Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-26
He Did 0rer Brides to MeSHS. Hunton
and Kyle.
THE SENATORS EXONERATED
No Blame of Any Sort Attaches to Them
In the Matter--Contumacy OF
witnesses.

The report OF the committee consists
of two printed pages. and the testimony
given before the committee seventy-six
pages. Among other things the report
says:
'It appears from the testimony sub
mitted that certain Charles w. Butte,
OF North Dakota. but domiciled in Wash
ington since December last. where he
has been engaged as 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 5000 If he
would, by presenting arguments as to the
pending tariff bill, induce his father,
Senator Hunton, 10 vote against H.
This offer was declined at once and
peremptorily by Eppa Hunton, Jr., as
set forth in his testimony. and the whole
matter was communicated by him to
his father. Senator Hunton availed him
self Of the first opportunity TO disclose
the matter to certain of his friends IN
the Senate, as appears in the testimony,
and was In no other way connected with
the transaction.
"It is also established by the testimony
that the same Charles W. Buttz. during
the month Of March last past, approach
ed Senator Kyle. Of South Dakota, with
proposition that $1,000 would be paid
TO him (Senator Kyle. If he would vote
against the pending tariff DILL The said
ButtZ, when making this proposition, also
stated to Senator Kyle that the money
4 trg.fs II IN" "aafr4 -
OF certain bankers and capitalists OF
New York city. and that the money was
In Washington.
Senator Kyles testimony is confirmed
by that Of Mr. Duncan McFarlane, clerk
to the Committee on Education ana
Labor.
Senator Kyle is shown by the testimony
10 have communicated this interview with
Buttz. and the offer made him. to several
senator's shortly after the said inter-
view took place.
"Your committee are abundantly justi-
fed in stating that the facts above re-
cited have been established by the evil
dence. Notwithstanding denial on the
part Of Charles W. Buttz, and they refer
the Senate to the testimony In detail in
support Of this finding.
"Your committee find nothing from their
lnNesuBdtlOn 10 nIptaShi Ii t4it l'ao' w
gree. the honor or character of Senators
Hunton and Kyle.
There is no evidence 10 show the truth
Of Buttz's statements to Senator Kyle
and Eppa Hunton. Jr.. that "A syndicate
OF bankers and capitalists had raised u
sum of money TO be used for the pur-
pose of defeating the pending tarif bill,
or that there was an agent of such "A
syndicate i'm Washington, or that he made
any such statement. or that he had or
has any knowledge Of the existence of
such a syndicate. or that he was the
agent or representative Of any one He
further denies that he had any money
himself r. during the further prOsecu-
tion Of the investigation with which
your committee is charged. any evidence
be discovered or suggested tending 10
support the statements made to Senator
Kyle or TO Mr.. McFarlane or to Mr.. Eppa
Hunton, Jr. by Charles w Buttz, IL will
be promptly laid before the Senate Until
then your committee are compelled to say
that the evidence submitted to them leads
TO the conclusion that the statements Of
Charles W. ButtZ are wholly untrust-
worthy"
THE INQUIRY.
The committee continued its inquiry to-
day into the allegations concerning the
Sugar Trust and its connection with the
tariff bill.
Messrs Shrlver and Edwards. two Of
the newspaper correspondents who hal
been on the stand, were recalled. and
repeated their refusal 10 give the COM
mittee any information as to the identity
of the men who had used corrupt innu-
ences. Edwards had brought Judge Dit
tenhoefer from New York with him a.
counsel. To-day, Judge DittenhOefer was
announced as counsel for Shriver, also.
Judge Dittenhoefer appeared before the
committee and argued that the committee
had no authority to compel the witnesses
to testify. lie gave the committee some
advice as TO the method OF conducting
the investigation. stating that il had al
ready enough names IN it's possession TO
begin the important part Of the investi-
CATION, and II was wasting time and
gaining nothing by summoning news
paper-men. He cited the case OF Hallet
Kilbourn In support Of his contention
that the committee had no right TO COM
pei witness to answer by jeopardzing
his liberty. The Kilbourn case was that
of an attempt of senator TO make XII
bourn answer questions and produce pri-
vate books The recalctrant witness was
sent TO Jail and kept there six months.
He sued the government for false i'm
pris0nment, and obtained heavy damages.
Harry Walker the third correspondents
witness of yesterday. was also recalled.
but he was given a respite until Monday
on mis- explanation that he desired TO be
represented by counsel, as the other wit
ne sses had been. lie has retained eX-
Speaker Sulzer, of the New York State
Assembly, as his attorney. There was
an error in the report of the testimony
given the committee yesterday by Mr..
Walker about what Congressman Bourke
Cochran had told him with reference TO
the Sugar Trust and the Democratic
party. What Mr. Cochran did say, ac-
cording to Mr.. Walker. was that he was
In favor Of putting a duty on sugar. not
because of any legal connection with the
trust, but because certain persons high
In authority in the administration" had
told him the Democratic party was
under obligations to the trust for con-
tributions to campaign expenses. Mr..
Walker was not told the names OF these
authoritative persons, but he presumed
that the President and Secretary Carlisle
were meant.
The early part of the afternoon ses-
sion of the committee was devoted to
consideration of the question as TO what
means should be taken to compel wit
nesses to answer. The kilbourn case
proved a Snag, ana thcre was considerable
diversity of opinion as 10 what could be
done in view OF the decision sustaining
Kilbourn in refusing To answer questions
put 10 him by a Senate committee IL
was finally agreed to let the matter go
over until tomorrow, when the commit
tee will endeavor TO reach a conclusion.
LEFEVRE AND CAFFERY.
Two witnesses were examined at the
afternoon session. Ex-Congressman Ben.
l.efevre. of Ohio appeared 10 testify with
reference To a statement in the Philadel-
phia Press article that Messrs. Have
MEYER, Ii. l.. Terrell Cord Meyer and
Mr.. Lefeyre represented the Sugar Trust
at an alleged meeting at the Capitol when
the sugar schedule was rearranged at the
instigation OF the trust. The name OF Le-
feyre was also suggested yesterday by
Correspondent Edwards, of the Philadel-
phia Press. as one OF those who could
throw light on his allegations. Mr.. Lee
fevre denied that he was present on the
alleged occasion stated. and also that he
had anything TO do with rearranging the
sugar schedule as a representative Of the
Sugar Trust He even denied that he
knew the gentlemen named In connection
with himself In the Press article.
Sanator Caffery of Louisiana was the