The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-30

sary. This is grave matter, and the
people of the entire country are deeply
interested in it. and are watching the Ad-
ministration and the majority of this
House to find out whether this inyesti-
CATION shall be had in order that the truth
shall come out or whether the Republican
party intends to stand by the seandalous
conduct of the Secretary of the Treasury
and cover up the maladministration OF
the Department of the Treasury. In my
Judgment the conduct of the Secretary OF
the Treasury in regard TO his transactions
with the Standard Oil Trust is infamous
Used by the Standard iii Trust.
''It is said and not denied that the Sec
retary of the Treasury permitted himself
TO be used by the Standard Oil Trust to
aid il in manipulating the stock market
in Wall Street TO the injury of its competi-
tors and to the advantage of the Rocke-
fellers. The people of this country will
never consent to the Treasury being turned
over to the Standard Oh Trust for specu-
lative purposes. There seems to be nc
doubt that the National City Bank, the
bank of the Standard Oil Trust received
special privileges beyond all reason. Per-
haps there was reason for this. Per-
haps Il was because the directors Of the
National City Bank had rendered great aid
to the Republican party in the campaign
of 1896, as Mr. Hepburn in his letter to
the Secretary of the Treasury unwittingly
says, and that the campaign debt was being
paid by the Republican party through the
agency of the Treasury Department. An
investigation will bring out all the facts
in connection with this matter. We want
TO subpoena the directors of the National
City Bank and find out from them just
what aid they rendered the Republican
party in the last national campaign, and
just what favors they had received from the
Republican party since the 4th day oil
March, 1897. The singing out of this
Standard Oil bank for special favors by
the Secretary of the Treasury in the face
Of what the country now knows, is one OF
the most suspicious circumstances in all
the transactions had between the Treasury
Department and the national banks, and
ought to be probed to the bottom.
1T is said and the letters submitted by
the Secretary of the Treasury seem to bear
It out that the Treasury Department has
been used by the Standard Oil Trust to its
advantage and to the disadvantage OF the
people. The Secretary of the Treasury has
been aiding and helping the National City
Bank ever since he has been in Office and
the bank by reason of this favoritism has
made millions and millions out of the peo-
pie.
The Facts Well known.
'The whole country is now familiar with
the facts. which the Secretary of the
Treasury has presented, and with the sur
rounding circumstances growing out OF the
same. and they believe and will continue
TO believe that the Secretary OF the Treas
ury has been guilty Of malfeasance in Of
flee and that his conduct should be thor
oughly investigated.
ANY man who permits himself to be
made the tool OF the Standard OIL Trust ID
unfit TO be Secretary of the Treasury, and
the Secretary of the Treasury should de-
mand this investigation IL he is an honest
man in justice 10 himself and to his repu-
tation. II he does not, the people of the
country will view il as an admission OF
guilt, and all the power of the Administra-
tion will not be able TO protect him or to
save him. 1t Is all well enough for the
President to say that the person who at
tscks the Secretary Of the Treasury at
tacks him. Bot such feeble assertion VIII
rot prevent honest and fearless members OF
Congress frcm doing their duty. If the
President does not want the Secretary OF
the Treasury attacked for his waDton yio-
OF the Treasury who will faithfully perform
his duty and not act as the agent of trusts
and combines 10 the detriment of the peo-
rle and TO the injury of the country The
President is responsible for the Secretary
of the Treasury. and fer his conduct and
his acts in office. and neither he nor any
other official of the Administration can
escape responsibility for clear and ad-
mitted violations OF Law and misconduct In
Office.
IF what is charged against the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury is tue. and he has
rot denied it, and no one on the other side
of this House has attempted to deny it,
then he is unfit to hold the great Office he
does. and should be removed No man
should hold the pursestrings of the people
of this great country who permits himself
10 be used by the Standard oil Trust TO
manipulate the stock market and force
into bankruptcy competitors who cannot
be purchased or absorbed. Aye, Mr..
Speaker. more than that the people of this
country who have looked into this matter
and who believe the Secretary of the
Treasury has been guilty of scandalous and
outrageous conduct in his transac ions with
the Standard Oil Trust. demand and will
continue TO demand that he not alone
should resign the great office he now oc-
cupies. but that this House should order
his impeachment"
Mr.. Hopkins Replies.
Mr.. Hopkins replied TO Messrs. Richard
son and Sulzer. He protested. he said.
against the unfounded, unwarrsnted, and
untrue charges made against the Secretary
Of the Treasury.
why did the $50 900 remain unpaid?"
interrupted Mr.. Richardson.
I'll come to that" replied Mr. Hop
kins. He said Mr.. Richardson had eharg-
ed that Secretary Gage had entered into
a fraudulent contract. L afiirsu," said he,
there is no support whatever for the
charge"
The National City Bank had paid $780,
600 more than any other bidder. He
stated that the National City Bank was
a Government depositary. and Government
funds deposited In that bank were Just the
same as though they were placed in the
subtreasury.
Mr.. Hill said that under the law which
the custom house property was sold cash
payment of only $3.50 600 was required, the
balance TO be paid frcn time 10 time, but
the whole amount could be paid at the time
of purchase. il SO desired. The Secretary.
therefore, could not help himself Mr. Hill
said the gentleman from Tennessee would
find on Investigation that the city OF New
York could not lose the taxes upon the
property
In two-minu,e speech Mr.. Richardson
replied that his question as TO why the
Secretary OF the Treasury had not taken
a proper credit for 81, 3,265. 900 instead of
50. 2l5, 900 had not been answered, The
failure to answer, he said, had left open
the question OF taxation.
After a few remarks by Mr.. Dalzeil, the
resolution was adopted and referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
To Withdraw Our Troops From Cuba.
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