Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-16
PAYNE'S CASE.
THREE REPORTS SUBMITTED 70 THE
SENATE YESTERDAY.
What the Democratic Members Of the
Committee on Privileges and
Elections Say.
Inv teleera oh to the pispaich.J

tBy telegraph To the Dispaich.1
WASHINGTON, July l5.-Three re-
ports from the Senate Committee on
Privileges aud Elections upon the Payne
case were submitted to the Senate to-
day. A report signed by Senators
Pueh, Salisbury, Vance, and Eustis,
Democratic members Of the committee,
sets forth at length the public history of
the case, recognizes the transceldent
Importance Of throwing around the
Senate of the United States the highest
safeguards against seating members
whose title was procured by bribery.
fraud, or corruption, and describes the
processes by which the signers reach
the conclusion that there is no ground
for further proceedings against Payne.
The report says the committees first
act WAS to comply fully with the first
request Of the Ohio House Of Repre-
seniatives to make an examination Of
the testimony taken by the select COM
mittee at Columbus. Upon this testi-
mony Mr.. Hoar made report to the COM
mittee that after careful reading no evil
dence, opinion, or statement Whatever
was found personally inculpating Payne
in any way with the corrupt use OF
money in connection with his election.
Neither did such examination show that
enough had been found to justify the
charge that the election was procured
by the corrupt use Of money.
About this time the supplemental
reasons of the Ohio Legislature and
those of the Republican State Central
Committee made their appearance, and
soon after Congressman Little and But
terworth were heard at length.
The signers Of the report declare that
no new evidence not contained in the
original matter submitted was brought
to their attention which any court
would not hold to be merely Gu
mulative and speculative, and in
sufficient by itself or in connec-
ton with the original to justify a
report in favor Of trial by the Sem
ate of Payne's right to his seat. They
conclude that Henry B. Payne has not
been charged with having anything to
do personally, or with having any per-
sonal knowledge with or in connection
with, or participation in any act
or anything that may have been
done, or charged as having been
done, that was wrong, criminal, i'm
moral, or reprehensible in his election
that no member of the committee and
no witness, representative. or other
person has expressed the opinion or in-
timated any belief or suspicion that
Henry B. Payne is or was connected III
the remotest degree, by act or know
ledge, with anything that was or MAJ
have been wrong or criminal OF
immoral in his election, and on the
whole case as presented to them they
recommend that the Senate make no
further investigation Of the charge in
volving the right Of Henry b. Payne to
his seat. This report asks that the
committee be discharged from further
consideration Of the subject, and that
it be indefinitely postponed.
REPORT OF TELLER, EvARTs, AND
LOGAN.
Senator's Teller, Evarts, and Logan
unite in report.
The signers Of the report do not find
that a case has been presented that
would affect Mr.. Payne with such tur-
pitude as would tolerate his expulsion
from the Senate, nor that testimony il
accessible that touches the subject OF
the personal inculpation of Mr.. Payne.
They express the opinion that there
was no evidence presented in the United
States Senate which purports that fraud,
corruption, or bribery was employed
in Mr.. Payne's election affecting the
votes, either in caucus or in the Legs
lature, whereby the election was car.
RED to effect his election, nor is there
evidence that any such proof exists.
Therefore the report holds that the
Senate would not be warranted, under
the Constitution, in instituting an in
vestigation.
If further examination by the State
should be made the Senate would be
governed in its further action by what
might appear; but, as the matter stands,
the report holds that an investigation
should not be instituted by the Senate.
WHAT SENATORS HoAR AND FRYE
SAY.
Senator's Hoar and Frye, IN sepa-
rate report, state that they cannot con-
cur with the views expressed by the
majority. They describe the eminent
sources from which the charges were
brought to the attention of the Senate.
and say they think case is presented
in which it is the duty of the Senate to
permit the petitioners to present their
evidence and TO authorize the issue OF
proper process to aid in procuring the
attendance Of witnesses.
The report concludes with a reso)u-
ton directing an investigation of the
charges and with recommendation
that it be adopted.