The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-08
GIFTS TO THE
 POLITICIANS Iiilman Makes Character
 iStic Speech. SCORES SENATOR PLATT Resolution Finally Adopted by the Upper House. Many Bills Introduced, Among Them Being the Joint Statehood Bill. Lodge and Bacon Smithson-
 ian Regents.
SCORES SENATOR PLATI

companies occupied the major portion of the time of the Senate today. It came up in connection with Mir. Till mans resolution calling for an tnves- tigation of National Banks in politics and was exploited by rnc South Caro- lima senator in a speech of some length.
 The address dealt with the Presi- dents recommendations for the pun ishment of briberies in elections with Senator Platt's testimony before the New York Investigating committee and other pertinent matters. It was couched in characteristic language and attracted considerable attention.
 The resolution directing the secre- tary of the treasury to report Wheth- CT the reports of the national examl" ners show that the banks have made campaign contributions in recent years was adopted at the close of MT. Tih- mans remarks.
 A large number of bills were intro duoed, among them being the joint statehood bill
 Lodge and Bacon Regents.
 At the beginning of today's session Of the Senate the Vice President des- ignated Messrs. Lodge and Bacon to serve on the board of regents of the Smithsonian institution.
 The Senate granted a request made hy MT. Culberson for tho printing Of a document prepared by Allison May field. a member of the railroad com mission, of in reply to attacks made before the interstate commerce com mission of Texas to reply to attacks maae by Victor Morawitz, of New Tork, when the latter gentleman was before the committee as a witness.
 MT. Tiilman called up his resolution calling upon the Secretary Of the Treasury for information as to whether the reports of bank examiners show the payment of campaign contributions by national banks and addressed the Senate. outlining his reason TOT the inquiry he called attention to the rec 0n,nnei i Iafions made by the President in his annual mess8ges Of jee4 and lsob for the enactment of law for protec- tion against bribery and corruption in connection with elections. He auotea with especial emphasis the Presidents remarks concerning campaign contri- buttons by corporations, tf.
 wflI Look for Progress.
 Our chief executive has taken very progressive stand to secure purity in eiections,r he said. and aded. every rood American will say well done and look for progress along that line"
 He also quoted statements by Soc rsaary Root and Perry Belmont of New York of the same tenor as the Presidents remarks. saying that he would be impartial as between political parties.
 not have She facts wanted, but he thought he ought to have. Incidental ssiy Mir. Tillman said that he had been informed that the Comptroller of the currency has been investigating the subject of bank contributions with the view of instituting legal proceedings.
 Before MT. Tillman had proceeded fn U VaEfRTdAX objected to the consideration of the resolution at that time said he had done so only for the pudpose of in- spectinS 1t, that he had done so and being entirely satisfied as to its pro- priety would support the resolution.
 Continuing MT. Tillman said the Comptroller has means of getting in formation which others have not and added that if he would rush in his probe" he can make discoveries that are worth while. He added that his reason for requesting the inform . ion Is found in the revelations concerning the insurance companies.
 Confession of PIatt.
 "It has been shown by the testimony or confession of q member of this body" he said, that for ten years the insurance corporations have been making annual donations to the re- publican party with the understanding that they should be protected from adverse legislation at Albany" He went on to say that such revelations were not agreeable.
 T am the holder of a small policy in one of the Mutuals," he said, and don't like to have my dividends cut down in order to give Mir. McCurdy $150.000 and his sisters. his cousins and his aunts $75.000 each.'
 He expressed doubts as to the rights of the Federal authorities to take con- trol of insurance companies and MT. Hale interrupted to say that he agreed with MT. Tillman on that point. He said further that tho proposition provid- ing for such a provision was not prop erly considered and he did not consider 1t as binding.
 Mir. Bailey asked whether the insur- ance company contributions to the Re- publican National Committee had beer returned to the donors T understand" replied MT. Tillman, that the President was going to have Mir. Cortelyou re- turn them, but I don't know whether he has done so. I know that I have not got my share"
 Mir. Spooner--Is yours a life policy?
 Mir Tillman--It is.
 Mir spoouer-Then 1t is not yet time to realize on it
 Wanted the Dividends.
 MT. Tfman replied that it was div idends and not the policy itself that he
 
 wanted paid.
 These he said. were pitifuIly small, while McCurdy has been getting fat without doing anything"
 Mir. Bailey said he had not supposed that the President would make a sec ond recommendation on the subject of punishing campaign contributions. un- til the money had beeh returned.
 "Ah. Mir. President, responded MT. Tillman. "all the turvey drops and pecksuiffs are not dead yet, although I would not for a moment be under stood as comparing our strenuous oc- cupant of the White House with those characters. What we want is result and those we do not seem to have pro- cured so far"
 Quoting the testimony of Senator Platt before the New York committee, Mir. Tillman congratulated that Sena- tor upon his sfraightforwardness ''There was no lodging" he said. .'and ' do not believe that a dollar of the Hess aftn @lr- t. Fnc Ia