The record-union., 1894-05-17
Rumored Use of Money to Innu-
ence Action on the Tariff.
THE SENATE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE
THE MATTER.
New Plan Introduced In the House for
the Completion of the Nicaragua
Canal by This Government-Rulin
by Acknowledgement Olney In Re-
lation to the Right of Chinese Mer-
chants Who Left This Country
Prior to November to Land.
Special to the REcoRp-UNIoN


WASHINGTON, May 16.-Lodge intro
duced in the Senate a resolution authoriz-
ing the appointment of five Senators to
investigate the charges of attempted
bribery of Senators in connection with
the pending tariff bill, and also the
charges published in the Philadelphia
Press Monday morning, containing ale
cations relating to the influence of the
sugar trust upon tariff legislation.
AT the request of Cockrill the resolu-
tion was laid upon the table until to-mor-
row.
Rumors of the use of money to infiu-
ence action on the tariff bill have been
frequently circulated. but heretofore re-
ceived little attention. 1t is learned defi-
nitely to-day that intimations that a
money consideration could be secured for
votes against the tariff have been made to
the clerks of Senators Kyle and Hunton
by North Dakota lobbyist, formerly a
member Of Congress from a Southern
State, and who had been identified with
the pet-baggers.
1t was represented Kyle received S14.
600, and $4,000 to be retained by the 60
between as commission.
Mcfarland Kyle's clerk, promptly in
formed Kyle, who is now in South Do
kota, and he will return to Washington
Saturday. 1t is scarcely possible that any
syndicate controlling the money neces-
sary to attempt the purchase of votes
would intrust it to the men who ap-
preached the clerks.
Senator Hunton talked freely to-day
about the attempt to bribe him to vote
against the tariff bill. The matter first
came to his attention about a month ago
through letter from his son, dated at
Warrenton, Va, the home of the Senator
and his son. He Immediately laid the
matter before six or eight of his most in
innate 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 that ali the ne
gotiations, if the proceedings may be
called such, were conducted through his
son.
The would-be briber, the Senator said,
went to Waarenton early nApril, carry
ing letter of introduction from a man in
Washington, whom Mr.. Hunton did not
know any better than the man he intro
duced. lie professed to want to employ
Mr.. Hunton as an attorney in a land case
in which he was interested. After talking
a short time on this topic he brought up
LD6 LdT1l Dllls 10 WnlCu u0 Was OppOSou.
He said that the bill never would pass,
and that there was an argument to be
brought against the bill which had not
vet been used, but which would dispose
of it etfectually. Asked by Mr.. Hunton's s
son what the argument was, he said he
would give it to him ii he would send it
to his father. He then proposed to pay
Senator Hunton $4,000 for his iopposition
to the tariff bill, and Mr.. Hunton imme-
diatQiu n fOrfnad his father Of tho nrOnO-
sition.
Ibid you think the proposition was
made in earnest?" the Senator was
asked.
MY son is satisfied that it was, and
furthermore [ am satisfied that 100000
would be paid if it had appeared that the
sum would secure the coveted vote"
Senator Hunton said the negotiator did
not say whom he represented. THE
money" he said, twas not to be paid un-
til the vote had been cast"
Senator Hunton said that he did not
propose making an investigation. L
have" said he, put the matter in the
hands of my friends, but I had not in-
| tended asking for an inquiry, because [
| had supposed that my reputation was
such as TO need no support an investiga-
ton would develop. Ii, however, an in
vestigation 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 understood that
| he went to Virginia as a carpetbagger,
and attempted to secure nomination for
! Congress, but failed. He had then gone
| to South Carolina, where he had been
nominated and sent to Congress. serving
| one term. He said that he had no objec-
| ton to giving the name of the man, ex-
| cept that if there was TO be an inquiry he
| thought it proper that it should be first
given to the Committee on Investigation.
| 1t is understood that Senator Kyle has
record of the alleged bribers' converse
| ton aud proposition. He was approached
direct, but he turned the fellow over to
! his private secretary, with instructions
| to take full notes upon all that he said.
| Mr. McFarlane, Senator kyle's clerk, re-
! fused to say anything further than to
acknowledge that the offers were made,
and that when the investigation is ordered
! he will tell 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.
The person to whom the description OF
! the would-be corruptionist best applies
| is Major A. b. Bultz of Bultzyille, n, ID.
| He was once a member Of Congress from
/ South Carolina, and now follows the oc-
cupation OF farming. He has spent con-
! siderable time in Washington OF late in
lobbying. His principal efforts have
| been to reopen up the toWnslte OF Great
| Falls, Mont.
| Ex-Representative G. w. Butts oil
! Bultzville, n. D.. whose name was men
/ toned in an alleged attempt to purchase
| the votes of Senators Kyle and Hunton
on the tariff bill, has asked a full investi-
! cation at the hands of the Senate OF the
/ charges made against him. Major Bultz
called on Senator Hansbrough of North
! Dakota late this evening and asked for
! advice as to what he had better do. He
/ made a general denial of the charges
made against him, and said he wanted a
rigid investigation of them. He was not
willing to rest on the possibility of the
passage of the Lodge resolution calling
Tor an investigation of the bribery alleged
and of the influence of the sugar trust on
the makeup of the tariff, but told the
senator he wanted personal investiga-
ton as speedily as possible. He SAID he
| had both reputation and interests which
were suffering, and that he wished to
have a chance to clear himself. In his
interview with the Senator the details oi
the bribery charges were not gone over,
but Major Bultz' denial was emphatic
and absolute. MIR. Hansbrough finally
advised the eex-Congressman to write him
! letter asking for personal investiga-
ton, and agreed to place it before the
Senate. This Major Bultz agreed to do
! Senator Hansbrough expects to receive
the letter and present it in the Senate to-
morrow.
Utah Admission Bill.
| WASHINGTON, May 16.-The Senate
| Committee on Territories authorizes the