Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-17
MONEY IN ELECTIONS
Senator TiIIman Again Takes
Up Bank Contributions.
SEEKS ACTION BY SENATE
Tells Why He Has introduced An
other Resolution.
CHIDES COMMITTEE FOR DELAY
Refers to Revelations In the Insur-
ance Observation-Disclosures
Bill Goes to Conference.
SEEKS ACTION BY SENATE
CHIDEs COMMITTEE FOR DELAY

When the Senate met today the House
bill providing for the coinage of minor
coins was taken up and passed. The bill
Increases to $4,000 the appropriation
for the purchase of metal for this coin
age and authorizes coinage at the San
francisco. Denver and New Orleans minis
In addition to the Philadelphia mint.
MI Tflfman then called up his reso-
luton directing the committee on finance
TO make inquiry concerning political con-
tributions by national banks He ex-
pressed fear that his frequent speaking
on the subject would cause the feeling
that he was cranky" on 1t. Neverthe-
less he felt his responsibility to be so
great that he could not refrain from
calling attention to the facts. He then
had read an article printed in a New York
paper entitled How the Banks Filled
Hanna's War Chests making 1t the
basis of his comments.
Alleged Delay on the Bill.
Commenting on the article. Mr.. TilIman
said the members of the committee on
privileges and elections had told him
that, as matter of course. everybody
had contributed to the fund of 1896 They
had promised to report the bill. but three
weeks had passed and still the bill was
not on the Senate calendar
Mr.. Foraker, speaking for the sub
committee having the bill In charge said
tnat he had been IN frequent conference
with Messrs. Knox and Bailey the other
members of the subcommittee, and that
they were now prepared to report to the
.9ii committee recommending legislation.
NO disposition had been manifested to
controvert the charge that contributions
mad been made In 1895.
Mr.. Tfllman replied that he had no desire
10 reflect on the subcommittee. but he
,rt1 .,,I I~Iff
methods In the Senate as to how not to do
1t at which some are especially expert and
as l have noted the failure of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections to act L
nave asked that my new resolution be sent
TO the committee finance"
He wanted to get early action and did
not desire TO wait till doomsday," espe-
cially in view of the fact that an election
is approaching.
Mr.. Foraker demonstrated with the South
Carolina senator against charges of shirk-
ing on the part of senators, repeating that
all the members of the subcommittee were
ready to report, saying that a report had
been prepared. and calling attention to the
fact that senators at this time were very
busy
Mr.. Tillman held to his point 1T is a
question OF wanting to do it," he said and
suggested that If senator's were very anx-
ious the committee could be polled on the
floor of the Senate
In response to an inquiry from Mr.
Lodge, the position of Mr.. Breen, the man
responsible for the article in this morn
lngs paper. was then explained by Mr..
Tiliman, who said that the gentleman had
been commended by many men of stand
ing in Pennsylvania, among them Senator
Knox, and outside of the state by his sin
cere friend, Charles W. Fairbanks"
Mr.. Knox vouches for Writers
Il know Mr. Breen and have known him
for years" said Mr.. Knox, and know him
to be a thoroughly reliable man."
Mr.. Lodge explained that he had only
meant to say that he had not had the
pleasure of knowing him, which he sup
posed was to argue himself unknown.
TT is perfectly natural responded Mr.
Tfllman. that the senator wants to know
about Mr. Breen: especially that he should
want to know whether he is a muck-raker"
Some of the muck-rakers have been read
here" said Mr.. Lodge.
Not by me-" the South Carolinian re-
piled.
Mr.. Tillman then stated that he had been
told that the total contributions to the re-
publican fund in 1895 had been 50 800 900;
IN 1900 81 100000, and in 1904 $1,900.O00. He
also spoke of the expose made by Col
Andy Hamilton in his recent spectacular
appearance before a legislative committee
at Albany. In which he said that in addi-
ton TO the contributions by the McCalIs he
had given $4,000 to the republican fund
and expressed the opinion that many of the
facts in connection with those contributions
were we're stu being struggled UP yonder at
being sued for 100000 that had been mis-
appropriated or stolen"
L don't like 10 say stolen" he addad
but / like the word
In support OF his suggestion that some of
the facts are being covered UP Mr. TIL
man read letter which he had received
today from a New York banker, whose
name he did not give. in which the sugges-
ton was made that If 1t was considered
desirable to get at the details concerning
the republican campaign contributions the
should examine Auditor Anthony
of the republican national committee who
he said, could give complete list of eli
the contributors. He added that state
ments of contributors and of those who did
not contribute were made periodically and
that the President knew who they were
The same letter writer also volunteered
the information that an examination would
reveal the fact that Secretary Root had
been responsible for the appointment of ex-
Secretary Morton as the head of the Equit-
able company and that the purpose of his
selection had been to head off the insurance
He declared also that Gov.
Higgins held off the inquiry as long as pos
sibIe and that when the investigation was
begun 1t was undertaken by the republicans
in order to insure their control of 1t.