The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-05-26
SENATOR'S GUILTLESS
But the Committee Decides That
Buttz Attempted Bribery,
EDWARDS STILL NON-oOMMITTAL.

| = Plan of Action.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-The special COM
mittee appointed TO investigate the charges
Of attempted senatorial bribery on the
part Of Charles w. Buttz yesterday sub
, mitted their report to the senate. Buttz Is
found by the committee to have made the
attempt at bribery, despite his denial,
and Senators Hunton and Kyle are exon
Grated from all blame
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:
1T appears from the testimony submit
ted that a certain Charles w. Buttz, Of
North Dakota, but domiciled in Washing
ton since December last where he has
been engaged as a lobbyist and claim
agent, did, on or about the 1st of April of
TINS 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 contingent
fee of S25, 900 if he would by presenting
arguments as to the pending tariff bill, in
duce his father, Senator Hunton, to vote
against 1t. This offer was declined at once
and peremptorily by Eppa Hunton, Jr.,
| and the whole matter was communicated
| by him to his father.
at is also established that Buttz, dur
ing the month of March last, approached
Senator Kyle, of South Dakota, with prop
J ositton that $751; would be paid to him
| Senator Kyle if he would vote against
the pending tariff bill The said Buttz,
when making this proposition, also stated
to Senator Kyle that the money was in
the hands or control of an agent of GER
tain bankers and capitalists of New York
city, and that the money was in Washing
| ton.
Both senators are shown by the testi-
mony to have communicated the facts to
several senators shortly after the inter
views took place.
There is no evidence to show the truth
OF Mr.. Buttz's statements to Senator Kyle
and to Mr.. Eppa Hunton, Jr., that a syn
dicate of bankers and capitalists had
raised a sum of money to be used for the
purpose of defeating the pending tariff
bill, or that there was an agent of such a
syudicatein Washington, or that he had
or has any knowledge of the existence of
such syndicate or that he was the agent
| or representative of any one. He further
denies that he had any money himself"
The testimony taken before the com.
mittee does not differ from that which was
published at the time the changes were
made and when the testimony was taken.
| Both Senator Hunton and his son testified
as TO the offer made by Ruttz to the
younger man Of money for the vote Of the
senator Senator Kyle's testimony as to
ButtS's offer from $50, 900 to 800, 900 if he
| would vote against the tariff bill is very
explicit, but he testified that afterwards
| buttz said that al he could let him have
wak el5,OO0.
The testimony Of Buttz ~ IL appears In
print is queer much like himself, and
rambles about in vAnCsns directions. The
testimony shows that he has . number of
/ alleged grievances, among them being
against Senators PGttigFew and Dolph
because they have been Instrumental in
preventing some land legislation appro-
| printion bills which he had be en- working
for. Buttz says in his printed evid snce
that he does noe see how he could have
made offers of money, because he had
none, nor did he represent any man or
syndicate with money. He thought he
said in answer to one question that he
might have got money somewhere TO de-
feat the BILL although he did not know
! just which.
Judge Dittenhoefer attorney for Mr..
| Edwards, the author Of the published al
legations of corruption in connection with
the tariff bill, appeared before the COM
mittee and stated that he had advised Mr..
| Edwards not to reveal the authority for
| his statements.
The committee Overruled Judge Ditten-
hoefer's objections and again called Mr..
| Edwards in and repeated its demand that
! he give the names requested in the first
instance, and received his final decision
not to comply with the demand. He was
then excused. Mr.. Shrivsr, of the New
York Nail and Express, also declined to
answer questions.
During the afternoon Senator Cutlery
and ex-Congressman Ben I4efevre were
before the committee. Both witnesses
volunteered their appearance. Their
names had bean connected with til opera
lions OF the sugar trust In Its supposed eff
forts 10 influence legislation by Mr.. Ed
wards in his published letter, in which he
asserted that Senator Gallery had drafted
the sugar schedule in a committee room
of the Capitol in the presence of Mr.
HRyemeyer and otherB friendly TO his in.
/ terests. including Mr. Lefevre, while the
! finance committee was waiting in an
other room. The committee was repre-
sented as Rnxiously awaiting the action
| of these representatives of the two
branches Of the sugar industry, the manu-
facturers and growers, and Mr.. Have
| meyer was pictured AZ standing over the
shoulders OF Mr. Caftery while Mr. Gallery
put the sugar amendment in shape for the
committee. Both Senator Gallery and
| Mr.. Lefevre denied the story
The committee took up the question pre-
sented by the refusal OF the newspaper
men to respond to questions. and has de-
cided upon a course of action