The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-28
Remarks Of Mr.. Payne in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, April q The Chair laid before
the Senate communication from the Clerk of
the House of Representatives of the State Of
Ohio, transmitting transcript of testimony
taken by a committee of that House, and the re-
port of the Same committee, on the subject of
charges against the official integrity of certain
members Of that house in connection with the
election of Hon. Henry B. Payne as United
States Senator
Mr. Payne atonce rose and said: "Mr. Chair
man, no formal motion is required, believe, to
send these papers to the committee on privileges
and elections. desire to be considered as max
ing such motion. II it is required, and to couple
with it the request that the minority report may
take the same course, copy of which submit.
With this formal disposition of the matter am
at present content; but desire to make short
statement to accompany the papers into the
hands Of the committee. A Democratic caucus
for nomination of candidate for United States
Senator was convened at Columbus on JAM 8,
1884. was not in attendance, but without doubt
the first ballot was as follows: Booth l; Penile-
ton, 15 Ward. II; Payne, 46, being majority
for the successful candidate of Is over all. The
ptporS SuDiultCcu oIuUOuy tuS rcSuItS OI al III
vestigation into this canvass conducted secret
ly for more than three months by commit
tee of the House OF Representatives OF the State
of Ohio.
He then read the resolution under which the
committee was appointed, and continued: "The
scope Of the investigation, as actually conducted
by the committee, is stated Ia the majority re-
port as follows: Whenever attention was called
to anything which indicated the probable en-
ployment of improper means to gain support we
follovUed bo npo fad nm. ha th lat
we were not only authorized but in duty bound
to pursue any matter that promised even
motely to show the use Of such means in con-
nection with the election because the discovery
of one important fact, although having no i'm.
mediate bearing upon the charge against the
persons named in the resolution, might lead to
discovery having such bearing. And further
more. and upon the same theory, our inquiries
were not confined to technical rules of legal
proof but the committee availed itself Of any
source of information, admitted heresay state
ments ana even the opinions of witnesses /
had hoped that the request put forward by the
minority members of the committee. that the
proceedings should be open and public, would
have been acceded to. and that I might have
been spared the MISREPRESENTATION. or misrepre-
sentations of the testimony, which for three
months have been so assduously circulated. and
against which have, of course, no defense. The
results Of the investigation are now here, embod-
led in the majority and the minority reports.
"First-No mention whatever is made in the
majority report Of Mr.. Donavin, but in the re-
port of the minority is found the following:
After weeks of delay Mr.. Donavin appeared be-
fore the committee and testified that he knew
of no fact of bribery, or no act on tho part of
any person toward any other person. either di-
rectly or Indirectly, to improperly influence the
members of the Sixty sixth General Assembly
in the support Of Mr. Henry B. Payne. He knew
OF himself Of no facts upon which he based said
article. but gave as his principal authority one
VIM. A. Taylor, who testified, when called, that
he had no knowledge of any act of any person
toward any member of the House Of the SEN
ate of the Sixty sixth General Assembly of
bribery corruption used to induce that person
or persons to give their support to Henry B.
that the investigation was originally based
upon.
.'Second-The report specifically, and in terms,
exonerated fully and completely the four men
bers named in the resolution under which the
committee was appointed.
'Third-As to myself, the record is one OF alb
solute and specific exoneration. Immediately
upon the appointment Of the committee, ad-
dressed a letter to the chairman containing the
following request: For myself, l invite and
challenge the most thorough and rigid scrutiny;
my private correspondence and books Of account
will be cheerfully submitted u your inspection IT
you desire them. ! only insist that in case any
testimony is given which in the slightest degree
inculpates me. may be offered an opportunity
of appearing before the committee. 90 which In
due time received reply containing the fol.
lowing promise on the part OF the committees: IT
in the prosecution of this inquiry any testimony
tending TO inculpate you in any degree with any
questionable transaction be received. assure
you that your request to appear before the com
mitfee in such event will be most cordially and
fully aecsded to. THOMAS A. CowGIEL, chairman