The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-20
THE LorrESsY INVESTIGATION.
The wisdom t7) of Applying strict Rules
sfE vihrncc

of Evidence.
The special meeting OF the committee ap-
pointed by authority Of the resolution Of Mr.
Lea to investigate the charge made by the
New Orleans DEMOCRAT, 4 that improper
means had been used TO influence Legislation
in the House. met at room No. 8 In the State
House last night. Before holding an open
session the committee held d short executive
session to determine the line of investigation.
When the committee announced an open ses-
sion Mr. Lea, chairman Of the committee,
said that the committees invited Mr.. Dupre
the editorials in the DEMOCRAT were based, in
which the charges were made.
Mr.. Dupre said that he had in the DEMO
GRAFT stated that the Louisiana State Lottery
Company, was eSerting certain INFLUENCES u
the Legislature by means Of money. He had
stated also that Mr. Wilde was an agent OF
the Lottery Company and that through him
the Lottery Company was eserting improper
influences on legislation. One day, said Mr.
Dupre, when in the House, Gov. Hahn
said to him that II he would go into
the Speakers room he would see the
influence that was working matters
in favor Of the constitutional amendments.
On going into the Speakers room I saw
apJ Mr.. DrHry. On coming out of the door
Of The Speakers room | met Mr.. Souer. who
smiled an said that the amendments were
fixed. Subsequently | met Mr.. Souer on the
street: He said to me that, the fate Of the
amendments was in the hands of Mr.. Howard
cans woSld follow his wlshesqn the matter.
Mr.. Dupre said that in order to make n
connected statement. and show clearly the
grounds on which he based his CHARGES of
corrupt influences, he would refer backoto the
Legislature of 1876
Mr. Jonas said that the committee. after
c4psutatf,n had concluded that the resolu-
ton under which the committee acted did not
Legislature in the investigation.
Mr.. Dupre said that the articles In the
DEMOCRAT placed the DEMOCRAT in such u
position that unless he were allowed to show
q chain Of evidence 1t would be difficult for
him to prove clearly q specific act Of the use
of improper influences as far as the present
session OF the Legislature is concerned. Mr.
Dupre said that he would like to be permitted
to go back and show exactly the, circum-
stances and motives and facts which were the
foundation Of the articles and charges In the
DEMOCRAT
MI. Dupre-1 see that the statement which
MADE n bG ne is net to b IN
shall not be bound by your action but. shall
publish portions or all of that statement If SOC
Mr. Lea. You are at liberty, Of course, to pub.
lish any facts that you may desire about this
matter. The committee does onot claim to con
troll what facts you shall publish.
BY Mr. Keetng-When you made these
charges in the DEMocRArd did you not base those
charges on information received prior to the
present session?
Mr.. Dupre-Yes. si1a that is what want to
make clear. had learned facts from Mr.. Nor
ris which, taken in connection with what had
discovered during the present session. Justified
the charges which were made in he articles In
the DEMOCRAT. If am prevented from going
back and showing the chain of circumstances
1t will be impossible for me to prove ludicially
what has been charged.
BY Mr.. Keeting-,You would hardly have pub
lished the articles in question II you had moth
ing but the information which you have OBJ
tanned this session on which to base them
Mr.. Dejoie could not have been seated If the
report of the Judiciary Committee had been
the same on The bill to repeal the act creating
the Lottery Company rs 1t was in NE case OF
By Mr.. Howard-Did you not learn this from
me at Moreaus over aeglass of wne2
Mr. Dunre-II was at Moreans; Mr. ~ Ho t"hla
nor near him. II Mr.. Howard wishes to convey
the impression TINT he was under the influence
OF wine at the time. have no objection.
Mr. Howard.I repudiate the inference that
sees me under the influence of wine; other
wise admit what Mr.. Dupre says.
Mr. Dupre-Mr DeJoie was seated by one ma
jority. | did not see any member brib d, nor
did / see any money paid to any member.
did not SO charge: charged that Mr. Howard
had exerted corrupting influences on the Leg
islature j cannot go further into the grounds
Graf. To do so would have to go ba * to past
Legislatures. and | am debarred from doing
that. With reference to the present Legislature,
I know no more than what have stated
him If H. remembered tbeooccasion mentioned
apy Mr.. Dupre. with regard to the Speakers
room and II he had ever had any transactions
with him about matters charged in the, articles
In the DEMOCRAT
Mr. Drury-T have no recollection NJ the par
ticuiar occasion mentioned by Mr.. Dupre In the