The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-23
IN SECRET SESSION.
The Bribery Matter Is Being Investi-
gated.

gated.
WASHINGTON, May H.-The commit
tee to investigate the charges of bribery
in the senate was on hand promptly at
10 o'clock today in the room of the com
mittee on privileges and elections. Sen
atOr Hunton was at the meeting as a wit
ness. C. w. Buttz, with his attorney, was
without the doors of the committee room
and there was other expected witnesses in
the corridors. Mr. Buttz made a written
application to be present.
The committee sat in secret session I'M
til 1870 when Senator Hunton was sum-
moned to testify. Senator Hunton re-
manned with the committee about half an
hour. and after he emerged from the COM
mittee room the son, Eppa Hunton. jr.,
was called in, and asked 10 state what he
knew of the alleged effort to bride his
father. He was detained only about ff-
teen minutes. Both witnesses were eau
toned 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 the younger Hunton. The
narrative did not differ materially from
the story heretofore given to the press by
Senator Hunton.
Senator Kyle was before the committee
for more than an hour and he was in
formed that he probably would be called
again. He put the committee in posses
sion of all the information in his posses
sion 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. In reply to a ques-
ton Senator Kyle said he was confident
that Buttz represented other parties and
that the proposition if il had been ac-
cepted would have been made good. SEN
ator Kyle also stated that Buttz had in
timated to him that if $4,000 was not
enough he could have almost any sum he
would name. as high as $4,000.
The committee took a recess at 1
o'clock for lunch. Chairman Gray stated
that the committee had not yet formu-
lated any plans for the investigation of
the operations of the sugar trust in con-
nection with legislation in the senate.
When Senator Gray was asked what
the committee had determined to do in
response to Mr.. Buttz's request to be al
lowed to be present while other wit
nesses were being examined that he
might question them, he said the request
had been refused, as had a similar re-
quest from Senator Hunton to be present
when Butte should testify. Asked what
would be the effect of a refusal on
BUTTS part to testify, Mr.. Gray only
said that course on his part would ap-
pear against him in the published testi-
mony.
At o'clock Maj. Buttz was called but
after he had entered Chairman Gray told
him that he had been called a little too
soon, and to retire until a point which
was under discussion could be settled
Buttz announced that he wanted his at
torney present when he testified. He
still adhered to his determination not to
testify unless he is furnished a 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. A few minutes
later Buttz was called and his attorney
was admitted with him.
The committee has been considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of going TO New York
to obtain a portion of the testimony in
relation to the sugar allegations, but
the ultimate course has not been decided
upon.
The committee has summoned James
w. Walker. an attorney of Washing
ton, d. c., to appear before it. He is
the man who gave ButtZ the letter Of
introduction TO Senator Huntons son.
Maj. Buttz was the principal witness
during the afternoon. He was accom-
panied by his attorney. e. H MCGOWAN.
ButtZ was before the committee for
about one hour and was excused with
the request that he be in attendance
again tomorrow. Mr.. Buttz said when
he left the committee room that he had
been sworn to secresy and could not
reveal word of the proceedings.
Senator Gray also declined to give
out anything concerning Mr.. Buttz's tes-
timony. saying that no summary of it
could be given that would not be liable
to do injustice to Mr.. Buttz and the
case itself.
VIII Make Racy Reading.
Fragmentary references TO the pro-
ceedings leave little room for doubt that
when the report of the Buttz testimony
is published it will make very racy read
ing. He first demanded a transcript of
the report of the testimony of preceding
witnesses. but compromised by accepting
a proposition that the reporter should
read the portion of the testimony of the
other witnesses which reflected on him
in any way. He was thus 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 doors of the newspapers,
and relieved the senate from all blame,
he was placed in a somewhat embarrass-
ing position, and the brief references to
his testimony indicate that he made an
effort to excuse himself and explain
away the entire charge.
He explicitly denied any intention on
his part to corrupt the senators. 1t is
also understood 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 Buttz letter to
Eppa Hunton, jr. Mr.. Walker stated
that when BUTTE had asked for a letter
to Mr.. Hunton, he had said he wanted
to employ him as attorney in a land case
and had given no other reason for want
ing to know that gentleman. Mr.. Nc
Farlane told how, after Senator Kyle
had referred Buttz to him, he had talked
with him and made notes upon his con-
versation. He confirmed Senator Kyles
statement and said explicitly that Buttz
had made a direct proposition to bride