Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-22
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
At Work on the Senatorial Bribery
Cases-HuRton, Kyle, aud Buttz NIX
amined.

At Work on the Senatorial Bribery
Caaes-HuGton, Kyle, aud Buttz Ex-
amined.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 21.-The
committee to investigate the charges OF
bribery In the Senate were on hand
promptly at 10 O'Clock to-day in the
room OF the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. Senator Hunton was at
the meeting at witness.
c. w. Buttz, with his attorney, was
without the doors Of she committee
room, and there were other expected
witnesses in the corridors. Mr.. BUTTE
made a written application to be pres
ent. The committee sat in secret sss-
sion until 1890, when Senator Hunton
was summoned to testify. Senator
Hunton remained with the com-
mittee about half an hour and
after he emerged from the COM
mittee room, the son, Eppa HuntOn,
Jr., was called in and asked to state
what be knew OF the alleged efforts 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 Hnnton and his son
stated that c. w. Butte was the man
who had approached the younger Hun
ton. The narrative did not differ ma
terially from the story heretofore given
to the press by Senator Hunton.
Senator Kyle was before the commit
tee for more than an hour, and ne was
informed that he probably would be
called again. He put the com mittee In
possession of all the Information
in his possession, stating that he was
first approached by Buttz about TIVE
months ago with the proposition to vote
against the tariff bill and receive pay
for his vote, the amount offered being
$14, 600. In reply to a question Senator
Kyle said he was confident that ButtZ
represented other parties, and that the
proposition, if it mad been accepted,
would have been made good. Senator
Kyle also stated that Buttz had inti-
mated 10 him that If $4,000 was not
enough he could have most any sum he
would name as big as SIS. 900.
At o'clock Major BUTTE was called.
He still adhered 10 his determination
not TO testify unless he is furnished 8
COPY OF the testimony heretofore given,
saying that the committee may send
him to Jail for eternity before he will
change his resolution on this point.
Buttz' attorney was with him. The
committee has summoned James w.
Walker, an attorney Of Washington,
D. c., to appear before it. He is the
man who gave the letter of introduc-
tion to Senator Hunton's son.
Major BUTTE was the principal wit
ness during the afternoon. BUTTE was
before the com mittee for about an hour
and was excused with the request that
he be In attendance again tomorrow.
Mr.. Buttz stated when he left the COM
mittee room that be had been sworn to
secrecy and could not reveal a word Of
the proceedings.
Fragmentary references TO the pro-
ceediugs leave little room for doubt
that when the report OF BUTTS testi-
mony Is published 1t will make very
racy reading. James w. Walker, an
attorney of this city, who gave BUTTE a
letter TO Epha Hunton, Jr., confirmed
Senator Kyle's statement and said ex-
plicitly that Butte had made direct
proposition TO bride the Senator TO vote
against the tariff bill. He also submit
ted his notes on his conversation with
RultZ