Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-20
LATE NEWS BY WIRE.
Report on the Virginia Senatorial
Investigation.
NO CANDIDATE USED WRONG METHODS.
Unanimously Approved by the Gen.
eral Assembly.


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND. Va, Dec. 2O.-The COM
mittee charged with the investigation Of
| the conduct Of the last election, as relating
| to the election of members Of the legisla-
| ture met again this morning. Very little
interest was manifested in the proceedings.
and nc thing new was developed.
Mr.. Decatur Axtell, vice president Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. submitted
a statement to be read, as he could not be
present to testify. In this statement he
said that 1t was with the greatest reluct-
ance that the railroads contributed any
money at all to the campaign. as far as he
knew, and that they only did so after ur-
gent requests from the state chairman and
other members of the executive committee
who stated that they were very much in
need Of funds fo- the campaign.
He also stated that he has no reason to
believe that the confidence reposed in Mr..
Barbour Thompson was abused.
Judge Bergman Green was sworn and
took the stand. He stated that he did not
know of any improper use of money or
other means in influencing the election of a
United States Senator from Virginia. He
desired to explain several articles which ap-
peared in the Times and of which he was
the author.
The article which appeared in that paper
under the nom de plume of "Civis," of
which he was the author, in regard to GER
tain rJ!mors afioat in relation to the use of
railroad money, he retracted.
This article was one that reflected upon
Chairman Ellyson, who was present while
Judge Green made his statement.
Judge Green stated to the committee and
chairman Ellyson that while ne had heard
from various quarters these rumors, that he
now did not believe in the truth OF Them
The committee was in session only about
three-quarters of an hour, and a motion was
fhA ohaAr.
witnesses the investigation should be clos
ed. which was agreed to.
At IL O'Clock the general assembly went
into joint session and announced the vote
Tor United States Senator's. Martin and
Hunton each received 120 votes, and Mai
Mann Page 10, the populists giving their
complimentary vote to the ex-president Of
the farmers alliance.
Report OF the Committee.
Following is the report of the investigat-
ing committee sbmitted to and adopted by
both houses of the general assembly this
morning: ITO the general assembly Of vir-
GINA: Your committee acting under the
joint resolution of the general assembly of
Virginia, adopted on the 18th day of Decem-
Der, 1893 Uhe committee here quotes the
resolution authorizing the Investigation and
says). we beg leave to report that in pursu-
ance of said resolution. have examined a
|
their evidence reduced to writing is here
with submitted. On a mature consideration
of all of said evidence and papers filed here
with we submit the result of said investiga-
ton.
First, that certain practices and acts
were proven connected with the election on
November Z, 1898, which they do not COM
mend. but such practices and acts were
without the consent or appreciation of any
candidate for the United States Senate and
not different from those resorted to in for
mer campaigns.
Second, that this evidence fails to show
that any improper method or means were
used by any candidate for the United States
Senate to influence the vote of the assembly
at the caucus held on December T. 1893, in
the hall of the house of delegates.
Third that the said evidence fails to show
that any candidate for the nomination of
United States Senator before the said eau
Gus held in the hall of the house of dele
gates on December Z, 1893, was guilty Of
using any improper methods or means in Sc
curing delegates or senator's in his or their
interest at the election held on the It'll day
of November, 1898.
Your committee recommend that they be
discharged from further consideration of
said resolution. Respectfully submitted
&C. E. Nicol, chairman G. A. Mushbach,
j. c. Green, Merritt T. Cooke, r. E. Boy
kin, II. H. Downing
Mr.. Nicol. in offering his report to the
house, said that when he was chosen
member or the general assembly, 1t was his
sincere desire that Gen. Eppa Hunton
should be elected to the United States Sem
ate for both the short and long terms, that
when he declined to let his name go before
the caucus for the latter place, his next
choice was for Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. In both
or these wishes he was grievously disap-
pointed.
He said that 1t was with great reluctance
that he went upon the committee and &C.
cepted the Craftsmanship Of that body. How
ever. ne was glad to state to the general
assembly that the committee had faithfully
performed their duties, and that no evil
dence had been brought before them that
showed that the election of United States
Senator was accomplished by any other
than fair means.
His remarks here received hearty ap-
plause.
The legislature adjourned today until
the list of January, 1894.