Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-09
NAIVE LEGISL4TL RE.
SENATE.

cha5v TO investigate the charges OF oiioeiH
and intimidation alleged 10 have oeeh az
rerpr.ed on members OF the legi-la ule, s4ilee
they received their certificates. win po"eE -
seni for persons and papeTs ana t'ia' ny
committee be instructed to commence thef
investigation today. on the adjournment oi
This session. and report a soon a. may De-
NJ Hos.oS. in explaining his order ,ald
h.. fir thar the honor Of the Legislature had
t...n attacked Il is asserted in the broadcast
and most sweeping terms. that bribery anu
intimidation have been resoTted to III inilueh :
ing member. Of this legislature We ou-ii'
no, - proceed in our WORK until cur hon"T !
yindirared No attempt had been MADE I"
bribe him. and he could refer 10 no paricn-
lar ease. Of the kind. but he thought II Wa,
du,. 10 the legislature that the charges s1ohid
b. investigated
Mr.. P,rrE~ laid it had only been within
f,s minute. that he had learned any su'h
,.r,,.o.i.ian had been made 80 far ~ he or
III. colleagues were concerned ne was 'ute
"a, no attempt. had been made 10 trlbe
thetu. II there : anv truth IN the charGt>
r,al.. in thu. new.p per-. the people OF the
Stst- should know it, All fair-minded. hon
st men ough, - favor a fall Investigation
II t,t-a then the honor of those accused
should ie riniicaicd.
Mr. Locke did not oppose the spirit OF the
n-.a- Ii aur Senator ha> been approached
yith the intention u intiml late or hrl1t- then
the. order should pass. II no Senator ma
,b,. been approached, then the order l. I'M
prs,sr II Il representative has beeh thu>
,,.r,r.,aclt-,l then the order >hould start from
ti,1r branch: but for the Senate I" declare
v hat -hall take place III regard to what i
done in the House. is ridiculous. II Is pure
Is a matter OF personal privilege belonging
10 the House. Ii the Senator from Lincoln
will stat. on hi. honor that he has reason to
believe offers of bribery have been made 10
Senators. then he would gladly vote for the
order.
Mr. Hob,on wa, not aware that any charge
had been made with reference To members of
the. senate but charges had been made against
tb.. legislature and in the honor and integrity
of the. whole both branches are interested.
The gentlcmen'> Locke's friends in the other
branch. won't even come in and recognize that
a, a legal body.
Mr. Io,hE said that answered the point
,vacti,: the senator admits that no senator
had been brbed This i brought in here
for political effect. The House has power 10
protect the honor of lis own members.
Mr. iIor>oN said in introducing the order
ne had not the ,l -ht,>t apprehension that any
member would oppose it. Wcliyc in a State
u
lions. and the purity Of the ballotboX. and it Is
highly proper. and our duty we'll, that each
grave charge should at once be grapI led with
ard iulpartitllv investigated. Even the OPP
y. >ltlon to the order shows the necessity Of
It,,tI4atiun.
Mr. Locke said that he had stated very
distinctly that he would favor the order, if
any grounds for it were shown. No member
would be more ready to investigate matters
that were proper for the Senate to investigate.
He did not seek to conceal or cover up any
impartial investigation.
Mr. DISGLEl of Androscoggin fully agreed
with the Senator from Cumbcrland-it is II
matter that the Senate ought not to take up
at this time, there hal been no intmation
of bribery against any member. We should
not heed all street talk. He moved that the
order he laid on the table
Mr.. PArrEN said that the objection made
looked A. though some ones toes would be
trodlcn on by an investigation.
Mr.. LOCKE said man who would cast 1t
slur of that kind or make an in,inuation of
that kind. i unworthy a seat at this board
He must be made of base material and ac-
tuatci by a base purpose. When attempt
to ordrr m investigation concerning matters
strictly belonging to the House. We step be
yond our province. Those we've the only
grounds he had for opposing the order.
Mr.. Prrr~ disclaimcd casting any insin-
nations upon the Senator nor was he to be
moved from duty hv any threats He never
had the least thought that the honorable Sen
ator was in any way connected with bribery
Mr.. SrRIc >>pof Aroo>took said this an
peared to he technical question. whether or
not the information which is sought to he OBJ
tanned should he called for by the Senate or
lpfhar no thar I-o Ia