Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-18
Ispecial Telegram to the Globe. !


WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE committee on
elections adopted resolutions to-day asking the
House 90 appoint committee of seven to In
vestigate the authorship of the anonymous
letter offering bribe of five thousand dollars
to Springer TO support Washburn. Manning
reported the resolutions to the House and they
were PROMPTLY adopted, nearly all the Demo-
crats voting for them and about half of the
Republicans.
TIE Republicans were animated by the idea
that they might be able to smirch Tilden, and
also with view of encouraging a rumpus
among the Democrats.
Springer opposed the adoption of the reso-
luton in the committee bitterly, but was
silent when the matter came up in the House.
His course has been Every peculiar and occa-
sions much uRfavorable comment.
Speaker Randall will appoint the committee
on Monday, and the investigation
will be pushed forward at once. Those who
imagine that Springer's change of front
and unfair onslaught in the House has
squeIched the Donnelly- -Washburn contest will
fnd&hemselves greatly mistaken. 1t will be
pressed forward and the investigation ordered
to-day will not help Mr.. Washburn. His
strikers are terribly alarmed by this new phase
of affairs and regard his retention of the seat
as absolutely hopeless. Their only hope now
is to create sufficient feeling among the Demo-
Gratis TO prevent the seating of Donnelly.
Their game is not likely to be successful as
there is a decided reaction against Springer
and his opposition to the investigation,
after his ostentatious parade of virtue to ac-
count for his sudden change of front, has en-
tireIy destroyed his influence in the matter.
Western Associated Press.
In the Committee.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE House commit
tee on elections to-day adopted the following
and instructed Representative Manning to re-
port it to the House:
WHEREAS, A certain anonymous letter, dated
"House of Representatives, Washington, d.
c., March T. $780," and addressed to civilian
nj. Springer" offering bribe of $1,000 if he
would prevent the unseating of Washburn of
Minnesota, contestee in the pending contested
election of Donuelly VS.. Washburn, was mail
ed March 9Th, 1880, in the postoffice of the
House of Representatives and delivered to
said Hon. William H. Springer, then and
now chairman of the committee on elections,
before which said contested election case was
at that time pending; and
WAEKEAs, Said letter purports to be an at
tempt to cOrruptly infence the action of said
William M. Springer a member of said
committee and of the House of Representa-
tives; and
WHEREAS, Another private letter was sent to
and received by said Springer in reference to
said contest, signed by H. 81. Finley; and
WHEREAS, The language used by said Sprin-
ger in his speech published in the COMPRESSION
al Record of the 9th inst. on the subject before
the House, is construed by many members as
q charge against said Donnelly of having in
sPired the writing of said letters; and
WHEREAS. Said Donnelly has requested an in
Vestigation OF said matter; now therefore
Resolved That committee of seven mem
bers of this House be appointed by the speaker
to inquire and report to this House as to the
authorship ofsaid anonymous letter that was
sent, and all other matters in connection with
the same; that said committee be authorized
to inqui and report to the House thereon,
whether in either or all letters in controversy,
and written to Springer there
has been any breach of the privileges
of the House or of any members thereof; and
said committee shall have power to send for
persons and papers, to administer oaths, and to
sit during the recess of the House and to report
at any time, and that the expense incurred in
said investigation shall be paid out of the con-
tingent fund of the House