The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-17
INVESTIGATION
Will Very Likely Occupy the
Attention Of the Senate.

the yor1U Dill, aitnoukh nc shiu hc - WY
sorry the matter has become public at
this tina
He said that the matter first came TO
his attention about month ago through
letter from his son. dated at Warren
ton, Va. the home OF the senator and his
son. He Immediately laid the matter be-
fore six or eight of his most intimate
friends In the senate, that they might
know what was going on.
The senator says that he never saw the
man who offered the bribe and he de
elined to give the mans name. but said
all the negotiations il the proceedings
NAV be called such. were conducted
through his son. The wou.d-be briber,
the senator said. went TO Warrenton early
In April, carrying letter OF introduction
from man i'm Washington whom Mr..
Hunton did not know any better than the
man he introduced. He professed TO want
20 employ Mr.. Hunton as an attorney in
land case in which he was interested, and
after talking for a short time on this topic
he brought up the tariff bill, to which he
was opposed.
He said then that the bill never would
pass and that there was All arrangement
60 be brought against the bill which had
not yet been used, but which when
brought to bear upon the question would
dispose of it effectually. Asked by Mr..
Hunton's son what that argument was.
he said he would give it to him il he
would send IL to his father. He then pro-
posed to pay Senator Hunton $4,000 for
his opposition TO the tariff bill, and Mr..
Hunton Immediately informed his father
of the proposition.
do you think the proposition was
made in sarnesti" the senator was asked.
my son il satisfied that it was and.
furthermore. is satisfied that 100000
would be paid If it had appeared that that
sum would secure the coveted vote"
Senator Hunton said that the negoti-
ator did not say whom he represented.
"The money" he said. was not to be
paid until the vote should be cast"
Will Keep Nothing Back.
Senator Hunton said he did not purpose
asking any investigation. II have" he
said. placed the matter in the hands of
my friends, but had not intended asking
for an inquiry. RI, however an investi-
CATION is undertaken / shall be glad to
furnish all the facts can"
Discussing the man who had offered the
bribe, he said that he understood that he
went to Virginia as a carpet-bagger and
attempted to secure n nomination for
congress, hut failing, had then gone to
South Carolina, where he had been nomi-
mated and sent to congress- serving one
term. He said he had nSAobjection to
giving the name of the man, except that
IL there was to be an inquiry. he thought
itproper that it should be first given to
the committee of inquiry.
1t Is understood that Senator Kyle has
. record of the alleged briber's conversa-
tion and position He was approached di-
rectly. but turned the fellow over to his
private secretary. with instructions to
take full notes upon all that he said.
Mr. McFarlane, Senator Kyle's clerk,
xefused to say anything further, except
20 acknowledge that the offers were
made and says that when the investiga-
ticn is had he will tell all about it, and
will then give the name of the man offer
ing the money and what he said. The
man told him that he represented New
York parties, but whether or not he gave
their names cannot be learned. Mr.. Nc
Farlane refused to give any names.
Lodge viii Push 1t.
Senator Lodge, when asked for an ex-
planation of his resolution for an investi-
Senators Hunton and Kyle, sai1
II know nothing of the matter person
ally, but the statement made is specific,
and coming so soon as it does after the
publication of the alleged efforts CT the
Sugar trust to influence legislation by un-
Fair means, have thought that com
mittse should be appointed to inquire
into the whole subject. 1t is my opinion
that II such work is going on all the facts
should be known. ana my only purpose in
presenting the resolution is to bring them
out"
Senator Lodge intends to press his reso-
luton, and thinks that it is due to the
senate that there should be thorough
investigation of all the matters involved
1t n alleged that q thorough investiga-
tion of the Sugar trust and its methods
here will lead to some startling develop
ments.
Courts an Investigation.
Ex-Representative Butz OF Butzville.
N. d., whose name was mentioned in con-
nection with the alleged attempts to pur-
chase the votes of Senator's Kyle and Hun
ton on the tariff bill, has determined to
ask full investigation st the hands Of
the senate OF the charges made against
him. He makes general denial OF the
charges against him, and states that he
wants a rigid investigation of them. He
was not willing. he said, to rest on the
possibility OF the passage of the Lodge
resolution calling for an investigation of
the bribery alleged and of the influence
of the Sugar trust on the makeup OF the
tariff bill. He said he wanted a personal
Investigation as speedily as possible.
Still Unsettled.
Senator Allison yesterday presided overa
conference OF Republican senator's at the
Capitol. about two-thirds of the member
ship being present
IL was continuation OF the discussion
which occurred at Senator Sherman's
house on Monday night. u was evident
from the expressions ~ opinions that
majority Of those present were in favor OF
policy OF more speedy action.
Senator Dubois announced his intention
Of publicly declaring in favor ot speedy
action. and when several senators took
issus with him he said that his judgment
relative 20 the effect of the silver repeal
was a. good as theirs last fall and he in
tended TO follow IL. II the caucus would