The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-17
A BRlBE OFFERED SENATORS,
$4,000 to MF. HuntOn and Less 10 fr.
Kyle to Vote Against the Tariff Bill.
SENATOR HUNTORS PLAIN STATEMENT
Charles W. Butiz was the instrument--The
GSnerai's Prompt Denuncistion of
this Dishonorable PEoposition.
TIMES BUREAU. RAPIEY BUILDING. !
WASHINGTON. May l6. ls9i.

WASHlNGlON, hlhy 40 lo'i.
The general serenity OF the lobbes and
cloak-rooms Of the Senate was trans
formed this morning into a scene Of un-
usual hustle and excitement, and MEM
bers of the House senators. and CORE
spondents thronged the Senate wing Of
the Capitol, all eager 20 learn the truth OF
the rumors that Senators Hunton, Of
Virginia, and Kyle. of South Dakota,
had been offered bribes TO vote against
the tariff bill, by persons representing the
great monopolsts and manufacturers
who have combined 10 defeat the measure.
The truth Of the rumors was speedily
given by Senator Hunton, who gave
the following plain statement to the
press
On April Let Major Charles W Buttz
called upon Mr.. Eppa Hunton, Jr., at
his home at Warenton, and offered him
the sum Of S25 0O0 If his father could be
induced TO vote against the tariff bill.
Mr.. Hunton at once vigorously resented
| this attempt to dishonor his father and
| Immediately communicated the occur
renee TO Senator HuntOn 10y letter. This
| letter, Senator Hunton said, was receiv-
| ed by him on the 81 Of April, and while
| he did not make the matter public through
| the papers. he Immediately informed the
| Democratic members Of the Finance
| Committee, and also his Democratic col
| league in the Senate. Senator Hunton
| informed these senators that If they
| deemed IL best they could make the mat
| ter public. bur he Tefrair ed from giving
| It 10 .he press for the reason. as he stated
to-day, that he was mortified that ne
| should have been selected even for an
sition.
| As soon as II was generally known
| that Senators Hunton and Kyle had been
thus approached. Senator Lodge. of Mas
| sachusetts. offered I'm the Senate reso-
| luton providing for a full Investigation.
SENATOR KYLE.
Senator Kyle is out Of the city, but
! Mr.. Hunton said he knew the same man
! had approached him, and this was cor
| robOrated by Mr. McFaranc. Mr.. Kyle's
| clerk Mr. Hunton went so far as TO say
| that the man who had attempted % con-
duct negotiations for these votes was
formerly connected with the carpet-bag
| government OF South Carolina. and that
| ne had subsequently gone TO North Da-
kota. where he had resided for a number
Of years. Recently. he said. he had been
about the Capitol in the role of a lobbyist.
THE woUID-BE BEiBER.
Major Charles W. Buttz who visited
Mr. Eppa Hunton. Jr.. was born i'm
Stroudsburg, Pa, in 1881, and moved with
| his parents two years later 10 New Jersey,
| where he was educated and studied law.
| He entered the Union army IN 1851. and
J gaiIeI lie .Fnk OH h.ettL major iu 1868.
when he resigned from the army on ac-
count Of III health. lie engaged i'm the
| practice Of law at Norfolk. Va, and was
a delegate 10 the Republican State Con-
| vention I'm 1861. he was a director in The
| Exchange Bank Of Norfolk. In 1870 Major
Butte removed to Charleston. s. c.. ana
I'm 1S72 was elected solicitor Of the First
Judicial Circuit for the term Of four
| wears. In 1876 he was q contestant for the
| seat Of L. w NJ. Mackcy I'm the Forty
fourth Congress. The House declared the
seat vacant. and ia 1877 Major Buttz was
elected and took his seat i'm the Forty
fourth Congress. Major Buttz was not
returned to the Forty-hfth Congress. ana
! subsequently, removed to the TERRITORY oI
| Dakota. He has been I'm Washington AN
This winter. and not long ago appeared
before the House Appropriations i" oi"-
mittee. urging the appropriation of >i'""-
Am for the determination OF the Russian
thistle in the State Of North Dakota.
BrrTz CANNOT BE FOUND.
A dnigent search tonight failed 10 as ii.
close the Whereabouts of Major butH'
who made the attempt 20 bribe senators
Hurton and Kyle. Although uahy
visitor at the Capitol ever since the ue-
| Ginning of the congressional SESSION. 'V
was known to comparatively le" persons
ortside Of his intimate friends. These
donv all knowledge of his whereabouts
and the belief is that he has left for the
| wilds of Dakota.
The law against Offering a bribe to a
| ..,-,,,her of Congress or a senator Is so
conciseiy prepared that evasion is neNt
80 ;,onossible The punishment on conVlc-
t,n is a fine of three times the amount
o@ore5 with the additional punishment
Of Imprisonment for not over three years. ears.
No steps have yet been taken looAi"s
toJyard the arrest Of Major Buttz.