Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-06-02
BOTTz IS FOUND GUILTY
Report Of the Investigating Com
mittee to the Senate.
Senators Kyle and Hunton Exoncrated
From All Bisme-The Majors De-
NAL Has No Weight With
the Special Committee.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-The special
committee appointed to investigate the
| charges Of attempted senatorial bribery
ON the part of Charles w. Buttz today
submitted their report to the senate.
Butte is found by the committee ia
have made the attempt at bribery de-
spite his denial, ami Senators Hunton
and Kyle are exonerated 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;
at appears from the testimony sue
mitted that Il certain Charl es w. BUTTE
of North Dakota, but domiciled IN
Washington since December last,
where he has been engaged as "a lobby
list ana claim age.t, did, on or about
the list Of April OF this year, at the
house of Senator Hunton, in Wa renton,
during the absence of the SEN
atcv. say to his son, Epha Hun
tor, jr., that he would pay him a con-
tingent fee OF S25, 600 if he would, by
presenting arguments AS 20 tho pend
ing tariff, bill induce his father, Senator
Huuton, to vote against 1T. This offer
was declined at once and ~peromptorily
by Epha Hunton, jr.. rs Set forth In
his testimony, II the whole matter
was communicated by him To his
father. Senator Hunton availed him
self of the first opportunity to disclose
the matter TO several of his friends
in the senate, as appears in the testi-
mony, and was in no other way con-
nected with the transaction. IL Is also
established by the testimony that the
same Charles w. BUTTE, during the
month Of March last, approached sena-
tor Kyle Of South Dakota with IA propo-
sition that $4,000 would be paid 10
him (Senator Kyle If he would
vote against the pending tariff bill
The aid ljuttz when making this
proposition also stated TO Senator Kyle
that the money vas in the hands OF
certain bankers and capitalists OF New
York city. Senator Kyle's testimony
is confirmed by that OF Duncan Mctfar
lane, clerk TO the committee
on education and labor. Sen
ator Kyle is shown by the tes-
timony TO nave communicated this
interview with Butts, and the Offer
made to MIN, TO several senators shortly
after the said interview tool place.
Your committee are abundantly justi
fed in stating hat the facts above re.
cited nave been esta blished by tha
evidence, Notwithstanding the denial
on the part of Charles w. Buttz, and
they refer the sepate to the testimony
in detail in support of this finding.
Your committee find nothing FROM
their investigation 10 impeach. In the
least degree, the honor or character OF
Senators Hunton and Kyle. There is
no evidence to show the truth Of Mr..
BUTTS statements t Senator Kyle and
10 MIR. Epha Hunton, jr., that a syndi'
cate of bankers and capitalists had
raised a sum of money TO be used for
tho purpose of defeating the pending
tariff bill, or that there was an
agent of such a syndicate in Washing.
ton, or that any money was in Wash
ington for that purpose. Duttz denies
that he made any such statement or
that he had or has any knowledge OF
the existence of such a sy Indicate. or
that he was the agent or representative
of v lie further denies that
he had any money himself. ii
during the further prosecution OF
the investigation with which
your committee is charged any evi'
dence be discovered or suggested tend
ing 10 support the statements made to
Senator Kyle or to Mr.. McFarlanc, or
10 Epha Hunton, Or by Charles w.
Buttz, 1T will be promptly laid before
the senate, Until then your commit
tee are compelled, upon all the evidence
submitted to them, to the conclusion
that the statements OF Charles w.
BUTTE are wholly untrustworthy."