The morning call., 1893-03-03
JOHNSON CLEARED.
The Investigation Committee Reports
in His Favor.


in His Favor.
SACRAMENTO, March 2-The following
majority report of the Johnson InvestCat-
ing Committee was read in the Assem- bly,
this afternoon:
MIR. Speaker: Your committee to whom was
referred the following resolution, to wit:
ReSolued That a comDittee Of five be appointed
by the Speaker OF the Assembly to invest gate the
charges made through the columns Of the San
Francisco Chronicle against Assemblyman II. H
johnson, beg cave 10 report as follows:
On calling the committee TO order Messrs
McPlke and Cune appeared as counsel for
Assemblyman II. II. johnson and BIessrs.
Richards aud ShOriridge appeared as counsel
for j. w. Rea. Your committee has given the
matter the most careful and exhaustive consid-
GRAFTON. having allowed the widest margin in
the examination of Witnesses aud admission OF
testimony and have listened 10 Arguments In
the premises. For such investigation and con-
Sideratlon we find that the charge made by
J. W Rea against Assemblyman H. H. johnson
OF Offering 10 sell his vote for 500 In the matter
OF the Railroad Commission and other subjects,
aud 10 secure the votes of other members of the
Assembly for like consideration, mas not been
substaniated by tie evidence adduced, such
evidence not being sufficient TO remove from the
minds of your committee all reasonable doubt as
10 The truth OF SAID charge; that the testimony In
support OF said charge seems to have beea
largely bias by business connections or pOllt-
cal affiliations 10 such extent that Il has not
brought the weight OF conviction: that sufficient
motive seems to have been lacking on The part
OF johnson in the offer charged. and the proba-
bility small that an offer 10 Include others In
such a transaction would have been made with
out communication with or acquaintance OF such
persons; that the charge as made was malicious
irasmuch said j. w Rea testified that tie
same would not have been made but for the fact
that certain acts of said Rea as Railroad Com
missioner were about TO come before lie Legis-
!aiuFe for consideration, and We tind that it was
for ths purpose Of Illuminating the said johnson
and members Of The Assembly that such charge
was made, and not for the purpose of bringing
the guilty 10 Judgment.
Therefore. in view Of the circumstances sur
rounding said charge, the personal and political
bias In tile character OF the Testimony by which
said charge was sought TO be suBstantated The
malice shown TO The bringing OF such charge by
lie said j. w. Rea, the apparent lack OF suffi-
cient motive and mprobabity OF such action
on the part OF Assemblyman H.. H johnson,
your committee. sitting not only as Judges but
IN capacity similar 10 that OF 4 jury sworn 10
render an impartial verdict where the life or lib.
erly Of an individual is at stake and yaIulng
reputation at little | SIS than either. ana bound
10 give the defendant the benefit Of any reasou-
able doubt, find that Assemblymsn H. Il. john
son did not offer TO sell his vote to said j. W.
Rea for $780, or for any other consideration in
the matter Of the Railroad Commission and other
subj els. nor did he offer TO secure the vote OF
any other member OF The Assembly for or In be-
half OF j. W. Rea for any purpose whatever. e.
w. MOrdecai (cbaIrman), Robert w. Bulla NJ. j.
Hurley, William Bendrickson.
The discussion and disposition of the re-
port was made special order for tomorrow
Bledsoe has a lengthy minority report,
which will be presented tomorrow.