Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-02

bring the dignity OF this house into
highly reprohcnsiblc In the extreme
and should be condemned by the
house OF representatives IN order thar
the dignity OF the legislature be pre-
served and maintained. aud that tho
author thereof be censured. We also
find as fact that j. II. Davis Is an
attorney at law and employed 10 rep-
resent j. II, Frost VS.. II. II. O'Neal In
n certain contested election cause now
pending before the committee on priv
ileEeH and elections IN this house. us
wen MS being contestant In "A contest
before the house OF Representations &C
the congress pf the United states In
certain contest now pending therein.
wherein j. II. Davis IN contestant md
Hon. ID. II. culberson is con.es.ee.
Therefore, be II
Resolved. that the propositions as
contained IN the letter aforesaid writ
ten by j. II. Davis and delivered 10
the Hon w, II, Hudgns be Condemned
and reprobated as not being In Keep
ing with fair open and honest propo-
aitons made between attorney and
clleui and further, that this house
aud It's members shall be nurged cf7
any odlum that may have attached
by reason OF the contents OF said letter.
by openly condemning the same IN no
uncertain terms and censurlng the
author
And. as robukc. we recommend
that j. II. Davis, tho author nf said
litter. be denied the privilege OF ap-
pCnrlng before any committee nf u Ia
house In the interest OF any matter or
measure then pending during the pres
ont session, except before said commits
tee ON privileges ana elections In tho
case of Frost vs. O'Neal. Ahd this
courtesy 10 only extended 20 BIN as
an attorney for j IL. Frost, ns NO ia
familiar with all OF the facts connected
with said cause, and the surther rrn-
son that this committee do not desire
10 impede OF prejudice tho CaEr ~
said Frost IN his contest now pending
before said committee on privileges
and elections,
The minority repor, = Signed by
Cureton, Cooke and Foster, and ~ Us
followsi
Hon Thomas $. Smith, Speaker OF the
House OF Representatives:
Austin, ToN, Feb, t.--Sir. The UNDER
signed, minority OF your special COM
mittce appointed under the resolution
OF this house 20 investigate alleged
wlllml and corrupt propositions made
Co certain but unnamed parties by J.
III Davis, have, In connection with their
fcllow-Commlttc made n thorough
investigation pf said matter. but failed
20 ind any willful or corrupt practice.
propagation or purposes on the part Of
MIR Davis.
The facts are briefly these:
1, Mr. Davis was counsel for MIR,
Frost In his contest with Mr.. o'Nehi
for seat IN ths house,
2. The people of TeXnrlsann had bill
before the legislature 10 establish
term OF district court I'm their city.
They appointed Neasra, w. II, laudg-
inH. c. s. Todd and Robert Hart as a
committee 20 vislt Austin and usa all
proper and legitimate influence 20 Sc
cure The poasage or the bill into n law.
,. These parties, one or more OF them,
interviewed Mr.. Davis to enlist HIS
good office In favor OF the bill.
L. Mr.. Davis thought the bill a good
one, provided, II Il waa succcssful II
would not operate AS n wedge 10 re-
open the old county seat war In Bowlv
| county. which had gwen the people Of
that county much trouble, created much
| ill-feoing and caused very considera-
| BILE expense Before he would agree 10
lend his aid 10 tho bill he required 4
| written pledge that II should moi, ~
| passed Into law, be used to reopen that
/ old due1tion.
g. Mr., Davis was In Auatin MS attof.
ney for MIR. Frost, and was here AZ hlf
| 0rroHt'O expense, He was convinced
that there were two members OF thd
| committee on privileges ana eleetlonf
! whom he fcnred had already made W
| their minds IN the FroFt-O'Neal cons
| test and believed H. was essential 10 q
| fair trial IN that case that two MON.
| bers should not sit as Judges thereon,
@. II was under these circumstances
! that tho written propositions that form
the basis OF investigation were made.
The proposition was exactly thiA
l. That tho TcNarlSann committees
should secure the removal of tho two
objectionable members from this COM
mittec,
2, Pledge themselves that thore would
| be no effort to remove the county seat
In Bowie county In i've years.
2. TO pay him si00-f2D certain and
| $50 on condition the bill passed. but
| this was for the benefit or his client
I tFrosD, as stated In the writing
a. That he would then 10 before the
Popuilst caucus explain the bill, and
| thought he collA secure their unnni-
| nous support thereof. none OF them
| having any nntagonistio interest in-
Volvcd Mr. G. 8 Todd gave Mr.. pn-
Wis $40 and Mr. HudRins q like amount,
which siiia was reporlSd to Mr.. Frost.
ana he WAS given credit therefor They
also. or som, OF them, mnde the writ
! Ton pledge required In regard to the
| removal OF Tho county seat, etc.
In this mntter. ms n whole or In vs.
"details we fall 10 see any moral turpi-
tude or censurable culpabillty, or any
willnil wrong or corrupt motive.
II may have been an imprudcnce on