The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-22
THE PAYNE INVESTIGATION.
Three Reports Made by the Senate Com
u.

HE PAYNE iNVES TIGAIION
Three Reports Made by the Senate Conn., |
mitt~~-rhe Matter VIII Probably be
Dropped.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-Three reports
from the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections upon the Payne case were
submitted yesterday.
The report signed BY Senators Pugh.
Salisbury, Vance and Eustis, the Demo-
cratic members of the committee, states
that the committees first act was to COM
ply fully with the first request of the Ohio
House of Representatives 10 make an ex-
animation of the testimony taken by the
select committee at Columbus. Upon this
testimony Mr.. Hoar made a report to the
committee that after careful reading no
evidence, opinion or statement whatever
was found personally inculpating Mr..
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 had been procured
by the corrupt use of money and no new
evidence had since been submitted This
report asks that the committee be dis
charged from further consideration of the
subject and that it be indefinitely post
pOned.
Senators Teller. Evarts and Logan unite
in report which states that the only COLI
StiSutiOnal warrant for an investigation in q
case like that presented is in the clause
making each House of Congress the Judge
of the qualifications OF its own members,
and the clause comforting the right of eX-
pulsi0n. The Signers of the report do not
find that case has been presented that
would affect Mr.. Payne with such turpitude
as would warrant his expulsion from the
Senate. They therefore turn their attention
to the validity of his election to the Senate
and hold that the evidence il such case
must show that the fraud which it is alleged
was committed embraced enough of the
voting electors to nave changed the result.
The testimony presented by the Ohio House
of Representatives shows that a number
of members of the General Assembly have
been brought into inculpatiOn and have the
weight OF evidence against them. As to
four memberS-Baker, Hunt. Schultz and
Ziegler-it is found by the signers OF the
ing of an inculpating character as to the
two members, Kahle and Hall; the report
finds that they were not diverted from their
support of Mr.. PendletOn to that of Mr..
Payne. OF the two Senators and two Rep
resentatives named in the majority report
OF the select committee, Mooney and Roche
of the House and White and Ramey of the
Senate, the signers Of the report refer with
out observation of their own to the major
ity and minority reports of the Ohio COM
mittee. They do not find that the select
committee recommended any action by the
Legislature looking to demand further in
vestigatien and they express the opinion
that there was no evidence presented
to the United States Senate which purpOrtS
to prove that fraud, corruption or bribery
was employed in Mr.. Payne's election af-
fecting votes either in caucus or in the
Legislature, whereby the election was car
ried, nor is there any evidence that any such
proof exists; therefore the report holds that
the Senate would not be warranted under
the constitution to institute an Investigation.
The report points out that the State is not
under the restrictions which bind the Sem
ate in such Investigations and says the State
should execute the laws respecting the puri-
~ of Senatorial elections by the indictment
and conviction of bribe-giverS and takers.
AS the matter stands the report holds tnas
an investigation should not be instituted by
the Senate.
Senators HOar and Frye, in a separate
report, state that they can not concur with
the views expressed by the other members
OF the committee; they think a case was
presented in which it is their duty to per-
nit the petitioners 10 present their evidence
and to authorize proper process to aid in
the procuring of the attendance of wit
nesSeS. AS the Senate is the only court
which can have jurisdiction OF the ques-
ton. the report sets forth a series of ten
propositions which MeSSrs. Little and But
terwOrth offer upon their own respOn-
sbiiity TO establish to the satisfaction
of the Senate, largely by witnesses not
within reach Of the Ohio Committee.
In brief, among these are the following:
That three fOurths of the members of
the Legislature were pledged To MeSSrs.
PendletOn and Ward just before the LegiS-
lative caucus; that large sums OF money
were placed by Mr.. Payne's son and
other friends at the control of the active
managers of the Payne canvass; that Il gen
tleman, whose name is offered to be given,
would declare that Mr.. David Il. Paige had
said he had handled So, 900, and that Mr..
Oliver Il. Payne had said 1t cost him $780,
900 to elect his father; that the members
of the Legislature WHO changed from Pen
dletOn 10 Payne did so after secret conf |
dental interviews with the agents who had
the disbursement of these moneys; and |
that these members about that time dis |
played large sums of money, for which they |
could not satisfactorily account The Ie-
port discusses the above features of the ,
case at great length, and the conclusion is |
reached that an investigation is warranted. |
The question is not, the report says, |
whether the case is prOved-it is only |
whether it shall be inquired into. The re-
port concludes with a resolution directing |
an investigation of the charge and the
recommendation that it be adopted.
Nominations.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-The President