Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-25
Report Of the Senate Bribery In
vestigating Committee.
SENATORS HUNFON And KYLE FREED
From Anything That Tends to
lmpeach Their Honor.
SOME QUEER TESTIMONY

uuenceS being used In connection with the
sugar schedule. was submitted to the Sen
ate today. far as concerns the attempted
bribery OF Senators Hunton and Kyle. The
committee IN its report says:
TT appears from the testimony submitted
that a certain Charles W. Buttz of North
Dakota but domiciled in Washington since
December last, where he has been engaged
as a lobbyist and claim agent did on or
about the 1st Of April of this year. at the
house of Senator Hunton, in warrenton,
Va, during the absence Of the Senator say
to his son, Eppa Hunton, jr., that he would
pay him a contingent fee of $4,000 IL he
would. by presenting arguments as to the
pending tariff bill. induce his father, Senator
Hunton. to vote against It,
This offer was declined at once. and per-
emptorfy. by Eppa Hunton. jr.. as set
forth In his testimony, and the whole mat
ter was communicated by him to his father
Senator Hdnton availed himself Of the first
opportunity TO disclose the matter to certain
OF ms friends In the Senate. as appears in
the testimony. and was in no other way
connected with the transaction.
II Is also established by the testimony
that tre same Charles w. BUTTE. during the
nOntn OF March last past approached san
ator Kyle of South Dakota with a rrrSn,S N.
llon tnat $4,000 would be paid to him f1e11-
ator Kyle If he would vote again ar Aha
~ ,L,sI. oliI Tne said BUTTE, when making
s thls proposition. also stated to Senator KyIe
tnat the money was in the hands or control
OF an agent OF certain bankers and car1tal-
was in Washington
Senator Kyle's testimony is confirmed nv,
that or Mr.. Duncan McFarlane. clerk 10
the committee Cn education and labor.
. senator Kyle is shown by the testimony
- nave communicated this interview with
buttz. and the offer made to him to sev
eraI senators shortly after the said inter-
view took place
IN stating that the facts above recited ba vs
peen established by the evidence notwitb-
standing the denial on the part Of Charles
W buttz and they refer the Senate to the
ing. '''iS ii'iu-
Your committee find nothing from their
Investigation to impeach, in the least de-
Hunton and Kyle
Inere Is no evidence to show the truth
OF Mr. Buttzs statements to Senator Kyle
ana 10 Nj Eppa Hunton. jr., that a syn
Clcate or bankers and capitalists had raised
sum OF money to be used for the purpose
OF defeating the pending tariff bill. or that
tnere was an agent OF such a syndicate in
W-astlingtoh' or that any money was in
washington for that purpose Buttz de-
nies that he made any such statements. or
that he had or has any knowledge of the
existence or such syndicate. or that he
himself"
The Testimony Taken.
The testimony taken before the committee
IN the Hunton and Kyle matter is SUBJ
mitted with the report. 1t does not differ
from that which published at the time
the charges were made and when the tes-
timOny was taken. Both Senator hunton and
his son testified as to the offer made by
ButtZ to the younger man of money for
the vote Of the Senator. Senator Kyle's
testimony as to Buttz's offer of from SjO :
wv 10 SlOO.OUO IL he would vote against the
tarin bill is very explicit. but ne testified
that afterwards Buttz said that all he couJd
let him have was $l5.UOO
Regarding Eppa Hunton, jr, Senator
Gray asked him: did you saw you would
pay, or that Mr.. Hunton could receive from
any source whatever. a fee of $4,000 or any
other amount in case his father voted
against the tariff bill in the Senate?''
Don't Think He said 1t.
1t.
The chairman-Are you sure?
Mr.. Buttz-I do not see why / should have
paid 1t, because l had no means of paving
or anybody to authorize me to do It, / do
not see why should have had so idle talk
as that- Mr. Hunton is distinguished gen
tleman. man Of veracity. and do not see
why l should come forward and make such
statement.
c.
the following is a portion of the testimony:
Inc chalrman-Did you say to Senator
hyle at that interview. or any other, that
ne could have large sum of money II he
would vote against the bill?
Mr. Buttz-No; 1 never promised Mr.. Kyle
2 cent.
The chairman-Did you say he could have
mat? Answer my question-yes or no.
Mr.. Buttz-What do you mean that he
Gould have? That L would get 1t for him?
The chairman-That he could have, or that
would IL Of
money in case he voted against that bill
Mr. Buttz-I could not say anything of
that kind. But i will tell you what / did
say. In this general running talk 1 said to
Mr. Kyle on several occasions that I was
satisfied there would be a fund raised and
that money would be offered. A man told
fee OF $4,000 II the tariff bill Is defeated
and will give you 81 600 of that IL you will
find out how Kyle will vote" Said he: He
Is from your state" m l said: No; South
IS going to vote II is worth 81. 900 to you"
In reference TO the conversation with Pr-
vate Secretary McFarlane. Buttz's testimony
became confused.
Senator Davis said: state what was said
In the conversation with McFarlane in the
cow ersatiOn referred TO.
Mr. Buttz-''I cannot speak Of any one oc-
casiOn. / can spsak as a whole as TO the
substance OF the talk in regard to the
tar.f.'
Senator Davis-"State what was said on
for him and $1,000 for yourself"
What He Told McFarInne.
Mr. Buttz-'I told Mr. McFarlane that a
friend of mine would get $4,000. of which 1
would get $1,000. If 1 would find out how
Kyle would vote.
Senator Davis-'He was to get $4,000"
Mr.. Buttz-"The offer was in case would
md out how Kyle would vote"
Senator Davis-"Is that all you ever said
on the subject Of $4,000 or $4,000 on that
or ny subsequent occasion?"
. Mr. ButtZ-"That is not all l ever said on
the subject of money" .
senator Davis-'I am speaking of the
1900 or $4,000. Is that all YOU said TO
cFarlane on that or any other occasion ?''
Mr.. Buttz-''\O, II is not. on at least a
naIf dozen occasions We talked over that
iIHd that the free trade English fellows
mad raised TO carry the free trade platform.
ana they would raise a fund TO carry il
through Congress; and the protectionists
woGld raise a fund and they would beat it.,
u tae senator was willing to sell his vote
1hat was our imaginary talk"
ne chdirman-"WhOse imaginary talk?"
Mr. BJttz-"Mr. McFarlane We talked
back and forth"
These samples show the character Of the
Iuttz testimony and probably explain why
the committee made such brief report up-
on the matter and dismissed the case as
inconsequentiaL