The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-05-24
A WASHINGTON SENSATION.
Reported Attempt to Bribe Senators to
 Vote Against the Tariff Bill.

Reported Attempt to Bribe Senators to
 Vote Against the Tariff Bill.
 WASHINGTON, May 17.-Rumors of the use of money to influence action one way or the other on the tariff bill ous times during the past few months, but heretofore have been confined merely to rumors. It was learned definitely to-day, however, that the clerks of Senator Kyle, of South Da- kota, and Hunton, of Virginia, had re- ceived intimations that money con- sideration could be secured for the votes of their chiefs against the tariff bill. Whether the alleged briber had any authority for his promise is mat ter of some doubt.
 Tho intimations came from a North Dakota man known as a lobbyist for several schemes, formerly member of congress from the southern states and Identified with the so-called carpetbag movement.
 The amount which it is said Senator Kyle was offered was S14,OOO, $1, 1000 to be retained by the man making nego- tiations as a commission. Mir. McFar- lane, clerk to Senator Kyle, says the matter never went any further than an intimation. He promptly informed Senator Kyle. The latter is now in South Dakota and will return to Wash ington Saturday.
 Senator Hunton talked freely to-day about the attempt made to bribe him. The matter first came to his attention about month ago through letter from his son, dated at Warrenton, Va, He immediately laid the matter before several of his most intimate friends in the senate, that they might know what was going on. He never saw the man who offered the bribe; declined to give the mans name, but said that all the negotiations, if the proceedings could be called such, were conducted through his son. The briber went to Warren ton early in April carrying a letter of introduction from man in Washing ton whom Mir. Hunton did not know any better than the man he introduced. He professed to want to employ MT. Hunton as an attorney in land case in which he was interested. After talking for a short time on this topic, he brought up the tariff bill to which he was opposed He said that the bill never would pass and that there was an argument to be brought against the bill which had not yet been used, but which would dispose of it effectually. Asked by Mir. Hunton's r,,hnt tho hn SatH he would give it to him if he would send it to his father. He then proposed to pay Senator Hunton S25, 900 for his opposition to the tariff bill, and Mir. Hunton immediately informed his father of the proposition.
 "Did you think the proposition was made in earnest?" the senator was asked.
 My son is satisfied that it was, and furthermore, am satisfied that S1OO,- 900 would be paid if it had appeared that that sum would secure the coveted vote"
 Senator Hunton said that the nego- tiator did not say whom he represented. "The money" he said, twas not to be paid until the vote should be east"
 Of the man who had offered the bribe, Mir. Hunton said that he went to Virginia as a carpetbagger and att ten pted to secure a nomination for con yress, but failing went to South Carolina, where he was nominated and sent to congress, serving one term. He had no objection to giving the name of the man except that if there was to be an inquiry he thought it proper that it should be first given to the committee of investigation.
 It is understood that Senator Kyle has record of the alleged briber's con versation and proposition. He was ap- preached directly but turned the fel- low over to his private secretary under instructions to take full notes upon all that he said. Mir. Farlane, MT. Kyle's clerk, refused to say anything further than to acknowledge that the offers were made and says that when the in- vestigation is had he will tell all about it and will give the name of the man offering the money and what he said. The man told him he represented New York parties, but whether or not he gave their names cannot be learned. '