The morning call., 1894-05-22
BUTTE THE MAN.
He Tried to Bribe Two
Senators.
INVESTIGATION IN SECRET.
All the Witnesses Instructed
Not to Talk.
JUST A BIT ON HIS DIGNITY.
The Major Would Not Testify I'm
less He Was Permitted to
Have a Lawyer.
JUST A BIT ON HIS DIGNITY

w AohA-NpAO-Ns may IL lie CUlD lullle6
to investigate the charges of bribery in the
Senate was on hand promptly at 10 o'clock
to-day in the room of the Committee of
Privileges and Elections. Senator Hunton
was at the meeting as witness. C. w.
Buttz sat without the doors of the commit
tee-rOom and made a written application
to be present. The committee sat in secret
session until 10 80. when Mr.. Hunton was
summoned 10 testify. Senator Hunton re-
NAMED with the committee about half an
hour, and after he emerged from the COM
mittee-rOom Eppa Hunton Jr. was called
and asked to state when he knew of the
alleged effort to brbe his father. lie was
detained only about fifteen minutes Both
witnesses were cautioned by Senator Gray
against giving the newspapers any report
of the proceedings, the Senator remarking
that when this branch of the inquiry should
be concluded the proceedings would all be
made public Both Senator Hunton and
his son stated that c. w. Buttz was the
man who had approached Senator Runton.
The narrative did not differ materially
from the story heretofore given to the
press by Senator HuntOn.
Kyle was before the committee more
than an hour. and was informed he would
probably be called again. He put the
committee in possession of all the infor-
nation in hispower. stating that he was
first approached by BuItz 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
10 reply 20 a question, Kyle said be was
confident ButtZ represented other parties,
and the proposition. if 1t had been ac-
cepted, would have been made good. Kyle
also stated that Buttz intimated to him
that if $4,000 was not enough he could
have almost any sum he would name, al
high as $4,000 The committee took a
recess for lunch.
The request of Major Buttz that be be
present while other witnesses were testi-
flying was denied. Buttz announced that
he wanted his attorney present when he
testified, and he is still anchored TO his de-
termination not TO testify unless he is fur
nished a copy of the testimony heretofore
given.
At 3:15 Buttz WAS called and his attorney
was admitted. The committee has been
considering the advissbility Of going to
New York to obtain portion of the testi-
mony in regard to the sugar allegations.
UuN VIC SOuIO AZ do uUL U5f0 Qps
cided upon.
Butsz was before the committee about
one hour. and was excused with the re-
quest that he be in attendance again to-
morrow. Butz said when be left the COM
mittee that he was sworn to secrecy, and
could not give word of the proceedings.
FragmentaTy references to the proceed
ings leave little room for doubt that when
the report of Buttz' testimony is pub
lished it Will make very racy
reading. he was confronted with
the statement that Senators KYLE
and Hunton had identified him as the man
who had attempted to corrupt them, and
having in his letter to Senator Hans
brough laid the responsibility for
this charge at the door OF
the newspapers and relieved the
Senator from all blame. he was placed In
a somewhat embarrassing position, and
the brief references to bis tes-
timOny indicates that he made an
effort to excuse himself and ex-
plain away the entire charge. He ex-
Dlcitly denied any intention on his part to
corrupt the Senators. 1t is also under
stood that he politely declined to answer
some of the most prominent questions put
TO him by members of the committee.
Other Witnesses of the af ernoon were
Duncan MacFarlane. Senator Kyle's clerk,
and James W. Walker, an attorney
of this city, who gave Buttz 4
letter TO Eppa Hunton Jr. Mr.. Walter
said that when Buttz had asked for a
letter to Mr. Hunton he had said
he wanted to employ him as an at
tOrney. and had given no other reason
for wanting to know that gentleman. Mr..
McFarlane told how, after Senator
Kyle had referred But,z to him, he had
talked with him and made notes of his
conversation. he confirmed Senator
Kyle's statements and said emphatically
that Butiz had made a direct proposition
to bribe the Senator to vote against the
tariff bill. He also submitted his notes on
his conversation with Buttz.