Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-05
DEMENT, IN A CORNER.
THE CORREsPONDENTS BEFORE
THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

Teller, the Senator, Charged with Hav-
Ing Received &2B, 900 from the Nor
mOns-The Truth of Every statement
In the Special Dispatches vOuched for
by the Authors.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The Senate Com
mittee on Public Lands to-day gave
hearing at their request to the newspaper
correspondents who last week telegraphed
10 their papers interviews with Surveyor
General Dement,, Of Utah, which inter-
views Mr.. Dement, at his recent examina-
tion by this committee repudiated, and
the statements contained in which he de-
clared to be without foundation.
j. A. Corwiu and G.. G. Balm, cores
pondents respectively Of the Chicago
Times and New York World, testified
that they separately had long confidential
interviews with Mr.. Dement,, and that
every material statement in their dis
patches was made upon Mr.. Dement'S
authority. Among them we're statements
to the effect that Senators aud members
OF Congress had been bribed by M0rmons,
and that high federal officials were inn
plicated In extensive land frauds.
NOTES BY DICrATION.
Mr.. Balm took notes from Mr.. Dement,
by dictation, a portion of which, covering
in general terms the allegations Of large
land frauds, he was authorized to publish
as coming from Mr.. Dement,. The remain
der he was to publish, but was not to at
tribute it 10 Mr.. Dement,.
+. p. Powers and I. c. Crawford, chief
correspondents respectively OF the Chica-
go Times and the New York World, cor
rOborated the statements OF Messrs. Cor
win and Balm 80 far as the incidents be-
fore and after the interview coming within
their knowledge were concerned.
Jules Guthredge, correspondent Of the
Chicago Daily Nel0s, testified TO an inter-
view with Mr.. Dement, subsequent TO the
publication of the others, during which
Mr.. Dement, had repudiated the published
interviews. The impression left on Mr..
Guthredge's mind was that Mr.. Dement,
was chiefly anxious about the matter be-
cause it imperiled his confirmation by
the Senate.
TELLER TIE SENATOR.
William Il. Curtis, correspondent OF
the Chicago Inter ocean, told the commit
tee that he had received the material for
his article upon the subject from Mr..
COrwin, who had told him moreover that
q prominent Western Senator who MIR.
Dement, was reported to have said re-
CeINeO tzD.OuU IEOtu bAlB mDFuOub WAS MI
Teller. Mr.. CoTwin, in answer to an in
qujry by the committee upon this point,
confirmed Mr.. Curtis statement and de-
clared that Mr. Dement, had referred to
Mr.. Teller by name, Mr.. Dement, was
not present at the hearing, but it was
made a matter of record that he had been
formally notified by the clerk OF the COM
mittee that the hearing was to take place
and had replied that he did not care TO be
present.
TELLER PRESENT.
Mr.. Teller, who is amember Of the COM
mittee, was present. and by inquiries pur-
posely drew out the aYOwals with respect
TO the use of his own name.
Mr.. Dement,, when before the committee
day before yesterday, declared with en-
phasis, not only that he had not made
the statements attributed to him, but that
he had no information leading TO the be-
lief or suspicion that the things alleged
were true, either as regards Senators,
mem bers of the House. or officials Of the
Territory and general land office. Mr..
Dement'S nomination as Surveyor Gen.
eral Of Utah 10 still pending before the
Senate.
Senator Teller, OF Colorado, who hap
pens to be a member of the Committee on
Public Lands, is preparing 10 defeat the
confirmation of Mr.. Dement, as Surveyor
General of Utah.