The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-17
GHOSTS OF RUMOR.
Metcalfe Wants Them to Be
Chased by . Committee.
RAILROAD BILL AGAIN TODAY.
The Rural Members Iurn Ont In Force
and Best che Cfties-To Abolish
1Toont sTacoma."

OLYMPIA, Feb. 16.-fSpecial. 1.-The mo-
notony of the Metcalfs investigation pro-
ceedings was broken today by the introduc-
ton In the House Of the following resolu-
ton by Representative Metcalfe himself:
Resofped, That the special committee appointed
TO investigate the charges Of bribery, - author
lied and empowered 70 take amy and all evidence
from any source whatever, tending to show that
money. or the equivalent OF money, was used or
attempted 70 Be used 70 buy votes in the late sen
atorial contest, whether the same relates TO the
specific charge made by the member from Stew.
Ems county or otherwise.
The report was adopted, Tiffany only
voting nay.
The other night. when the bribery COM
Mittee was in session, an attempt was
made by Representative Goldman to In
quire into the story told by Representative
Frame, about his approach by Atwood, the
phantom. who is claimed to have
offered him 5000. A majority Of the
committee ruled that the questions were
not pertinent, inasmuch as the committee
had been instructed only to investigate
the charge by Metcalfe against Clarke. 1t
appears now, however, that Metcalfe him.
self is anxious to find out what others
history of the campaign.
It had been expected that the committee
would make its report within two or three
days. The last testimony was taken to-
day, and the argument was to fol-
low. The plan was then for the
attempt to reach a conclusion. Of
course no one knows what that conclusion
would have been, but there is general
impression that the committee would have
radically disagreed. Now that new pow
ers and new duties are added, it is doubt
full il q finding can be made for some
time. and, indeed, the hearing might be
protracted indefinitely. The probability
is that the committee will object to con-
tinuing the matter further, having be-
come stated with the business Of invesfiga-
ton. and will ask the House to delegate
the duty to some other committee.
1t will be remembered that some time
since the Senate appointed committee of
three, with plenipotentiary powers, to in
vestigate the idle bribery rumors then so
current in the newspapers. The commit
tee seems to have found that it was sent on
q fools errand, and has done nothing.
The House committee will probably decide
what to do tomorrow.
The committee held long consultation
today and finished the taking of testi-
mony. Several witnesses were examined,
among them A. F. Burleigh, who sub
mitted an affidavit drawn by himself and
signed by Metcalfe on January 20, charg-
ing Clarke with bribery, upon which
1t was tho original intention to
arrest him. This is the testimony
Metcalfe desired to introduce. as showing
that his first idea was not to spring the
matter in the legislature. Senator Van
Houten and Representative Parrish testi-
fed that Metcalfe had told them of the
attempted bribery before the exposure in
the House. Clarke is anxious to have
his attorney, H. Y. Thompson, appear
until tomorrow noon 10 hear from Mr..
Thompson, and II he then signifies his in
tention of arguing the case he will be
given several days to appear; 9TH
erwise the Clarke Metcalfe case viii
be submitted and considered without
argument. The Metcalfe resolution in the
House today has started anew rumors Of
several weeks ago. There is much specu-
lation as to what the House committee
will do and what will be the outcome.
The extra session talk has been revived
again, and its necessity has been urged by
some who claim that the vast amount Of
important legislation now before the legis-
lature cannot possibly be disposed of in
the ensuing three weeks. Acting Cover
nor Laughton said tonight:
l say again, az have heretofore, that am
strongly opposed to an extra session, and l will
not call one unless there exists some extraordi-
nary reason for so doing
Ferry county will not be created by this
legislature, notwithstanding the unani-
nous vote Of the committee on that bill.
The House committee on counties have de-
cided against it, and the same committee
will report adversely upon Sherman and
Palouse counties. The chances of the Gre
alton OF aQy new counties are exceedingly
meagre.
There was to have been a railroad caucus
of Western members, but it did not mater
ialize. It is generally agreed, however, to
make concerted fight upon the Fellows
bill, and if its defeat is secured,
to decide upon some course Of
action afterwards. 1t cannot be
disguised that the Western members were
worsted in today's fight, and the West
side will not go into the battle tomorrow
with the confidence it should have after
the victories of last Friday and Saturday.
If there is full attendance of members,
however, the odds are greatly against the
farmers.
The Sunday recess extended beyond the
time of meeting of the House this morn
ing, and when that body convened at 10 80
less than q quorum responded to the roll
call. No one raised the point of no
quorum, however, and the business of the
House proceeded in the usual manner.
After the minutes were read Plummer
moved to take up the code bills, but
Hutchinson wanted to amend to 60 into
committee of the whole TO continue con-
siderarion of the railroad bills. The latter
motion was ruled out of order, and it was
discovered further that the code bills were
already special order for this morning,
and accordingly Plummer withdrew his
motion. One OF the code bills was taken
up, but Hutchinson did not propose to
have the House consider anything else
but the railroad business, and he moved to
lay the bill on the table. There was no
second, and the bill was placed on its final
passage. There were only twenty-eight
Alternatives, and the bill was therefore
lost. Plummer moved call of the House,
which was carried. Plummer then moved
To adjourn, which was lost. Upon recon-
slderation the code bin was passed.
Hutchinson again moved to suspend the
special order, but got no answer The on-
lection to consideration of these bills then
subsidized. and the House passed several
In succession. The remainder of the bills
were then made a special order for
O'Clock p. m. Wednesday.
Hutchinson's triumph came in the after
noon. There was q poor attendance of
members from the west. and the eastern
members Tor once had things their own
way. In the afternoon Sniveiy moved to
go into committee of the whole to consider
the railroad bills, but withdrew it on ac-
count of irregularity. Later he renewed
the motion, and TO the surprise of almost
everybody the motion was carried-o4
yeas, - nays. In committee Sniveiy
moved TO report the bill back to the House