The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-04

Commisssioners. do not fear any complaint
Of making the matter open.x ~
Mr.. Harmon thought the Hall should be
cleared, as the testimony was only yet before
the Committee. The Commissioners might be
allowed to be here.
M. Mitchell demanded that the Commits
tsisners should not be excluded, as . right doe
TO chem.
The motion TO clear the House was lost
yeas 81; nays, 40.
" Mr.. MaAopy would not pr~xths motion to
read tie tsstimSny, fer he assmedS It Improper
in an open House.
Mr.. Sewers moved that tKe testimony be
read. Carried, without division. '5s -
Mr.. McCrary, member Of The Committee.
read the testimony, only a brief abstract Of
which can be given. 80 = ~ = s'."''' ''p
Witness, +. r. West, said he believed the
Commissioners were influenced BY private con-
sideratiors. Mr.. Pegram offered to sell him
so0s,lots Cor 6D8O.gfsg s'rasmsss ,1kS
! c. c. VAnn-Mr. Pegram said something Of
iftv lots as bonus; and had sold to Scott and
Williamson, Us he inferred. ga ''s' ss''s'''o.
--- Baldwin testified that he knew nothing
Of fraud, nor had lots ieedea for his use and
Influence 7's''sso ~ .s'e''a 1n' =
r. r. West, recalled MI pegram and
Griswoid walked him up in bed and said it was
too late the Capitol was located $50 Bald
win told me that $5o, 900 would have put it on
the West side. But we West side fellows
would do nothidg. z
! G. c. vann, recal,ed-I understood Mr..
BALDWIN to say that there was two hundred
and fifty lots At the disposal of somebody, in
case the Capital was located here, East side.
That $50 lots were set apart for the Commits
sioners. Baldwin said SrREEr was not to
have full share-isss ,coutd do him. Much
Iaughter1 Mr.. Pegram made as much as
$40 900. That Mr.. Goodrill was III favor Of
This side, &c. S,
Mr.. Sewers moved to discharge the Com
mitiee. '
Mr.. .Drummond asked the chairman If they
had other testimony to be taken.
Mr.. Collins said there was.
Mr.. Mahony stated that it was in testimony
not read that Baldwin had fifty lots for his in.
Auence 50 locating the Capital, ~. az
! Mr.. Millizer added that Mr.. Baldwin affirm
eS that there were six or seven hundred lots at
disposal, snd that he made ii 900. -
| On the motion 10 discharge the Com. .com-
ing up s .-,a,g..
Mr.. Bates SAID he thought it no longer
debatable matte. ~, l..-,-.s..
Nressrs, Mahony and Collins, on their re-
quest, were excused from voting. t,...
Mr.. Edwards, at first, was in favor Of the
discharge Of the Com, but now favored the
investigation. .;-sj..,
The motion was lost--ayes, 10; nays IS. ID
Mr.. Mahony then called up the resolution Of
Mr.. Wright as amended by Mr.. Belknap.
| Mr.. Drummond offered substitute tina, the
persons charged be allowed to appear with
counsel before the Com.
Mr.. Belknap accepted the amendment.
Mr.. McCrary said they had allowed them TO
appear with counsel. and should do so in the
future. ii
4 Mr.. Bates thought the charges specific
enough in the memorial. That it would be
wrong to the parties to allow new charges to
be brought in now. I..>
! Mr.. Bradley thought that IL they were not
specific enough this resolution would make
them so.
Mr.. Mahony said the Com. had required spe-
cifc charges. and they conld be read. En-
The memorial and charges were read.
!, Mr.. Belknap wished the charges TO name
7 =
MIR. Pegram, or somebody.
The charges as read, contained, FIRST, the
! implication that the Commissioners received
from seven TO ten thousand dollars for the To-
cation here. Cast side;) whereas, near two
hundred thousand dollars had been rendered
the State FOR its location on the West side
Secondly, that mojority or part of the
Commissioner. had been influence by private
ends.
Mr.. Wilson argued that the second charge
was not specific.
Mr.. Clune favored the first appointment Of
the Committee, and opposed any more specific
charges. The Com. should look atthe matter
/ in the general. The Commissioners were In
nocent till proven guilty. He wished the mat
| ter to go through, as in the ease Of Judge
Ciagget, without interrurting the Com.
Mr.. Edwards thought the charges specific.
III. Charge OF seven to ten thousand dollars
bribe. 2. A majority, OF part influenced by
private ends.
Mr.. Drummond insisted that new charges
should be ruled out For the advantage OF those
criminated.
| Mr.. Bates-They were like pleading in
law-specifc enough.
Mr.. Edwards moved to lay the resolutions on
the table, which motion was carried-ayes, 26;
nays, y. ~ '.s 49,.
The Com. are allowed q clerk, and will 60
on in earnest.
The detached portions Of testimony above
cited are mostly preliminary TO the decision Of
the CON-, and now Of the House, to 90 into it
in order.
SENArE.-Among many other minor mat
tiers the Senate considered the School bill. on
its second reading, have finished II in Com
mttee Of the Whole.
! A spirited debate arose on the separate
school clause, Mr.. Thompson, Of Linn, tsk-
| ing the lead to define his position on the ques-