New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-11

,.o rycIrFNENT AT ALBANY OVER TIE bitinH"i
cu.nGEs-A PACKED COMMITTEE AND An IN
PAIR ExAMrNATIoN-A QUESTION or NERACiif
HyrwErN TWO MEN-OTIIER TESTIMONY 'r
LITTLE VALUE
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRlBUNEI
A,p.Sy. June lO-The bribery sensation seems
practically to have run its course. There have oeeh
- storo,oo of of any importance since those of Mr.
Rradlev were made and there seems TO be no reason
,e,nect that that any evidence can be obtained 10
snhstantiate Mr. Bradley story beyond that already
given. II is true that the investigation VIII I's'
some time will last indeed just so long as the COM
mittee appointed by Speaker Sharpe can make IL
last The course of the committee thus lar
is such as to leave no DOUBT III
the mind of any reasonable man that
the majority proposes to keep the investigation open
long as possible but il is evident that there can
he no further disclosures respecting an alleged
interview between two men IN room
alone concerning which each has already
told his story; and it is a safe
conclusion, therefore, that the bribery sensa-
ton reached its height when Mr. Bradley rose III the
Assembly and announced that he had been given
money to vote for Chauncey NJ. Depew.
II is not too early to make a review
Of the case thus far, and see what
conclusions can be properly drawn. One
most significant fact in connection with the nves-
tigstion is that the COnkling managers, instead of
pursuing the natural course of men who want only
usce and are eager to lay bare the truth, adopt
ing the tactics usually followed by men who have
nothing to gain and something TO lose by inquiry.
In this investigation the unusual spectacle is pre-
seuted of persistent delay by the men who make the
charges and profess TO be anxious to expose bribery
while the men who are practically resting under the
charges are pushing on the inquiry.
The Conkling leaders first secured control OF the
committee through Speaker Sharpe who seems to
have carefully packed it against Mr.. Depew. This
is a serious charge to make against Speaker
but General Sharpe has left no room for
any other'opinion. Considering that the charges
made affected a candidate for Senator, who had re-
esived before they were made the votes of close on
IN majority of the whole number of the Repub-
lean members of the Legislature, it would have
been mere Parliamentary decency in Speaker Sharpe
TO place upon the committee some of the many
able and honorable men in the Assembly who have
been recognized as friends of that candidate. No
one of his friends would have asked anything more
than q representation. Perhaps they would not
have asked even that if they could have been
assured that the committee wonld not be packed
against him. The fact is that the committee was
made up without a single representative Dcpew
man.
PACKED COMMITTEE.
Nj Scott. of Livingston. the nominal chairman, is
q country lawyer. who has clearly demonstrated
in the brief of the inquiry entire incapacity
for the place. He has been like dough in
the hands of Mr.. Z. 4. Carpenter and Mr.. Draper
two keen and active Conkling men, who have prac-
tically taken charge of the investigation Mr.
Scott has been visibly in doubt upon
some occasions how TO vote until Mr.. Car
tod xrIan ha rrntuntlV followcd euit
Nh. Scott has been voting for Cornell and Lapham
for Senator'S He is a strong Stawart but his dis
trct is known to be overwhelmingly against Conk-
ling and he is respecting outwardly at least, the
viii of his constituents
Mr. Boardman is a retired farmer, who is practi-
ealy a second edition of Mr. Scott in this
matter, though it is believed he is more likely TO
show independent judgment in the long run He is
the Assembyman from Tompkins County and is re-
garded as Governor Cornells special representative.
MrCarpenter0nd Mr. Draper. already mentioned, are
as jealous for Mr.. Conkling Mr. Conking himself
could desire. This leaves only one Republican
nember-Mr Skinner, of Jefferson. Mr.. Skinner is
now voting for Depew, but has only begun to do 80
Of late and is not what is called Depew man. lie
b not lawyer
F. The two Democrats, Mcssrs. Brooks and Stanley.
are among the abler members of the minority, and
have shown desire to give Mr.. Dcpew's friends n
fair chance and have helped Mr.. Skinner in that
direction Thus the strange spectacle has been wit
messed OF the candidate for Senator who is preferred
by a majority of the Republican members owing
most of tho grace given in this committee 10 Demo
rats.
PARTIsANsiIIP AND CNFAIRNEss.
So much for the composition of the committee.
Their action may be summed up briefly Mr. Car
penter, the Conkling leader, first attempted last
night, when Mr.. Bradley had fired Oft
his blank cartridge and the whole State
was ringing with the story that he had
been bribed by some person unknown to vote
for Depew TO adjourn the co mittee until to-day.
The purpose was evident it was to leave tins
cnsation hanging over Air. Depew's head undeGued.
snstated and unanswered for the best part of
sentyfour hours and so. if possible, turn the tide
against him in the State and in the Legislature.
This was very much like the politics Of the Thug.
Then. when he had been overruled in that, and
mr. Bradley had made his statement, the Conkling
nenimitteemen attempted TO prevent Senator Ses-
Ssns from making his statement until to-day Here
ssxn the purpose was eyident-to give Mr. Brad
~5sstory twenty-fou hours the start. This hardly
Leeds Characterization II Mr.. Sessions had been
oaueht by dozen witnesses IN the act of handing
osr the money, the commonest deccncy would have
inquired that he have the chance TO send out his de-
Aas with the accusation
vfnef actions of the committee have been less
grant but quite as efectual. Tonight,
example, they refused 10 allow Mr.
na.atey to he cross-examned by Senator ScSsions's
Nphsei because neither he nor the committee had
~ =, counsel present. The fact that they have
s~"ed twenty-four hours to elapse without OBJ
mg counsel is believed TO be another
- r'aeaicc that they are working for delay. Mr.
made the rather lame excuse that he wanted
: = ma counsel as able as Mr. Smith and Mr.. Peck
s.oa but had not succeeded In doing so. Albany is
I'LL OF l0Kvefs who 60