Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THB Willy BIN FILINGS ITSlHlNG INTO THE
HOUSE
The Explosion is Expected to Demolsh huraho
Halssad and Jawbons FOraker-Ballot Box
Forgery 10 be luyeshgaisd-Gen-
srSl Washington News.

WASHINGTON, December 12-In the
House to-day, Immediately after the read
ing OF the ioarnal, Mr.. Buttsrworth, rising
to question OfpIivilege, offered the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution:
WHEREAS, On divers days during the
month of October, 1ss9, and other times
since that date. there appeared in the Gin
cinnati Commercial Gazette, and in other
public journals, what purpOrted to be an
exact copy OF certain contract, alleged to
have been made and entered into by the
several parties whose names were appended
thereto there follows q reproduction OF the
alleged ballot box contract); and
WHEREAS, OF the persons whose names
appear on said paper all, except one, were
at the time Of said publication, and, ex-
csp. the Hoe. S. S Cox, deceased, are still
members OF this House and Of the Ssuste
OF the United States; aud
WHEREAS, Said contract, so published
as authentic aud genuine, was the basis
for charges, suggestions aud insinuahons
that the said members and Senators whose
usues appear on said alleged contract, en-
tered into an unlawful and corrupt cOn-
tract and 10 defrsud the United States
IN the matter of the proposed purchase OF
certain ballot boxes, which charges are an
assault upon the official integrity and rep
utAtiOn for honesty of each OF said several
members and Senators, and il true render
them unfit TO sit az members OF Congtess; /;
thery fore,
"Resolred. That a committee of live
members of this House be appointed by
the Speaker to make a full and thorough
investigation, and report without delay
the evidence, together with their findings
therein, to the House. Said COMMITTEES,
when appointed, shall ascertain aud re-
port: First-by whom said alleged con-
tract was prepared, and whether the sew
ersl signatures appeared thereto are forged
or genuine. SscOnd, if forged, what per
son or persons, If any, are directly or indi-
reetly aiding, abetting. assisting or know
l ingly consenting to the preparation and
uttering of said forgery. and for what pur-
pose and intent. Third-whether any Of
/ the members whose names appeared on the
alleged contract had or have, sither di-
rectly or indirectly, any unlawful, corrupt
OF improper connection with, or intert St
in, the ballot boxes which are the subj ect
OF said alleged contract"
BUTTERwORTH's STATEMENT.
The resolution further provides that the
committee shall have authority TO call
for persons and papers, administer Oaths,
etc. Mr.. Butter~oIth himself read the
l. l.. 4 1r,st 90 tah ha
he had bat a word 10 say in reference 10
the matter. The publication had first sp-
peared in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
on the 4th Of October, bat in the publica-
ton the name Of James f. Campbell a!oue
appeared. II had been current rumOr,
however, throughout the State that the
names Of his hOnOred colleagues Senator
Sherman, Mr. Mckinley, and his own
name, as we'll as names Of others were on
the paper. As soon as attention was
called to the matter 1t was developed
that the contract and signatures
eere forgeries and the editor OF
the Commercial Gazette promptly so stated
in a Ciou ble-leaded editorial. But, notWith-
standing that editorial, Il commencerced
10 be bruittd about that, Notwithstanding
the exposure of forgery, the parties were
interested in the contract, and that, be-
cause certain individuals had been caught
on both sides of the political line, it was
thought well to suppress it. He (Mr. But
terwortb had called the attention of the
editor of the Commercial Gazette to this fact,
and he again, in double-leaded editorial,
had said that such a statement was unau-
thorized and unwarranted, and that the pa
per had been suppressed because it had bee n
a forgery. The whole of the contract had
not appeared in the issue of the 4th OF o.
tober. There had been another segment,
which suggested that the interest in the
alleged scheme would continue until 1890,
when, as he understood it, it would expire
/ by Limitation. lie did not make this state
ment because he supposed there could be
any objection TO the adoption of the reso-
luton.
Mr.. Brecbiuridge, of Kentucky, whose
name ia appended TO the alleged contract,
vigorously denied any knowledge thereof.
Mr.. Butterworths resolution was then
adopted and the report of the SilcOtt Com
mittee was presented to the House.