-
nounced the charges and Mr.. Pettigrew
as we'll.
The Chair laid the House Antitrust
Bill before the Senate. 1t was read
second time.
Mr. Pettigrew moved to proceed with
its consideration.
Mr.. Gallinger On. H. moved to refer it
to the Committee on Judiciary.
The latter motion, the Chair held, took
precedence In brief speech, Mr.. Petit
grew inquired whether this bill was pass
ed by the House to become law or to
be used as club to be held over cor
porations this summer to get campaign
contributions?
I'VE cannot deceive theu country into
the belief declared Mr.. Bacon (Ga.),
that we are proceeding in good faith
if we give such direction to this bill as
practically will destroy any chance OF ac-
ton upon it at this session. THINK ana
the country will think that the motion to
refer is an indirect method of defeating
the bill
Mr.. Bacon then reiterated Mr.. Petit
crews charge about the Cramps alleged
contribution.
Instantly mr.. Hanna was on his feet
'If," said ne, Il should undertake to re-
ply to all such statements made on this
floor / would occupy more time or the
Senate than even the Senator from Geor-
gia does (Laughter). l heard the state
ment and considered it unworthy OF no.
tce and | declined to dignity it by de-
NAL.
q had nothing to do with the cam
paign of 1892, but have heard this story
and say most emphatically and decided
" that | believe it is not true. So far
as such illusions are made TO the cam
paign of 1896, l desire to say that no
promises were made. no considerations
we're offered to any person or any corpora
tions for contributions made"
MIR Garter then replied. 1.-The state
ment of the Senator from Georgia. said
he, sis the first intimation l have had
that such a charge was made by any
person. AS to the statement, somebody
ought to be responsible for it. say
now, and there are Senator'S on this floor
who will bear me out, that any charge.
that contributions were thus received,
or that any promises were made to cor
porations or to individuals, is absolutely
false and can be branded properly only as
lie. Money was received by the COM
mittee but only through voluntary contr!-
buttons. In that campaign the party WAS
defeated and the country paid the penalty
of that defeat
Mr.. Pettigrew again spoke. Said he:
81 made the statement that contribu-
tion of $4Ge 900 had been made by Mr..
Cramp to the Republican National Com
mittee in 1892 and that he was to be re-
imbursed for ii with contracts for addi
tional warships. My authority for the
statement is that Mr.. Cramp, himself de-
clared So said Mr.. Pettigrew, deliberate
ly. This created sensation in the
chamber. He told me. not in confidence,
as | believe, on an ocean liner coming
across the Atlantic. He did rot know
where the money had gone and had en-
ployed detectives to find out. He init
mated that it had not been used for cam
paign purposes. Moreover 'i;onfnued
Mr.. Pettigrew. his words almost Kissing
through the chamber, 81 have said the
same thing to the Senator who was
chairman of the Republican National
Campaign Committee of that year. and
he waived it off smilingly. with the state
mcnt: We'll, we did hit the old man
pretty hard
Advcrting to MIR. Hanna. Mr.. Pettigrew
brought up The charges of bribery which
had been made against the Ohio Senator
at the time OF his election to the Senate,
reading vclumnously from the report Of
the minority of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections including news
paper stories of the accounts of alleged
telephone conversations between Mr..
Hanna friends and other persons. These