The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-21
CORTELYOU NOT
READY TO REPORT
Several Days Must EIapse Be-
fore Details of Bond Deal
Will Be Given Out.
TILLMAN PRoDS ALDRlCH
RHODE ISLAND SENATOR THE
WHOLE THING.

Washington, Jan. 20.-An animated
debate occurred in the senate today, in
which Mr.. Tillman made many COM
ments on what he termed the failure Of
Secretary Cortelyou to obey the resolu-
ton of the senate calling for informa-
ton concerning the recent issue of
Panama bonds.
Mr.. Aldrich explained that the delay
in the secretary's response to the reso-
luton had resulted from the necessity
of making a full statement of all the
reasons that had influenced the secre-
tary and that had taken more time than
had been anticipated. He assured the
senator that the information would be
forthcoming, and spoke in high terms of
the secretary of the treasury.
Looks Queer to TiIIman.
IT'S a little curious that an officer
of the government should be willing to
| occupy the attitude of disobedience af-
ter we have given him considerable time
| TO send in the information, said Mr..
! Tillman.
The currency BILL" he added, ''is
! to be brought in and pressed for con-
sideration, and it seems strange that
the secretary of the treasury, who is
| directly responsible for our financial af-
/ fairs, should refuse to send in a report
giving the information we need. We are
told that Secretary Cortelyou is i'll.
but he was not too i'll to go to New
| York to make a speech. 1t seems ex-
| traordinaTy, phenomenal, that we can
not get a report from him."
Information on the Way.
Mr. Aldrich answered that the secre-
| tary had written him a letter, which
at the moment was on its way, and that
| 1t would more fully explain the condi-
tions.
Those of US who know Mr.. Cortel-
yOu,' said Mr.. Aldrich, know that he
is never delinquent in his public duties
| and I think if the senator from South
| Carolina would find an opportunity to
| talk the matter over with him, he would
be satisfied"
1T did not take long to issue the
bonds,'' insisted Mr.. Tillman.
That was a simple matter" retort-
| ed Mr.. Aldrieh. 1.-The senator from
South Carolina does not realize that
he can put down on paper inquiries that
will take many months and much work
on the part of the force of a great de-
partment to answer. 1t is much easier
| to ask questions than to answer them"
Document in the Case.
1.-The senator will recall" interrupted
| Mr. Tillman, that these questions were
asked by his own committee. Now 1
will give some additional reasons why
we should have this information for
warded to us. have a letter from Mr..
Kloberg, inclosing a reply he received
| from the assistant secretary.
/ h. oil
light as showing why the secretary finds
| it so difficult to answer inquiries we
have propounded. This is the letter,
| giving reasons why he refused to recog-
nize bidders for bonds
In reply, Mr.. Tillman read from Ed
/ wards letter: You are advised that
under the reservation made by the de-
| partment, allotment was first made to
1 individuals and instructions for
amounts not exceeding $4,000. The re-
mainder was allotted to the highest ma
tional bank bidders"
This course was followed, the letter
] continued. because it was not deemed
wise in the currency stringency, to
withdraw money from the banks by
] making allotments to individuals, which
| resulted in leaving 90 per cent of the
| purchase price in the banks and al
| lowed them to take out additional cir
culation on the Panama canal bonds.
No Reservation in Circular.
The circular made no reservation of
| bids" declared Mr.. Tillman, referring
| to the language of the letter. This is
purely an executive junction, and when
| the facts are brought out, l think they
will show that the secretary of the
! treasury has utterly disregarded the
/ law in his anxiety, laudable as Ii may
have been, to supply currency 10 New
York against other parts of the coun-
| try
Mr.. Tillman then turned to Mr.. Al
drich and declared that nothing could
| have consideration in the senate while
I the chairman of the finance committee
was out of the chamber. I'VE have to
sit here" he said, until this great per-
sonage comes through the door"
Mr.. Tillman declared that the Re
publican side had to await the coming
of the chairman of the committee on
\ finance. Disregarding these comments.
Mr.. Aldrich said he had great confidence
/ in the secretary of the treasury and
| did not wish to discuss this question
Continued on page 2.