St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-14
DOODLE, OR A BLUFF.
The Committee Is Trying to
Find What Markham In
tended
When He Said 1t Would Cost
$1,000 for a Favorable
Report.
Additional Witnesses to Whom
He Made the CabaliStlc
Remark.
Something Back Of 1t All
Which SaauS Hard to
Something Back Of 1t All
Which Seems Hard to
Get At.

Some of the members of the commit.
tee which is investigating the charges
against Representative Markham of
accepting money for trying to change
the tactics and course OF House
File No. IS, commonly called the
Wyman bill, seemed to be very enthusi-
astic yesterday in the pressing of the
charges, while some of the others APP
peared to be friends of the accused and
did not care to convict him.
The committee met in the morning at
10 O'Clock, according to previous adj
| journment, but as none of the witnesses
were present. another adjournment was
taken until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Just as they were preparing to take the
adjournment Mr. Cole, whose initial of
''r." has won for him the title of Gold
Tea," stepped up to Mr.. Wacek and in
ansabrupt tone asked:
"What business have you got to go
over to Minneapolis and go shopping
around among the witnesses to find out
what they have to say?"
Mr.. Wacek drew his manly proper
tons up to the full extent, and replied
with some heat:
because it is my ddty as citizen, as
member of this committee and a
duty to my constituents. 1t my duty as
man to investigate in thorough and
sincere manner with frown towards
the questioned any charges of fraud.
The laws could be better enforced and
respected more if others --others! with
another frown would do the same"
Then he walked ont ofthe hall and
no one said another word about the
| matter.
In the afternoon the committee was
called to order at O'Clock. bat it was
some time before they could get to
WORK. They desired the presence of
Mr.. Pray before the committee in order
to have some explanation made of the
charges made by Mr.. Farr, but no an
Swer had been received to the dispatch
which had been sent early in the morn
ing. Mr.. Farr was again placed III the
witness chair, and the questioning was
resumed.
| y
Pray, and he said his uncle desired
something. Then you received a letter
from the uncle. What were the contents
of the letter." asded Mr.. KOerner.
This was objected to because it was
alleged by the chairman that it would
not be in fairness to the absent man,
Mr.. Pray.
where is the letter?' asked Mr..
Wacek.
at is destroyed" replied Mr.. Farr.
"Did any one else read the letter?''
Eyes, sir"
"Who were they?
This was objected to because the fail
ure of the witness TO produce the letter
would not admit it i'll evidence at that
time, in the absence of MIR. Pray. Mr..
Farr then said he had called at the
capitol in answer to the letter to see Mr..
Pray, and that MIR. Wyman and the
nephew of Mr.. Pray had come out into
the hall. lie did not see Mr.. Pray, and
had no other conversations, except
through the nephew. The chairman
did not deem it proper to introduce the
conversation with the nephew as to his
competence to act as the representative
of his uncle. Mr.. Farr was very willing
to answer, and seemed very DESTROYS OF
telling everything about Mr. Pray and
the demands which had come from the
nephew, but he was not allowed to
talk. He said he had not been asked
for money by any of the other members
of the committee. Wacek demanded to
know why the witness could not answer
the questions put, but Chairman Wilson
said it would not be in fairness to Mr..
PRAY, as he could not be held responsible
for the acts of his nephew.
after the receipt of the letter from
the uncle, was it not proof that the
nephew was authorized to make ar
rangements ?" asked Mr.. Wacek.
Mr.. Lane, who happened to be in the
room, was appealed to- but he said he
should not suppose the testimony
proper.
II don't see any use in continuing
this" said Mr.. Cole.
81 believe that is all, Mr.. Farr," said
the chairman, and Mr.. Farr reluctantly
left the room.
| MIR. Wacek said he would demand a
subpoena for Dave Willard, and Mr.
Koerner said he wanted information as
to the reason for the non-attendance of
W. l.. Bassett. The sergeant-at-arms
was sent for, and instructed to go after
Mr.. Bassett. The committee then took
a recess until 4 o'clock.
When the committee was called to
order again at 4 O'Clock, it was an
| nounced that number OF witnesses
were in the next room under the charge
of a couple of assistants to the sergeant
alarms to prevent their exit by the fire
escape. Ray w. Jones was the first one
to be called in, and he made good wit
ness in the matter of answering ques-
tons. He said he lived in Minneapolis,
was familiar with the Wyman bill, and
had been in conversation with Mr..
Markham on the subject of the bill.
about the latter part of December oil
the first part of January we held a
meeting of the lumbermen in Mime
J apolis," be said. THE bill was read
: over and commented on, and the ques.
ton was asked: Who of the Hennepin
delegation would be suitable to act OIL
the committee, and who outside of the
committee would be in favor of the bill:
! | suggested MI. Markham as being in
favor of the bill. | was appointed tt
communicate with him to see if he was
. in favor of the bill. Soon after Jan.
he called on me and said he
was in favor of the bill. Ii
the same afternoon he met severa
: lumbermen and stated that he saw nc
objections to the bill. L did not see him
' again until | heard that he had been APP
pointed on the committee on logs anC
lumber. About February | met hin
I and heard that he was adverse to the
bill. was surprised, as he had prom
= ised to favor the bill. | saw him and
| asked him how the bill was coming on
He said that some were not in favor o.
the bill and that some money would bt
required to carry it through. l asked
a him how much it would take. and he re-
y piled that he had spent considerable o.
his money Oh the land and tax bill. HI
y did not say right out that he wanted
! money for the bill but said it would taxi
!, about $1,000. then reported to Nelson
and Backus that we must use money
i Mr.. Koerner then asked if that wa:
/ the only time he had talked with Mark
y ham about money in connection witt
y the bill.
ut was the only time we talked abou
' money" was the reply with strong &C
i cent OH the word talk.
v Mr.. Wacek then asked whether thu
! witness had conversed with MARKHAM
! about w neither the other side had uset