Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-06-09

Investigating Changes Of Corruption IN
Connection with the Bonded
Spirits Ball.

WASHINGTON, June g.
The Window commitree resumed this
morning the investigation of the charges of
corruption in connection with the passage,
through the House. of the bonded spirits bill.
Hathorne Hill, of the Louisiana Commercial;
A. C. Buell.. of the Washington Critic. and
Charles Nordhoff, of the New York Herald,
were examined by the committee.
Hill related incidents of his interview with
Mr.. Atherton, and declared that the interview
published in the Commercial of April 2Sth
was substantially correct recital of that
conversation that the only errors were OF
verbiage, not of fact, and that the statements
we're correct, though the language was not
verbal.
Atherton asked permission to question the
witness. and was allowed 10 do so, but failed
to secure any admission other than those con-
tanned in his direct statement.
Buell. was examined at some length as to
what information he had had upon which to
base the charges which had from time to
time appeared in his paper.
Witness stated that. his information was
entirely general and accumula;ive. derived
from a great number of conversations with
different people, current gossip. newspaper
articles, &c.
Hawley interrogated the witness at great
length. but nothing important was elected.
Hawley asked-is there any fact whatever
upon which you can base information against
the three gentlemen named in that article?
The witness replied in the negative.
Nordhoff inquired of the witness if he had
any reason to believe he (Nordhoff) had ever
received money in a corrupt way.
Witness-I have none.
Buell's examination will be continued in
day or two.
Nordhoff was sworn and made a general
statement to the effect that his intentions
were first called to the matter upon reading
an interview with AthertOn, printed in the
Louisville Commercial He thought if these
charges were true now was the time the
villainy shoull be exposed. Either the
whiskey men should give the names of the
| men who approached them or the story, if
false. should be promptly contradicted. Ath-
erton had not done so, at least for several
days, until after the Herald and other papers
made it appear exceedingly unpleasant for
them and then the contradiction seemed very
tame.
Nordhoff contnued Since the 4th of May
| have trying to discover who approached
these men. For the honor of the profession
have been trying to discover the names of
| the journalists, if there were any, who at
| attempted to profit corrupty by legislation.
l done so as man who believes firmly for
| an honest press as of an honest Congress.
Atherton then made statement that he
was out of town when the interview
IN the Commercial was published; :;
| that as soon as soon as he saw it he wrote his
card of contradiction. He said the first time
he heard the name of Senator Voorhees, men,
| toned in connection with the bill was when
| it appeared in the dispatch; that he never
| spoke ith Carlisle or Willis or Thompson
| about the names of the parties who ap-
preached him.
| Nordhof-I am very glad to hear it, and
| cheerfully withdraw. as l should do, any
structures may have made upon your con-
duct.
The committee adjourned to Saturday
morning.