The record-union., 1891-03-18
CASf-0FF VALUABLES.
Scraps of Paper on Which Regulations
May Depend.
The Contents of a waste-Basket Give
Rise to Rumors of Doodle in
the Legislature.

The liveliest legislative scandal of all
that have been hinted at since the present
Legislature assembled cropped out yes
terday at the Capitol. The circumstance
that gave rise thereto occurred shortly be-
fore noon, and within less than an hour
whispers concerning it were flying about
the corridors and legislative halls.
The stories were to the effect that gi-
gantic scheme of legislative bribery had
been unearthed, and that many members
of both branches of the Legislature were
implicated therein. Some of the rulnors
We're to the effect that the scandal involved
the Senatorial election, which naturally
lent unusual spice to the matter. Learn
ing that Senator Heacock was one of those
who knew something of the alleged de-
velopments, a RECoRD-UNIoN reporter
waited upon that gentleman in his seat at
the afternoon session, and asked him
what he knew of the affair.
The Senator, who is recognized as one of
the most conservative and reliable MEM
bers of that body, talked freely on the
subject. He said he was called into the
private Office of the State Librarian short
ly before the joint Senatorial Convention
met at noon, where he found Senator Nc
Gowan and few others discussing GER
tain matter that had just been developed.
He would state the facts briefly, as eX-
planned to him, without expressing any
opinion in regard to the various conclu-
sions that had been drawn therefrom.
He learned that Deputy State Libra
rian Leake had said that when he went
on duty in the forenoon he found large
quantity of waste paper torn into scraps
his waste haSEat nd his cnrinGity
was aroused thereby, as he was not aware
OF any person having used the office
since it was closed on the preceding night.
Mr.. Leake examined the torn papers
and found that they consisted in part
of fragments Of an assembly roll-call,
with the names of certain members
checked off in the manner that an ac
countant checks off items Oh his books.
Opposite these names were figures repre-
senting various sums of money. There
were also scraps of paper bearing writ
ings, and other slips that had evidently
been used to inclose packages of money,
bearing the marks of bank at Fresno,
and indicating that the sum of 81 900 had
been drawn therefrom.
These facts had been laid be-
fore certain Republican Senators. and
he (Mr. Heacock) was called in by them
to consult in regard to the significance
attached TO the interesting discovery. He
said the various bits of paper were spread
out upon a table and underwent eXamina-
ton by the gentlemen present. 1t was
claimed that some of the papers bore the
handwriting of Assemblymen Dibble
and Marion. and that the number of
members (all Assemblymen) checked off
amounted to forty-two.
Mr.. Dibble was interrogated in regard
thereto, and admitted that himself and
Assemblyman Marion were in the library
office in the morning, where they held u
consultation regarding the prospects of
the Riverside County bill. He denied
that the matter of the election of United
States Senator had anything to do with
their consultation, as some had inferred.
Senator Heacock said that Attorney
General Hart was sent for, the develop
ments laid before him for such action as
he might deem it his duty to take in the
matter, and the fragments of paper turned
over to him to await future developments.
When the Joint Senatorial Convention
met, he (Heacocll) went to Mr.. Dibble in
his seat and warned him that-in view
of the mornings developments, and the
suspicion that they might have bearing
upon the Senatorial contest-there must
be no election Of Senator at that time or
he would then and there lay the whole
matter before the convention and demand
an investigation. 1t was his desire, and
that of other Republicans, that the mat
ter be inquired into before the election of
Mr.. Dibble (who is the leader of the
anti -Estee forces) agreed that but one bal
lot should be taken and that no election
should be had at that time by the votes of
his followers.
Mr.. Heacock's statement was made to
the reporter while the Senate was dis
cussing the appropriation bill, and as
given above may be somewhat lacking
in detail, but is substantially correct
WHAT JUDGE DIBBLE SAYS.
Judge Dibbie was seen by a reporter
and said: Myself and Marion were
in the State Library this morning, and
we We're talking about the Riverside
County bill and other matters. We were
calculating upon the probable passage of
the bill, and at Marion's request l wrote
down list of the names of those whom
i thought were opposed to the bill. This
was probably the list that was found in
the basket"
''Were there any amounts attached by
you to the names ?' was asked.
None at all" was Mr.. Dibble's reply.
"The list had nothing to do with the Sen
atorial question. 1t is absurd to think
so, because among the names were those
of several men who have been voting for
Estee all along"
did you put anything in the basket
beside the list? Any wrappers for green
backs, or money, or any checks?"
NO" said Mr. Dibble "Nothing at
all of that kind. I never had any checks
on the Bank of Fresno in my life"
THE ATroRNEY-GENERAL's STATEMENT
TO THE NEWSPAPER MEN.
As soon as it became known that the
mysterious papers found in the waste
basket had been turned over to Attorney
General Hart, there was a general rush of
newspaper correspondents to his office,
and he was besieged by requests to favor
them with an inspection of the papers.
This Mr.. Hart firmly but courteously
declined to do. AS an answer to all in
quiries made of him in regard to the
affair, he drew up the following state
ment, which interyiewers were permitted
TO read and copy:
The papers which are in my possession have
been placed in my possession as Attorney
General of the State of California. Personally
do not know the contents of all of them.
Secondly. you can readily see that too much
ought not 10 be said by public officer, or even
by the despised newspaper reporter, about the
contents of the papers when there may be q
question as to who wrote them and also a
question to the Interpretation OF the
language used.
Thirdly, my judgment is that a disclosure at
this time of the contents of the papers would
have the effect perhaps, of defeating justice in
disclosing state of facts which might be
wiped out and Others substituted in their
place in localities other than Sacramento.
fourthly, that as TO what my duties are at
this moment of this hour, l do not know; that
II is a matter which | must consider in con-
neetion with the Governor and the Senators,
whom deem to be perfectly honest in every
respect, and AsSemblymen also.
1 VIII not at this time state what the papers
snow as to how much money has been used or
as 10 now much is to be used Ii is enough to
say that the papers disclose something that is
serious, and do not show on their face as to
whose interest the money has been spent, and
therefore conclusion upon that subject can
only De reached by knowing for whom the
parties mentioned have been voting for
United States Senator
My Judgment as Attornev-General is that