Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-21
TAKEN IN SECRET
The Testimony Before the Senate
Bribery Investigation Committee.
WITNESSES WHO APPEARED TODAY
Senator Hunton and His Son and
Senator Kyle Heard.
BUTTZ NOT YET CALLED ON

bOIIH NOI Ell CALLED ON
The committee to investigate the charges
of bribery in the Senate were on hand
promptly at 10 o'clock today at the room
OF the committee on privileges and cleo
ticns. Senator Hunton was at the meeting
as a witness. The committee temporarily
suspended operations to go into the Senate
to make quorum.
c. w. Buttz, with his attorney. was with
out the doors of the committee room and
there were other expected witnesses in
the corridor. Senator Kyle was in his seat
in the Senate chamber. Mr.. Buttz, through
his attorney, made verbal application to
be present and examine witnesses. Hear
ing nothing from 1t he then made a written
application to be present and sent 1t to the
committee. The committee sat in execu-
tive session until 1890, when Senator Hun
ton, who. with his son, had been waiting
ginning Of the session, was summoned to
testify.
Only One Witness mt "a Time.
When the Senator started into the COM
mttee room an incident occurred which
emphasized the decision of the committee
to have the proceedings entirely private
and to prevent one witness knowing what
another may have said. Senator Huntons
son thinking he had been summoned moved
| toward the door with his father but was
told by the doorkeeper that he could not
be in the room at the time his fathers ex-
animation was In progress. Senator Hun
ton remained with the committee about
half an hour and after he emerged from
the committee room the son. Eppa Hunton,
jr., was called in and asked to state what
he knew of the alleged effort to bribe his
father. He was detained only about if-
m yvnr
toned by Senator Gray against giving the
newspapers any report of the proceedings.
the Senator remarking that when tfTis
branch of the inquiry should be concluded
the proceedings would all be made public.
Testimony of senator Hunton and
His Son.
1t was learned from other sources that
both Senator Hunton and his son were ques-
toned very closely as to the effort at
bribery and the latter was required to give
as accurately as he could the language of
the man who had attempted the bribery.
Both stated. as Senator Hunton had hereto
fore declined to do. that c. w. ButtZ was
the man who had approached the younger
Hunton. The latter told also how he had
informed his father by letter from Warren
ton. Va, of the approaches that had teen
made, and the correspondence between the
son and father bearing upon the subject
was laid before the committee. In other
respects the narrative given by the two
gentlemen did not differ materially from the
story heretofore given to the press by Sen
ator Hunton.
Mr.. Buttx Receives No Answer.
At IL o'clock Mr.. Buttz had received no
answer to his demand to be present. He
said that IL the committee would give him
no opportunity to cross-exaInipe Witnesses
he would demand Transcript Of thestvi-
denee taken before he gave Ms testimony
and If 1t was not furnished he would refuse
to testify.
Senator Kyle Heard.
Senator Kyle was the next witness called
He was before the committee for more than
an hour and when excused was informed
that he would probably be called again. He
put the committee in possession of all the
Information in his possession. stating that
he was first approached by Buttz about two
months ago with the proposition to vote
against the tariff bill and receive pay for
his vote, the amount offered being $4,000,
as had been stated in the newspapers. In
reply to a question, Senator Kyle said he
was confident that Buttz represented other
parties and that the proposition, If 1t had
been accepted, would have been made good
Senator Kyle also stated that Buttz had
intimated to him that II that $4,000 was not
enough, he could have almost any sum that
he would name as high as $4,000.
The committee took a recess at o'clock
| for lunch.
What Senator Gray Says.
Senator Gray chairman of the committee,
being seen at that time, said the testimony
so far taken was not materially different
from that which had been established, ex-
cept that the facts were given more in de-
tail than they had been given to the
public through the press He stated that
Senator Hunton had said that Buttz had
not approached him personally at all, but
hat ha effort made
| against the tariff bill had been made
through his son, but that Senator Kyle's
testimony indicated specific offer to him
self from Buttz. The testimony of the
younger Hunton had also shown d definite
purpose of bribery. Senator Gray stated
that he thought the inquiry into the at
tempt to bribe Senators Hunton and Kyle
would be concluded within a day or two.
He also stated that the testimony so far
given had not placed the committee in
possession of any names of persons who
could throw light upon the question other
than those which have already been pub
lfshed In connection with the attempted
bribery, and that he knew of no witnesses
still to be called except Senator Kyle's
clerk and Major Buttz, who would be
asked to testify this afternoon. Chairman
Gray also stated that the committee had
not yet formulated any plans for the inves-
| tigation Of the operations Of the sugar
trust in connection with legislation in the
Senate.
Butts's Request Declined.
When Senator Gray was asked what the
committee had decided to do in response to
Mr.. Buttz's request to be allowed to be
present while other witnesses were being
examined. that he might question them, he
said the request had been declined, as had
a similar request from Senator Hunton to
be present when Buttz should testify. Ask
ed what would be the effect of a refusal on
Buttzs part to testify, Mr.. Gray only said
that course on his part would appear
! against him in the published testimony.
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