The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-22

WASHINGTON, May 2L-The committee
to investigate the charges OF bribery In the
senate were on hand promptly at III
o'clock in the room of the committee on
privileges and elections. Senator Hunton
was at the meeting as witness. Z. w.
Buttz sat without the doors OF the COM
} ,nittee room and made q written appllca-
ton to be present. The committee sat IN
secret session until 1870 when Mr.. Hun
ton was called to testify. Senator Hunton
remained with the committee about hall
an hour and after he emerged from the
committee room his son, Ephs Hunton, Jr-,
WAS called in aud asked to state
what he knew of the alleged
efforts to bride his father. He
was detained only about fifteen minutes.
Both witnesses were Cautioned by Senator
Gray against giving the newspapers any
report of the proceedings, the senator re-
marking that when this branch OF the in
Quiry should be concluded the proceedings
would all be made public Both Senator
Hunton and his son stated that Z. w.
Butiz was the man who had approached
erato- Hunten. The narrative did not
differ materially from the story hereto
fore given to the press by Senator Hunton.
Senator Kyle was before the committee
more than an hour and was informed
that he would probably be called again.
He put the committee In possession OF all
the information in his power, stating that
he was frst approached by Buttz about
two months ago with the proposition 10
vote against the tariff bill and recsivs pay
for his vote, the amount offered being Sl4.-
0O0 Ia reply to question, Senator Kyle
said be WAS confident Butiz represented
other parties and the proposition If 1t had
been accepted would have been made good.
Mr.. Kyle also stated that Buttz intimated
TO him that If sl4 ,0G0 WAS not enough he
could have almost any sum he would
name, as high AS SIS 900. The committee
took q recess for lunch.
The request of Major Buttz that he be
present while other witnesses are testify
Ing Was denied.
Buttz announced that be wanted his at
tornsy present when he testified. He still
anchored 10 his determination not to tes-
tlfy unless he is furnished "A copy OF the
testimony heretofore given.
At 3:l5 Buttz was called and his after
ney was admitted. The committee has
been considering the advisabfiity Of going
TO New York TO obtain portion of the
testimony In regard to the sugar allega-
lions but the ultimate course has not bsen
decided upon. The committee has sum-
moned James ". Walker. an attorney Of
Washington, d. c., TO appear before it.
He Is the man who gave Buttz the letter
Of introduction TO Senator Hunton's son.
BUTTE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Buttz was before the COMMITTEES about
IN hour and WAS excused with the request
that be 30 in attendance again tomorrow.
Mr.. Butsz said when be left the commit
tee he had been sworn to secrecy and
c'nld not reveal word of the proceed
inEs.
.5snator Gray also declined to give out
anything concerning Mr.. BUTTS testi-
mony. saying no summary of it could be
given that would not be Liable to do injus-
tice to Mr. Buttz and the case itself Frag-
Bsntary references to the proceedings
leave little room for doubt that when
the REPORT OF Dir. BUTTS testimony is
published il will make very racy reading.
Hs was confronted with the statement
that Senators Kyle and Hutton had
identified him as the man who had at
tempted to corrupt them, and having in
his letter to Senator Hansbrough laid the
responsibility for this charge ut the doors
of the newspapers and relieved the senator
from all blame, he was placed in a some
what embarrassing position and the brief
references to his testimony indicate that
he made an effort to excuse himself and
explain away the entire charge. He ex-
plicitly denied any intention on his part TO
corrupt the senators. 1t is also under
stood that he politely declined to answer
some of the more pertinent questions put
to him by members OF the committee.
Other witnesses Of the afternoon were
Duncan McFarlane, Senator Kyle's clerk.
and James w. Walker, an attorney OF this
city, who gave BUTTE "a letter to Epha
Hunton, Jr- Mr.. Walker said that when
Buttz hadSSsked for letter to Mr.. Hun
ton he had said be wanted to employ him
"a an attorney and had given no other
reason for wanting to know that gentle-
man. Mr.. McFsrlsne told how, after Sen.
ator Kyle had referred Buttz to him, he
had talked with him and made notes upon
his conversation. He confirmed Senator
kyls's statement and said emphatically
that But,z had made a direct proposition
10 brlbe the senator to vote against the
tariff bill. He also submitted his notes on
his conversation with Buttz.