Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-24
a WASHINGTON SENSATION.
Reported Attempt to Bride Senators 70
Vote Against the Tariff Bill.

Reported Attempt to Bride Senators 70
Vote Against the Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON, May 1T--Rumors of
the use of money to influence action |
one way or the other on the tariff bill
have been in circulation here at vari- |
Gus times during the past few months.
but heretofore have been confined
merely to rumors- 1t was learned
definitely to-day, however, that the
clerks of Senator Kyle, OF South Da-
kota, and Hunton, of Virginia, had re-
ceived limitations 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.
The intimationS came from North
Dakota man known as a lobbyist Tor
several schemes, formerly a 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, 600, 81 600 to
be retained by the man making nego-
tiations as commission. Mr.. 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 bride him.
The matter first came to his attention
about a month ago through letter
from his son, dated at Warrenton, Va.
He Immediately laid the matter before
several of his most intimate friends in
hn 70 hof ,ssr1,f -llrT7-
was going on He never saw the man
who offered the bride; 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 u letter OF
| introduction from man in Washing
| ton whom Mr.. Hunton did not know
| any better than the man he introduced.
| He protested to want to employ
| Mr. Hunton as an attorney in a land
case in which he was interested
After talking for 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 Mr.. Hunton's
son what the argument was, he said
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 Mr..
| Hunton Immediately informed his
father of the proposition.
did you think the proposition was
made in earRest?" the senator was
asked.
My son is satisfied that it was, and
Furthermore, am satisfied that $780,
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, was not to be
paid Untl the vote should be cast
OF the man who had offered the
bribe, Mr.. Hunton said that he went
to Virginia as a carpetbagger and at
| tempted to secure a nomination for
congress, 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.
1t is understood that Senator Kyle
has record of the alleged briber's con-
versation and proposition. He was APP
preached directly but turned the fell
low over to his private secretary under
instructions to take full notes upon all
that he said. Mr.. Farlane, Mr.. Kyle's
clerk, refused to say anything further
than to acknowledge that the offers
| n nd hat -6aT 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 not he
gave their names cannot be learned.