Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-05-25
BRIBERY INVESTIGATION.

Kyle, Hunton and Buttz Before the Sen.
ate Com mmitteea
WASHINGTON, May 21.-The commit
tee to investigate the charges Of bribery
in the senate were on hand promptly at
~ a. m. in the room of the committee
on privileges and elections. Senator
Hunton was at the meeting as a witness
and remained with the committee about
half an hour, and after he emerged
from the committee room his son, Epha
Hunton, Jr., was called in and asked
to state what he knew of the alleged eff
fort to bribe his father. He was de-
tanned only about 15 minutes. Both
witnesses were cautioned by Senator
Gray against giving the newspapers
any report of the proceedings, the sena-
tor rem marking that when this branch of
the inquiry should be concluded the
proceedings would all be made public.
Certain Buttz Was the Man.
Both Senator Hunton and his son
stated that G. w. Buttz was the man
who approached Senator Hunton. The
narrative did not differ materially from
the story heretofore given to the press
Dy senator dunCOn.
Senator Kyle was before the commit
tee for more than an hour and was in
formed that he would probably be
called again. He put the committee in
possession of all the information in his
power, stating that he was first ap-
preached 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. In reply to a question Senator
Kyle said he was confident Buttz repre-
sented other parties, and the PROPOSE
ton, if it had been accepted, would
have been made good.
Buttx on the Stand.
Major Buttz was the principal wit
ness during the afternoon. He was ac-
companied by his attorney, E. H. Nc
Gowan. Buttz was before the COM
mittee for about an hour and was
excused with the request that he be in
attendance again in the morning. He
said when he left the committee room
that he had been sworn to secrecy and
could not reveal a word of the proceed
ings, but fragmeatary references to the
proceedings leave little room for doubt
that when the report on Buttz' testi-
mony is published it will make very
sracy reading. He first demanded
transcript Of the testimony Of preced-
ing witnesses, but compromised by &C.
cepting a proposition that the reporter
should read portions ofithe testimony of
the other witnesses which reflected
upon him in any way. He explicitly
denied any intention on his part
To Corrupt the Senators.
II is also understood that he politely
declined to answer some of the more
pertinent questions put to him by men,
bers Of the committee. Other wit
snesses Of the afternoon session were
Duncan McFarlane, Senator Kyle's
clerk, and James w. Walker, an at
torney OF this city, who gave Buttz
letter to Epha Hunton, Jr. Mr..
Walker stated that when Buttz had
asked for q letter to Mr.. Hunton he 1
had said he wanted to employ him as
attorney in land case and had given
no other reason for wanting to know
that gentlem an. Mr.. McFarlane told
how, after Senator Kyle had referred
Buttz to him, he hal talked with him
and made notes upon his conversation.
He confirmed Senator Kyle's statement
and said explicitly that Buttz had made
q direct proposition to bribe the senalor
to vote against. the tariff bill. He also 1
submitted his notes on his conversation
with Buttz ;y
4. DOCKING DON'T GO.