The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-22
THEY STICK To IT.
In the Senate Bribery Investi-
CATION Yesterday,
Hunton and Kyle Reaffirm Their
Foriher Statements.
BUTTE WAS UNTIRING.
He Made Frequent Attempts to
Buy Their Votes.

L
mittee to investigate the charges of
promptly at 10 o'clock yesterday in
the room of the committee on priv
ileges and elections. Both Senator
Hunton and his son stated that c. W.
Buttz was the man who had APP
preached Senator Hunton. The mar
rative did not differ materially from
the story heretofore given to the
press by Senator Hunton-
Senator Kyle was before the COM
mittee more than an hour and was in
formed that he would probably be
called again. He put the committee
in possession of all the information in
his power.
At 3 o'clock Major Buttz was called,
but after he had entered Chairman
Gray told him he had been called lit
tie too soon, and to retire until point
which was under discussion could be
settled. Buttz announced that he
wanted his attorney present when he
testified. He still adhered to his
determination not to testify unless he
was furnished a copy of the testimony
heretofore given, saying the com
eternity before he will change his
resolution on this point.
A few minutes later Buttz was
again called and his attorney was adj
mitted. The committee had been con-
sidering the advisability of going to
New Y orlx to obtain portion of the
testimony in regard to the sugar ale
cations, but the ultimate course has
not been decided upon. The commit
tee has SUMMONED James W. Walker,
an attorney of Washington, d. c., to
appear before it. He is the man who
gave Buttz the letter of introduction
to Senator Hunton's son.
Senator Gray also declined to give
out anything concerning Mr.. Buttz' s
testimony, saying that no summary of
it could be given that would not be
liable to do injustice to Mr.. Buttz and
the case itself.
Fragmentary references to the pro-
ceedings leave little room for dOub
that when the report of BUTTS testi-
mony is published it will make very
racy reading. He first demanded
transcript of the report of the testi-
mony of preceding witnesses. but
compromised by accepting PROPOSE
tiOn that the reporters should read
the portions of the testimony
of other witnesses which reflected
upon him in any way. He was thus
confronted with the statement that
Senators Kyle and Hunton had iden-
titled him the man who attempted
to corrupt them and having in his
letter to Senator -Hansbrough laid the
responsibility for this charge at the
doors of the newspa pers and relieved
the senator from all blame, he was
placed in somewhat embarrassing
position, and the brief references to
his testimony indicate that he made
an effort to excuse himself and ex-
plain away the entire charge. He
explicitly denied any intention on his
part to corrupt the senator's 1t is
also understood that he politely de-
clined to answer some of the more
pertinent questions put to him by
members of the committee.
Other witnesses of the afternoon
were Duncan McFarlane. Senator
Kyie's clerk, and James w. Walker,
an attorney of this city. who gave
BUTTE a letter to Eppa Hunton. Jr.
Mr.. Walker said that when Buttz had
asked for a letter to Mr.. Hunton he
had said he wanted to employ him as
an attorney, and had given no other
reason for wanting to know that gen.
t1eman. Mr.. McFarlane told how,
after Senator Kyle had referred Buttz
to him, he had talked with him and
made notes upon his conversation.
He confirmed Senator Kyle's state
ment, and said emphatically that
Buttz had made direct proposition
to bride the senator to vote against
the tariff bill. He also submitted His
notes on his conversation with Buttz.