The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-25
DID OFFER A BRIbE
Senate Committee Satisfied
Ex-Congressman Buttz
Made the Attempt.
HUNToN AND KYLE ExoNERATED.
Committee Does Not Believe Buttz
Represented a New York
Syndicate.
HUNTON AND KYLE EXONERATED.

WASHINGTON, May 25, 1s94-The special
committee appointed to investigate the
charges of attempted Senatorial bribery on
the part of Charles w. Buttz today sub
rnitted their report to the Senate. Buttz is
found by the committee to have made the
attempt at bribery, despite his denial, and
Senators Hunten and Kyle are exonerated
from all blame.
The report of the committee consists of two
printed pages and the testimony given before
the committee, seyenty-six pages. Among
other things the report says
APPROACHED SENATOR HUNToN'S SON.
1T appears from the testimony submitted
that a certain Charles w Buttz of North
Dakota but doniciied in Washington since
December last, where he has been engaged
as a lobbyist and claim agent, did, on or
about the first of April OF this 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 $25, 600 if he would,
by presenting arguments as TO the pending
tariff bill, induce his father, Senator Hun
ton, to vote against it,
This offer was declined at once and
peremptorily by Eppa Hunton, Jr., as set
forth in his testimony, and the whole matter
L.
Senator Hunton awaited himself of the first
opportunity to disclose the matter to certain
Of his friends in the Senate as appears in the
testimony, and was in no other way con-
nected with the transaction.
SENATOR KYLE's CASE.
at is also established by the testimony
that the same Charles w. Buttz, during the
month of March last past approached Sena-
tor Kyle of South Dakota with q PROPOSE
tion, that $4,000 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 Sena-
tor Kyle that the money was In the hands
or control OF an agent of certain bakers and
capitalists of New York city, and that the
money was in Washington.
'sSenator Kyle's testimony is confirmed by
that of Mr.. James McFariane clerk to the
Committee on Education and Labor.
Senator Kyle is shown by the testimony
to have communicated this interview with
Butt2, and the offer made to him, to several
Senators shortly after the said interview
took place.
"Your committee are abundantly justified
in stating that the facts above recited have
been established by the evidence, notwith-
standing the denial on the part of Charles
W. Buttz and they refer the Senate TO the
testimony in detail in support of this find
ing.
Your committee lind nothing from their
Investigation to impeach, in the least de-
gree, the honor or character of Senators
Hunton and Eyle.
BUTT2 REPRESENTED NO SYNDICATE.
There is no evidence to show the truth OF
Mr. Buttz's statements to Senator Kyle and
to Mr.. Eppa Hunton, Jr, that a syndicate OF
bankers and capitalists had raised sum of
money to be used for the purpose of defeating
the pending Tariff bill, or that there was an
agent of such syndicate in Washington, or
that any money was in Washington for that
purpose. Buttz denies that he made any
such statement, or that he had or has any
knowledge of the existence of such syndi-
cate, or that he was the agent or represen-
tative Of any one. He further denies that he
had any money himself.
IF, during the further prosecution of the
investigation with which your committee is
charged, any evidence be discovered or sug-
gested tending to support the statements
made to Senator K yle or to Mr. McFarlane.
OF to Mr.. Eppa Hunten, Jr., by Charles w.
Buttz, it viii be promptly laid before the
Senate Until then your committee are com
pellad, upon all the evidence submitted to
them, to the conclusion that the statements
of Charles w. Buttz are wholly untrust-
worthy"
THE TARIFF DEBATE ON.
The Kyle resolution, offered last Wednes-
day by Mr. Kyle Pop, s. d., as to Hawaii,
was taken up IN the Senate this morning
The discussion upon it was interrupted at
half past ten A NJ, when the tariff bill was
taken up, the question being upon paragraph
143, putting duty of 80 per cent. on breech-
loading shot guns