The herald., 1893-01-21
THE BRETT INQUIRY.
No Evidence Produced That Kcrns Acte
DishonorabIy.

No Evidence Produced That Kcrns Acted
DishonorabIy.
SACRAMENTO, Jan. 20 The special
committee investigating the charge OF
corruption in connection with the elec-
ton of United States senator held
session this morning 4aiht
Thomas O. Gator, Populist candidate
for senator, was summoned, but said be
mad nothing to say.
B. W. Batchellor, chairman OF the
county committee OF the Peoples party
of Los Angeles, testified that it was the
impression in Los Angeles last Monday
that Kerne wonld vote for White, and
he came to Sacramento Tuesday to urge
Kerns and Cannon to stand firm with
the Populists.
Bretz stated he had promised his con-
ststuents to vote for Democrat when
the hope of electipg Populist failed
He refused to retract his charges against
Kerns
Assemblyman Adams testified that
Kerns promised his vote for Gator for
| one day
Anumber Of other witnesses were ex-
amined as TO the agreements how they
would vote The general understanding
was that the Populists should vote for
Gator until released by the caucus
Assemblyman Jacobsen of Fresno,
testified that he had been approached
by certain Democrats to vote for White.
Patronage had been intimated in gen.
eral way, but no direct offers were made.
Recess.
Assemblyman Thomas of Santa Clara,
another Populst, understood that mem
hers had DO right to withdraw from
their allegiance without the consent of
the caucus. An ex-state treasurer.
whom witness named, had offered that
i appointed superintendent OF the San
Francisco mint he would remember
some friends of witness. If the latter
would vote for Democratic senator.
The person in question had not given
the source of his authority to make pro-
mises.
Assemblyman Barlow OF San Luis
Ooispo, strsight-out Populist, said he
pleaded with Kerns, prior to the final
ballot, to cast one vote for Gator, but
Krrns said it was too late.
Replying to questions of Vann, the
Popuis member of the committee,
Barrow said the reason why the pledge
was drawn up was purposely to find if
! there was Populist who preferred the
Democratic party to his own. The first
suggestion OF this pledge he heard from
Vaun.
Kerns was recalled and questioned by
Gator as to what conversations he had
with Cannon about patronage. Hesad d
Cannon thousht be would have a better
standing if White was elected. Cannon
mentioned no specific office of which he
would have the disposal When Cannon
announced to him that Goucher was abb
sent and would not vote, be did not say
witness must now vote for White. Wit
ness thought on the contrary that his
(KerneO vote was not necessary
Secretary Bachrech of the Alameda
Democratic county committee testified
hat Breiz called at county headquarters
before the election and announced that
his choice forsenator was Foote. Bretz
had said he didn't belong TO any partv.
as he had not voted for 20 years. Sub
stquently the Democratic candidate for
as-emblyman was withdrawn and Bretz
substituted The contingency of the
Populists placing senatorial candidate
in the field had not arisen at the time.
Bretz took the stand in his own be-
half and said that before the election he
had been promised by certain Demo-
Gratis that they wonld send him to con-
9ress if he would "stand in with them. -
Bre'z said this would show that they
didn't expect his vote absolutely. He
had rot agreed to vote with them abso-
lutely He consid red it a greater
wrong for one to betray his party when
party lines were drawn than to offer his
vote for patronage considerations where
party lines were lot drawn
The committee decided to defer fur.
ther action until p m. Monday. when
the stenogrspher will furnish q fun
transcript of the testimony taken.