The record-union., 1891-10-15

rumors be found false and untrue, let it
be so declared, in order that the members
of the Legislature, Democratic as well as
Republican, shall not live under the
odium of being corrupt in reference to
the matters about which they legislated.
No honest or guiltless man need be a
afraid OF an investigation of an impartial
Grand Jury, and no guilty man has the
right to object to your honorable body
Investigating any corruption which may
have taken place in connection with
legislative matters.
This investigation may cause con-
siderable expense to the county OF Sacra-
mento, but nevertheless the investigation
should be had. If Sacramento desires
| the honor of being the State Capital, she
should protect that honor, and make all
investigations necessary to maintain the
honor and dignity of the State.
l have addressed this communication
| to the Hon. Superior Judge, for / con-
slider all communications to the Grand
Jury should pass through his hands.
have also addressed this to the Dis
trict Attorney, for he is the law officer
who must direct and control the legal
proceedings before the jury. / know
him to be an able and efficient man, and
| would not be paying him due respect if
ignored him in this report.
In making this report / have refrained
11Oiu Slf1LS JuO udIISS Vi W1ltlOSSOS VI
persons, except such as appear in the re-
port of the Joint Committee hereinbefore
set forth, which were and are public, who
might be able to give you information
upon subjects referred to. My reasons
for doing so are two fold:
/. Should L mention names it might
cast reflection upon them which might
not be warranted under the facts.
2. Should / mention the names of the
participants, or who might be deemed to
be participants, it might be doing them
great injustice. They might be looked
upon by the community as guilty, when,
in fact, they may not be; and if guilty,
! them notice of which they would avail
themselves and depart for other States or
Canada.
1 shall, however, be pleased to furnish
your honorable body, at such reasonable
time as you may demand of me, all the
information / have.
Let me say, in closing, that the investi-
cation should be had; the people of the
State demand it, and if your honorable
body does not do so it Will have to be
done at another time by some other Grand
Jury.
The good people of the State of Califor-
mia, both Republicans and Democrats, de-
mand full, fair and impartial investiga-
ton, IN order that the administrations of
>
be conducted honestly and according to
law.
l desire to call your attention to Section
80, of Article w., Of the Constitution, as
follows:
ANY person who seeks to influence
the vote of a member of the Legislature
| by bribery, promise of reward, intimi-
dation, or any other dishonest means,
shall be guilty of lobbying, which is
hereby declared a felony; and it shall be
the duty of the Legislature to provide, by
! law, for the punishment of this crime.
Any member of the Legislature who
shall be influenced in his vote or action
upon any matter pending before the Leg
! islature by any reward, or promise OF
| future reward, shall be deemed guilty of
felony, and upon conviction thereof, in
| addition to such punishment as may be
! provided by law, shall be disfranchised,
and forever disqualified from holding any
office or public trust. Any person may
! be compelled to testify i'll any lawful in
vestigation or judicial proceeding against
any person who may be charged with
! having committed the offense of bribery
or corrupt solicitation, or with having
| been influenced in his vote or action, us a
| member of the Legislature, by reward, or
promise of future reward, and shall not
! be permitted to withhold his testimony
! upon the ground that it may criminate
! himself or subject him to public infamy;
! but such testimony shall not afterWard
| be used against him in any judicial pro-
ceeding, except for perjury in giving
| such testimony
| This declares that no witness called be-
fore your honorable body has the right to
refuse or decline to answer on the ground
! that he might criminate himself.
The Governor on the 26th ult., before
! leaving Sacramento, delivered into my
| possession the papers referred to in the
report of the committee. They will be
! produced at such time as you may direct.
| Very respectfully submitted
WIN. II. H HART,
l A n r