The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-26
Zeal for the CalkinS Cause Led
Him to Do Wrong.
HIS EMPLOYER WAS ,NMocgMr.
Netcslfe, Who Exposed the Crime.
Should Have Been Silent.
Slight Inesnsistsncy n Cemmitts Ne.
port on senstorial geanda1-Tloea e
Bills ON Last Day-Owines Special
Committee Has No Real Ixistsnoss

calfe and exoneration for W. n. Cabins. vere
all found in the unanimous report Of the Met
calfc investigating committee submitted % The
House this afternoon.
The report had long been delayed for many
reasons. The committee had much difaculty II
securing all the available evidence bearing upon
the matter, and arrived at its conclusion only
after every opportunity had been givcnko Clarke
and Metcalfe to produce testimony desired By
either.
The report of the committee must be accepted
as conclusive, for the reason that every party
supposed to be affected by the result had repre-
sentation on the committee. Three OF the meme
bers, Representatives Kennedy, Meany, and Baf.
low, are Republicans, and two are DemOcrn1o,
Representatives Goldman and Holt Two of the
Republicans, Kennedy and Meany, voted for
Senator Squire and Barlow for Judge Calkina.
The Democrats voted for Thomas CARROLL
The committee did not attempt to agree upou
Its finding until this morning, and the fmpress
sion was general that the committee would sub.
mendation. The result. because unexpecteds
did not the less Impress itself upon the legln1ar
ture, ana when 1t was received tt was unnnis
mously adopted.
Mr. Speaker and Members Of The House of Repre-
sensatires Of the Legislature Of Wdshfm1f0n: We.
your special committee appointed to tnveatieate
calfe on the floor OF this house, ber leave to
submit the following report: In the fnvostiea-
ton OF saidcharge we have examined forty-nino
witnesses aud caused all OF the testimony of
said witnesses 10 be reduced to writing, and -
herewith report the same:
I'VE find from evidence herewith submitted:
First-That Harry A. Clarke has heretofore
borne good reputation Tor truth and verncfty.
for honesty and integrity, but that in his seal u
accomplish his ends in the late senatorial con-
test he offered and gave to said John l. Met
calfe the sum OF 500 for and in consideration 01
said Metcalfc's voting for Hon. w. H. Calkino
for United States senator, and that said 4f0o W
given by Clarke is the same 500 turned over By
Metcalic TO the speaker OF this House.
'.Second--We find that said John l. Metcalfo
solicited and accepted said sum of $500 from nAid
Clarke, under direct promise that he, the said
Calkins for United States senator. =
"Third-we find that said MetcAlis was enp
couraged BY Others 70 accept said 500
''Fourth--we find that Hon. W. H. Calkine
money was offered or paid BY said Clarke @ said
Mefcaiie for any purpose whatever, end fron
the evidence he e fully sxonersted frcm any
rcctly or indirectly, or in any mannoR Whatever
"Fifth-And we further ind that said John +
Mctcalfe courted, soliciteds accepted and exs
delusion that the same would tend 70 peoVomo
corruption in politics and elevate him, 0e oai1
Metcalfe, In the minds Of the people.
said John L Metcalfe deserves s isese thS ssVsf.
est censure for counting and eollo1kinR oof4
bribe; and a. to any further o. greater p0nleAe
% ri. f Hos.. os g .: vS hn a 49, - ~ 8
~ ~. y y. SoD.ls. 5.s Mari
~; .H 4 4 Hon1: Ra:.nv ca.,,B!. =; sAslow
"Dated Olympia February - lools
The report Wa unanimously accoptod q u
viva voce vote, and 6harpstein, The Domoc1ot1o
member from Walla Walla, moved that ooDy oe
the first finding Of the committee D fufniehsd
nsy 81 county, ne viz % 8
procure the Indictment OF or hle Information
against Harry A. Clarke for bribery.
hs sbou %DSD @ pu Ds s. s Ss @ 8
that this body has NO authority 10 'sinstfuCl''
these officers 70 indict Clarke. The motion Wa
changed 70 Request" Garretson Of Pierce
ers in taking this action. The motion Wa Lost
on q viva voce vote.
it looked as ii the matter would be dropped
minutes later Mcclure Of Lewis. one ofthe five
Republicans In the lower House, outside Of
Pierce county, who voted for Calktns, aske4
unanimous consent to offer the following feso-
luton.
"WHEREAs, A committee Of Ave members o.
this house has unanimously found that John +
Metcalfe, member Of this house, has collected
and accepted q bribe; and
"wHEREAs, The gravity Of this unanimous
nnding demand: prompt and vigorous eSsten
upon a1c pafT TS.t 2. ne 1obn Mcscs
tive from the First representative district In tho
state Of washngtc1. be and he Is, hereby expelled
from this House. and his seat is declared vacant"
Mcclure moved adoption Of the resoluttons
and 1t was seconded by Tfllotson Of Pierce. The
members were walking about the noors and
many were outside, discussing the report Of tho
committee and unaware Of the new phase the
affair had assumed. Piummer therefore moved
a call of the House. It was ordered, and seventy.
two members were soon in their seats, and PRO.
cecdings under the call were dispensed with.
Several attempts were then made by the Demo-
cratic members to postpone the matter until To-
morrow, but the House insisted upon acting
on the ,bs now " - snny -
Mctcalfe. 81 believe that the motive behind
the act was not altogether discreditablc, satA
plnmmer: .'ss 70 the Judgment which prompted
The speaker then suggested that perhaps ne
member from Stevens might have an explapar
Rcprescntative Metcalfe arose ana started 70
speak, but Tiliotson Of Pierce interrupted with
. point OF order that be was out OF order.
'.Hear him." Hear him. cried number o.
member. and the lengthy member fEom Pisrce
Metcalfe then told the story OF HIS arrival in
Olympia, and said he was then prepoe~eeeod II
caeins Hi M and Representstive Taylor to Tumvssss.
and when they returned Cslkius took him tneQ
private room and implored him, f0 0o0's ooko
vote VOTE for senator squire: Il wondered wksi Il II
meant" said Metcaifc.
The speaker narrated further the familiar hia
tory of the bribery. He said In cOnciuelon: X
cept what there II In IT, did that 70 An4 ~
whether he was trying 70 bribe me-. found -
Metcalfe abruptly concluded his ssassu.1
here. Upon an inquiry BY Do steieuef, Heecol3o
replied that he presumed his statement -
Houghton was the first intimation Of bribery:
several members here called fW the reAdtn4
of parts of the testimony, and the CLARK rad -
length the testimony OF 0etcalfo ana Ju01o
finished, and the House then adjourned m
til 7:30.
Anent the result Of the Clarke Metcolle inveo.
tigation, the following interview bg fos!.ln.
TKLLIsScER reporter with Colonel Ovfnos = o
peculiar interest:
Colonel owing. What has boom: Of yers z
fallen into innocu0us dseuetudsr
ssfuess it has"
"How 10 thatr'
Because the committee II nulhty.
'That's what have discovered aincs beoane
chairman"
.That's . something new"
'tMaybe il II, and maybe ~ u not"
Flpss an s1amnasos ns1li SSs q s'ss sscons ana
of article Of the state constttutio1 W1u e19y
you that they do not grant 70 the houen g -
legislature. separately or jointly. tne %I
sohs and papers. while IL y true tnek each
house may punish a. contempt acta Of ~ 0491r
bers, do not understand that the povM resene
Witnesses. COMMITTEES sppointeo x - ss1n a..
dicfsi power can oniy IS conferred by Iaw upoo
such tfibunsls or of3cou g have 10 expre0
grant Of Judicial power under ths eons'asa
@xm . undsr.s.na Inst y0sr ,syss.e'eafi'as
ssYes, Gfxs NJ oomuittoo wooN 10 h