The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-03-04

House had associated themselves together, and
pledged themselves each to the other not to vote
for any law or resolution granting money or
lands unless they were paid for it, has falsely
and wilfully asSailed and detained the character
Of this House and has proved himself UNIV orthy
to he a member thereof.
Resolrei, That Erasmus b. Matteson, a mem
Der Of this House, from the State Of New York,
be and he is hersby expelled therefrom. =
ArepOrt was also made in relation to ]. W.
Simonton, the reporter Of the New York Times.
1t appears, they remark, from his testimony
that while occspying scat as reporter on the
floor of the Rcuse he personally aided n-the
passage sfthe Wisconsin land bill, under prom
Use of receiving certain compensation if the bill
pissed. He also aided an old friend of bis in
passing private bill through the Senate, for
which service he accepted SIN IL compensation.
They therefore recommend his expulsion from
the floor of the House as a reporter.
In regard to the subject of general bribery and
corruption the committee say that from the tes-
timony taken itappearS that the general char
ges Of corrupt combinations in Congress origi-
nate from men who expect to make money by
creating the belief that sIch combinations exist
Ifthey can cause it to be generally believed that
it is necessary to use large sums Of money to
carry measures through Congress, it follows
that somebody must be employed to apply it;
and the man who knows m )st about the corrupt
combinations would be the one naturally sought
or AMI en1oyel a' boxer to by up the votes
ofmembers who hal entered into such comb-
nations. The broker in congressional corrup-
ton would receive the monsy to pay the com
bination, and whether he puts the money in his
own pocket or pays it to somebody else can
never be known to the parties who furnish the
money. They are all engaged in a criminal
transaction in which the broker has decided
advantage. His employers must be satisfied
without any account or with any account of his
agency that he may choose to render, and the
p. obability is that in addition to his own stipu
lated compensation he will pocket the whole
corruption fund. They proceed to attribute
much Of this evil to the ayidity with which
newspaper correspondents catch up every flying
report and send it to their respective journals tc
appear in print
They likewise report bill to protect the peo
pie against corrupt and secret influence in mat
ters Of legislation
1t provides that no person shall directly o.
indirectly offer or agree to give any money o.
other valuable thing to any person on the con
tingency of the passage or the defeat os any
bill. No operson shall approach converse will
or explain to- or in any manner attempt to in
auenco any member of either House relative tc
such measures, without first distinctly explain
ing whether he is interested personally in hi
own right or as agent for any other person il
the passage or defeat Of any measure. This Of
fenSe is to be made misdcmeanor, to be pun
ished on conviction with imprisonment from one
month to one year, and fine of $500 to ST. 900
All combinations to influence legislation are de-
cared null and void, persons offending to b.
Z punished for misdemeanor, with Imprisonment
in Jail from six to twelve months, and fine O
$500 to $1,000.