The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-16
LEGISLATIVE FARCE COMEDY
Trial of the Buggy Bribery
Charges Goes Over
SOME POLITICAL HISTORY
Dunn Questioned as to His Rise From
Poverty to Wealth
Witness States Dunn Said II the Insurance
People Wanted Any Bills Killed 1t
Would Cost Money

Sacramento, March 15.-Investigation of
charges of corruption made by Senator
Buggy against Senator Dunn and alleged
combine began tonight before special
committee, consisting Of Senators Simp-
son. Whitehurst, Smith, Aram and Seawll.
When Senator Simpson raped for
order the small room of the Senate judici-
airy committee was crowded to suffoca-
ton. Senator Buggy was there with his
lawyers. w. W. Foote and J. NJ. Nouges.
and Dunn was there with his lawyer,
Grove l.. johnson.
Chairman Simpson read the Senate
resolution ordering the investigation.
Attorney Foote asked if any plan had
been mapped out Simpson replied that
it would be impossible in the brief time
in which the invest CATION must be
finished to go outside of the sinple
charge made in Biggy's statement against
Dunn.
"Do 1 understand you to say that this
is to be judicial and not an investigat-
ing body?" asked Foote.
II did not say--I do not know what
you understood. - responded Simpson.
Il would not consider under this resolu-
ton that we could go. beyond the charge
made against Dunn.
After argument as to the scope and au-
thorty OF the special committee, Senator
Simpson said:
''We will permit the investigation to
proceed and let you 20 on until we think
you are going too far"
81 think. we ought to stop here said
Senator Smith of Tulare. I'VE will get
to where charges are made against all of
us and then have to stop without reputa-
ton. l think we ought to report back
and get further instructions from the
Senate"
After more talk it was agreed to have
Senator Buggy go ahead and tell his story.
This was done. Biggy, looking pale and
serious, was sworn, and proceeded to give
his statement in substance as already
published. He told of Dunn asking him
last session if he proposed to go to Sacra-
mento for his health, and then this SEES
sion of Dunn coming and asking him if
he proposed to be the fool he was last
time.
This was on the floor of the Senate
He said there would be twenty three in
the combine and no one would ever know
that some one else would handle the
money. He said he made considerable
money last session while did not make
a cent. He mentioned the bills to be
voted for, telephone, gas, water, railroad
and ten or twelve others, and said we
would get $4,000 apiece to vote for these. -
Ibid you not, here interrupted Foote
lat that time tell me of these things as
well as Gavin McNab, julius Kahn, SEN
ators Gesford, McAll ster and others?'
Johnson objected to this question, and
Chairman Simpson and the whole COM
mittee ruled the question out of order.
Buggy told, also, of having been offered,
at the session of 1893, $500 by Senator
Dunn for voting for Kings county di-
nd ocly od Riuuv nnaSfinnS
Ibid you consider" asked Johnson,
chat when Dunn asked You to go into
the combine, it was an attempt to bribe
your"
II consider it was improper influence. /"
johnson repeated the question half
dozen times before Biggy answered in the
Ibid you consider" repeated Johnson,
"that when he asked you to vote for Kings
county division, it was an attempt to
bride your"
when Dunn spoke about $780," asked
Johnson, Twas not he jOking?'
He was not; he was serious"
What business were you in when you
were elected Senator?'
II was driver for San Francisco
laundry"
."And you bought an interest in the
business after the first session.
II did"
Johnson's wicked emphasis in this ques-
ton raised laugh. Buggy said he voted
at first against the Kings county division
and afterward refused to vote.
did you receive any money corruptly
at your first session. asked Foote, ''or
use any money received at che Legislature
to buy into the laundry company"
81 borrowed $120 my first session.
never received one dollar corruptly."
Senator Dunn, being sworn, denied en-
phatically and wholly having ever offered
Buggy money to 90 into a combine or to
vote for Kings county division or any
thing else. an,
money for your vote?" asked Foote.
Johnson objected.
II desire to show" said Foote, that he
has had conversation with several persons
recently. He told Mr.. Kahn, who was
here for certain insurance measures, that
he was not here for his health. We con-
against Dunn and in support OF Biggy's
statement"
The committee decided it was. after
arguments by opposing counsel.
"Did you not IN the Senate chamber"
asked Foote. two or three weeks ago.
surance people wanted 10 beat the cinch
bills it would take money to do it?"
mo, sir, 2" said Dunn; II never did at
any time or place"
Julius Kahn OF San Francisco testified
that he did have such conversation with
Dunn two or three weeks ago.
II called Dunn aside: and told him the
insurance people were his constituents
and that he ought to stand in with
them. Dunn said that if they wanted
bills passed or defeated. let them pay
for it,"
When Johnson questioned Kahn there
was fun. Kahn denied that he was
lobbyist, but was an attorney protecting
clients from cnch bills. He said he
worked against the 3 per cent insurance
BILL cigarette bill and others. Then fol-
lowed debate as to what could be done
further. Simpson figured out that no
mention of combine of Senators appear
ing in the resolution, the investigation
could not properly go further. 1t was
agreed to report to the Senate tomorrow
and await further instructions.
TRANSPACIFIC SERVICE