The Portland daily press., 1886-07-16
rhe PAYNE Rrlhery case.

The report on the Payne bribery matter.
signed by Senators Pugh Salisbury, Vance
and Eustis, reviews the circumstances lead
ing to the investigation into the charges, in
eluding the proceedings of the the lnyestl-
eating committees of the Ohio Legislature.
The resolution of the Ohio Senate, the re-
port says, which charges that Paynes cleo
tion was procured by bribery and corruption,
is based solely on common report, suggested
and corroborated by the public press OF the
State without respect to party, and by recent
investigation of the House OF Representa-
tives. The committee say they recognize
the necessity of throwing all possible safe
guards against corruption around the Senate.
but question the sincerity Of the par
ties making the charges when they allowed
so long time to elapse since the alleged
bribery before taking action to have 1t pun
ished. 1t is conceded that the Democrats
had majority i'll the Goth General Assembly
of Ohio of 36 members, and that Henry Is.
Payne was the only Democrat voted for by
members of the legislature when elected to
the Senate. The charge preferred against
Henry b. Payne by the Senate and House
acting separately in the 9th Legislature of
Ohio, was different legislature from that
which elected Henry 3. Payne, and was
of majority of Republicans in each house.
1t is also conceded that prior to the day when
the law required the Goth General Assembly
of Ohio to vote for the election of a United
SUdUoS D6ldIOI blidt u CAUCUS OIL Uu6 DellO-
cratic members of the legislature was held,
to nominate some person for whom the DEM
ocratic members were to vote in general as
semblY, and that in such caucus Henry b.
Payne received majority of the votes, and
was declared nominated. The charge is that
money was corruptly used by being paid to,
or for the use OF divers members Of the eau
| Gus, to secure their votes in caucus for
| Payne's nomination. The committee exam
| ined carefully the testimony taken by Sc
| lect committee of the Ohio House, and say
this was not supplemented or strengthened
| by any additional legal evidence.
They therefore report: First, that he
| payne has not been charged with having
| anything to do personally, or with having
any personal knowledge of connection with
| or participation in any act or anything that
may have been done or charged as having
been done, that was wrong, criminal, lmmor-
al or reprehensible III his election
Second, a majority of your committee re-
| port that on the whole case as presented to
them, they recommend that the Senate make
no further investigation into the charge IN
volving the right of Henry B. Payne to his
seat. Your committee ask to be discharged
| from ifurthor consideration of the matter
| referred to them, and that the whole subJec1
be indefinitely postponed
The report made by Senators Teller, Evart'
and Logan gives the facts of Senator Payne
election, and after review of the charges
says:
The conclusion is upon the whole matter
as presented in evidence and argument tC
committee Oh privileges we are of the opln
ion, therefore, that the testimony and othe
considerations placed before the Senate Il
instituting by itself investigation looking U
| the unseating of Mr.. Payne as member 0
the Senate.