The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-17
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION
A Sensation Sprung in thl
Senate.
Money Introduced Into thu
Tariff Fight.
Attempts to Bribe Senators Kyh
and Hunton.
Large Sans offered for Votes AgAina
the Tariff BnI-The Would he
Brlber Demands an In.
vestigat
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
WARRINGTON, May Ex-senator Lodge
introduced in the senate today resolu'
tion authorizing the appointment d
five senators to investigate the charger
of attempted bribery of senators in con,
nection with the pending tariff bill, ans
also the charges published by the Phila
delphia Press on Monday morning, con
tanning allegations relating to the innu
ence of the sugar trust upon tariff legis
lation.
At the request OF Mr.. Cockrsll, the
resolution was laid upon the table until
tomorrow.
Rumors OF the use OF money to infu
ence action on the tariff bill have beer
circulated, but heretofore received little
attention. 1t was learned definitely to-
day that intimation that q money con-
eideration could be secured for votsi
against the tariff bill have been made to
the clerks Of Senators Kyle and Hunton,
by North Dakota lobbyist, formerly 9
member of congress from q southern
state, and who was identified with the
carpet baggers. 1t was represented that
AylO Wob W soCOiFO PlIsOOOs anu plV3VVe
be retained by the go-between as his
commission. McFarlane. Kyle's clerk,
promptly informed Senator Kyle, who Ia
now in South Dakota, and will return to
Washington on Saturday. 1t ia scarcely
possible any syndicate controlling the
money necessary to attempt the pur-
chase OF votes would entrust it to the
man who approached the clerks.
Senator Hunton talked freely today
about the attempt made to bribe him
to vote against the tariff bill. The
matter first came to his attention about
a month ago through letter from his
con dated at Warrenton, Va. the home
of the senator and his son. He imme-
diately laid the matter before six or
eight Of his most intimate friends in the
senate, that they might know what was
going on. The senator says he never
saw the man who offered the bribe, and
he declined to give the mans name, but
said all the negotiations, II they might
be called such, were conducted through
his son.
The would be bribsr, the senator said,
went to Warrenton early in April, car
rying letter of introduction from a
man in Washington whom Mr.. Hunton
did not know any better than the man
he introduced. He professed to want to
employ Mr.. Hunton as an attorney in a
land case in which he was interested.
After talking q short time on this topic
he brought up the tariff bill, to which
he was opposed. He said that the bill
never would pass and that there was an
argument to be brought against the
pill which had not yet been used, but
which would dispose of it effectually.
Being asked by Mr.. Hunton's son what
tie argument WAS, he said he would
give it to him If he would send it to his
iather. He then proposed to pay -Sena-
tor Hunton $75, 900 for his opposition to
the tariff bill, and Mr.. Hunton immedi-
ately informed his father of the PROPOSE
ton.
Ibid you think the proposition was
made in earnest?" the senator was
asked.
"My son is satisfied that 1t was and.
furthermore, am satisfied that 500. 900
would be paid if it had appeared that
the sum would have secured the coveted
vote"
Senator Hunton said the negotiator
did not say whom he represented.
The money" he said, twas not to
be paid until the vote had been cast"
Senator II unton said that he did not
purpose making an investigation.
81 have" said he, "put the matter
into the hands of my friends, but I
had not intended asking for an inquiry,
because l had supposed that my repu-
tation was such as to need NO support
an investigation would develop. If.
however, an investigation is undertaken,
| shall be glad TO furnish all the facts in
my possession.
Discussing the man who had offered
| the bribe, he said that he had under
stood that he went to Virginia as a
carpet bagger and attempted to secure a
nomination for congress. but failed. He
mad then gone to south Carolina, where
he had been nominated and sent to con-
gress, serving one term. He said that
he had no objection to giving the name
OF the man, except that il there was to
be an inquiry he thought it proper that
it should be first given to the committee
of investigation.
II is understood that Senator Kyle has
record OF the alleged briber's conver.
sation and proposition. He was ap-
preached direct, but he turned the fell
low over to his private secretary, With
instructions to take full notes of all that
ne said.
McFarlane, Senator Kyle's clerk, re-
fused to say anything farther than to
acknowledge that the offers we're made,
md that when the inv-stigation ia or
dered he Will tell all about it and give
the name OF the man offering the money,
The man told him he represented New
York parties, but whether or not he
gave their names cannot be learned.
rhe peraon to whom the description o
the alleged would-be corruptionst bsst
applies is Major @. w. Buttz Of Buttz
vile, N D. lie was once member o
congress from South Carolina, and nov
iollows the occupation of farming. Iii
has spent considerable time in Washing
on of late in lobbying. His principa
efforts have been to reopen a contes
over the townsle at Great Falls, Mont
Elk xRepresentatise Buttz. wlose nam
WAS mentioned in connection with til
alleged attempt to purchase the votes o
| Senators Kyle and Hunton on the tariI