St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-13

mittee consists of Hon. F. M. Wilson.
chairman: Koerner, Underleak, l.
Cole and Wacek. They began their in
vestigation yesterday afternoon at the
capitol. The principle witness, Edwin
Baekus. of the Minneapolis Lumber
Exchange, occupied the stand during
the afternoon and swore to statements
that on their face were very unfaVOr-
able to Mr.. Markham. The com
mittee requested that the newspa-
pers make no report of the testimony
until the investigation is finished, MI
| Wacek dissenting from this request and
| two other members. MeSsrs. Underleak
and Cole. holding that in case of publ
| cation it should be stated that only one
| side of the testimony has as yet been
heard. Chairman Wilson, of the com :
mittee, said at the close of the afternoon
| session that, personally speaking. there
was nothing to conceal or keep from
| the public, but that he would leave the
request with the newspaper men. in &C.
| cordance with the motion that had oeen
passed, as follows: That the news
papers be requested to withhold the
publication of the investigation untll
the testimony is all in" ~.
On taking the stand Edwin Backps
| said he knew Mr.. Markham and was
familiar with the Wyman bill (out OF
| which this investigation arose.. but
before answering other questions, asked
| if he was to be compelled to answer
| whether he wanted to or not. He hoped
| it would not be necessary to go into de-
tails. for some things might come out
| unnecessarily. 'i'p
| Chairman Wilson informed the wit
| Mss that it was his duty to disclose
| everything, unless he chose to avail
himself of the constitutional right tc
withhold answers that would incrlmln-
| ate himself.
Witness said ne had no fear Of i'll
| eliminating himself, but desired to pot
involve any more people than was
necessary. He continued: "lf / am to
be raked over the Goals, may as well
make clean breast of the whole thing,
| l.
alton for others. L cannot give the exact
date of my first conversation with MI.
| Markham on this matter. 1t was at his
| desk in the house one afternoon
| after the bill was Introduced. MI.
| Markham said some of his con-
stitueDts were opposed to the
| bill. [ said: i don't believe your
constituents are opposed to the bill. |
| know most of them. He said petitions
had come in from the loggers opposing
| the bill. | admitted that, but called his
attention to the petitions being all in
one handwriting. Markham claimed
| that S. s. Brown had done good deal
toward his election, and was entitled to
consideration in connection with this
bill. Mr.. Markham said: It's going to
take some money to get favorable re-
port on this bill from the committee
Il said: i don't believe that will be
| necessary, as our cause is just. Ii any
one can demonstrate otherwise, would
be willing to have the bill withdrawn
| Markham told me the other side had
| put up money, and that it would take
money to offset it.
Money on ROth sides.
"Whodo you mean by the other side"'
asked Chairman Wilson.
4
Brown, but one of the Browns. l I'M
| derstood from Markham that $4,000 was
| about the sum from the other side,
| divided equally between four members
| of the committee. | asked him how
much money it would take to insure
getting a favorable report on the bill
| Markham said that 81, 200 would insure
| getting a favorable report from the
| committee. | told him didn't see how,
| if his constituents opposed the bill and
| Brown had put up money to defeat it, he
| could insure to turn the matter the other
| way. Markham said if any kick were
made he would claim that our arguments
were too strong, and that he couldn't gel
around them. ~
Mr.. BoggS here was recognized in Mr.
Markham's behalf, and took hand in
| the proceedings. Mr.. Markham lis
tened quietly to the statements.
| II said to Mr.. Markham" continued
| the witness, "that was only one of the
MANY men interested in the bill. and
would have to talk it over with others
| That was all that occurred at that time.
| No one else was present at these con-
yersatiOns. | had two or three talks
with him concerning the bill subsequent
to the one | have related. | met hin
at the Merchants hotel, and may
have talked with him about ways
and means, but nothing specific.
The second conversation was
lust after the committee on logs and
lumber had had session and heard the
Minneapolis lumbermen. Markham told
me that we (the Minneapolis lumber.
mem had put that case before the com
mlttee very plainly, and that one of the
committee wanted to vote OH the bill
that afternoon. He (Markham) didn't
favor that, but let it go over, saying, i
wanted to give you fellows chance, il
possible told him thought the bill
ought to go through without putting
any money into it, and Markham said
Il think that cannot be done.
Will Take 8 400.
to get favorable report from the com.
mittee. / told you that before, and now
tell you so again. | told him didn't
have much hopes of the lumbermen
doing that"
WAS that all?' The witness hesitat
ed, and said: mo; there was a little
more, and l would like to be excused
from that part"
do you refuse?"
| mo; fdon't like to put it that way