New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-11
WASHINGTON.
THE CALDWELL ELECTION INVESTIGATION.
-Ir pooRs THROWN oPEN-IMPoRTANT TEsTI-
MoSY OF THE HON. SIDNEY CLARKE.
IBY TKLBGRAPH TO TIIR TRIBUYB.l

-uE DOORS THROWN OPEN-IMPORTANT TEsTI-
MoNY OF THE HON. SIDNEY CLARKE.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TIR TRIBUYE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-The Senate Com
,tee on Privileges and Elections voted this morning.
A. sit with open doors during its investigation Of the
charges that senator Caldwell used money corrupty to
,eeure his election. The first witness sworn was the
u,o Sidney Clarke, ex-member lof Congress and can
date for the senatorshp at the time Mr. Caldwe was
ected Senator Morton asked him to state in his own
way what he knew about the subject under invesnga
,ou; and he SAID that ms knowledge was derived from
What members OF the Legislature had told him ana what
he had learped from the friends OF senator CALDWELL
Who we're at Topeka working for his election.
lie then went on TO say that after the first vote was
.en and while he was ut supper al the left House. he
ooeiyed note either from Mr.. Caldwell or one OF his
t,ends asking for an interview in an upper roOm Mr.
Clarke consulted with come Of his friends, and then
concluded TO call Mr., Caldwell The latter said, IN
uhapee when Mr. Clarke called, that it was then in
ne mower OF the witnesses friends 10 his (Cad-
e,s) election and offered money TO effect that pur-
nose Mr. Clarke replied that he would prefer TO sec
M Caldwell succeed rather than ex-Gov. Crawford be-
eue the formers friends had not abused him so much
As those Of the latter but that he could not support him
himself.
He told Mr. Caldwell that his (Caldwels) support
.mply the result Of the use Of money and that he be-
beyed that he had purchased u IA Of his Carkes
votes Mr. Caldwell replied that his success would
renoye the stigma of the transaction. caucus OF Mr.
Carkes friends held during the night and his name
was withdrawn by the Atchison delegation and five or
six othertnames proposed The AtohsOn delegation de-
eided to vote for Mr. Caldwell The nexttime that Mr.
Clarke had any conversation with Mr.. Caldwell on the
subject was the day following the election.
Both were the train going away from Topeka ana
Mr. Caldwell called Mr. Clarke from his seat in the front
par OF the and said that he would arrange the mat
ter Of Mr. Carke's election expenses with Mr. Stevens.
nod
boen made The next time the two gentlemen met was
IN Washington soon after Mr.. Caldwell came here TO
tste his seat He then said that Mr.. Stevens had re-
ouesied him TO settle the matter OF the election ex
penses with Mr. Clarke himself, and Mr.. Clarke replied
that II he had made any arrangement with Mr.. Stevens
he must settle with him.
Numerous interviews took place after this in regard to
the appointment of postmaster and some officers in the
Internal Revenue service. At each Of these Mr. Cad
well referred 10 the $4,000 $4,000 which heiprOposed
IA nav 10 Mr. Car1es friends for ms election expenses
me most Important Of these interviews was had at
Weuss rooms in this city, when Mr.. Clarke had called at
request. Then Mr.. Caldwell spoke voluntarily about
The stevens business and apoOgzng for his delay in
nayg nm said that the election had cost him $4,000 in
cash.
railroad had agreed to pay some Of these expenses,
but had done 50. aud he was waiting Tor some egls-
laton Congress by which he could squeeze u OUT OF
the company. Mr. Clarke understood him 70 refer to
the kansas and Pacific Railroad de also said
IN the interview that he had peen LOOKING
around for chance to make some money, put had come
10 the conclusion that Congress was not 50 good place
10 make money outside.
Mr. Clarke denied that he ever made any agreement
will Mr. Caldwell for the payment Of any money, and
testified that the expenses paid by mmset ana Ilenus
amounted 10 about $4,000 or $4,000 in reply to ques
non by Mr. Trumbu Mr. Clarke said that he based his
statement that Mr.. Caldwell was elected by the use OF
money on what he learned from members OF the Legs
ature the fact that he had political standing IN the
State and on the statement of Gen. smith, Mr.. Cad-
wells partner, that they would have the senatorshp
II cost $4,000. .
In answer TO crOss-questiOns by Mr. Caldwell himself
Mr. Clarke said he had distrusted Mr. Caldwell from the
fret, and considered him very dlshonOTabie and
contemplate man. and denied that he had ever told any
thai he intended TO get $1,000 our OF MT CaIdwel
member of the Legislature that elected Mr.. Caldwell,
and his testimony was unimportant.