The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-29
PAYNE INVESTIGATION.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
or OHIO HEARD FROM,

The Communication Lnld Before tho Sem
ate--Mr Payne Rises to Remark that the
Investlgutlon Is uaseless Gossip and
scnndal-1ho Report II Referred.
WAsnlNGroN, April rs The chair laid be-
fore the senate communication from the
clerk Of the house Of representatives of Ohio
transmitting n transcript of the testimony
taken by a committee Of that house and the
report OF the same committee on tho charge
relating 10 the election Of Senator Payne,
Mr. Payne said that II any formal motion
was required 10 refer the papers to the com
mtteo on privileges and elections, ho made
that motion and requested that the minority
report Of the committee take tho same
course,
Mr. Payne then made brief statement OF
the circumstances attending the meeting Of
the Democratic caucus Of tho Ohio legislature
January s, 1884, at which ho was nominated,
he mId "1he plprH submitted ombody the
results m investigation into tuIl canvass
conducted secretly for moro than three
months hy committee Of tho house Of rep-
resentatiyu OF tho state Of Ohio After
reading the resolution under which tho COM
mittco was appointed he sodi
The scope Of tho lnyosl 3atlon ~ actually
conducted by tho committee is stated In the
majority report on folows Whenever our
attention was called 10 anything which Indi-
cnted tho probable employment Of improper
means TO gaiu support, we followed tho clues
presented on tho theory that We were not
only authorized but In duty bound to pur-
sue any matter that promised even remotely
10 show tho use Of such means In connection
with tho election because tho discovery OF
one important fact, although having no lm'
mediate bearing upon the charges against the
persons named In the resolution, might lead
10 the discovering having such bearing; and
furthermore and upon tho same theory our
inquiries were not confined 10 technical rules
OF legal prof but the committee ayallod H.
self OF any source OF information, admitted
hoarsay Statements and oven tho opinion Of
witnesses
~ had hoped that the request put forward
by tho minority members OF tho committee
that the proceedings would DO open 10 tho
public would have boon acoodOd 10, and that
might have beon spared tho mlsroprosonta-
tiona OF the testimony which for three months
have been no aNlduously circulated, and
against which | have Of course, no defense,
Tho results Of tho investigation are now here,
embodied In tho majority and minority re'
ports"
After commenting on tho evidence OF Don.
aNlta anl az tla IuliaVa - tha oatnU.lIIaa IA
call him, Senator Payne, before II, ho quotes
tho correspondence ho had with Chairman
Cowgirl, OF tho committee, In reference 30
the tondor no made 30 tho committee OF his
private papers and books Of account, ho
saysi "rho committee aftor having exon
Grated, aa Il wA obliged 10 do all persons
charged In tho resolution, aud myself, trans,
mits the hundreds Of pages of gossip 10 the
senate without making any request OF this
body
"'fhc resolution sayai For the information
Of tho body Of which Senator Payne iso NOM
bor and for such action ~ II may doom ad'
viaablc' on course have no knowledge Of
the contents OF tho testimony Tho mOmboy
OF tho house who voted 10 send II hero had
no knowledge, II having bocn all tokcn In No.
orot session by tho committee, and tho house
having voted down tho motion 10 have II
printed or read II must, however, bo sup
posed 10 DO fairly represented by the oontonts
OF the majority report, which have read,
and judging from that lcharactcrl1o thisp
ccodlng, tho transmission Of tho testimony
here, "a AN attempt 10 circulate and
give currency 10 basclcss gossip aud scandal
after everything substantial In tho way OF a
charge has been disorCditod and dlsproved,
| ann content 10 leave tho committee on
privileges and elections for such disposition
Of II oa they may find 10 bo In accordance
with dignity and Justice, | trust that II will
receive early attention aud action"
Tho majority aud minority reports wore
refcrrod 10 the committee on privileges aud
elections