The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-17

S. c. SMITH,
J. H. SEAwELL
L. A. WHITEHURsT,
Committee.
| For half an hour Senator Simpson vainly
! sought to gain recognition of the chair, as
| resolution after resolution was sent up to
the secretarys desk. Finally, when this
| recognition was accorded, Senator Simp-
| son tersely announced: Report of the
| Investigation Committee"
Dunn leaned forward in his desk and
eagerly followed the reading of the secre-
| tary. Senator Buggy sat quietly in his
chair, closely watching the secretary as he
read. The report began with a preliminary
| statement of the facts which led to the in
vestigation. A resume of the testimony
followed AS predicted in the CALL, the
report of the committee was Scotch one
| mot proven"
| Senator Androus moved that the report
be adopted and the committee discharged.
| Senator Buggy seconded the motion.
| Senator Dunn took the floor and declared
| that the charges made by Senator Buggy
were utterly false. Senator Orr, who was
in the chair ruled him out of order.
! Senator Wilmington raised the point of
|
| Dunn was allowed to proceed. He denied
Biggy's charge. He had served with Sena-
| tors Martin and Mathews before he knew
| Senator Buggy. He referred to his record
as legislator and declared that he was
willing to go before Grand Jury of Sacra-
mento County or before committee APP
pointed by the Legislature, with full pow
ers to investigate. He concluded by ask
| ing the Senate to appoint such COM
mittee.
Il did not intend to discuss this matter
on the floor of the Senate" declared Sena-
| tor Biggy, "but the discredit thrown on
my accusation makes it necessary for me
to reply. I took solemn oath to the God
who gave me existence to tell the truth to
that committee. l took my nomination
of Senator unwillingly. 1t was no one but
Dunn
At this point Buggy was called to order.
He replied that he should be accorded the
privilege which had been accorded Dunn
of speaking.
Before / would falsely accuse brother
Senator of crime like that" continued
Senator Buggy, II would ask God to strike
me dead. | will stand by the accusation
if it is the last breath of my life. L do not
wish to explode bombshell on the floor of
this Senate, but it is my duty"
Buggy was again called to order, but on
motion of Seawell was allowed to proceed.
He related substantially the charges which
he had made in the open Senate and before
the committee. Dunn had told him there
was $4,000 for standing in with "the COM
| bine." He had mentioned this to Senators
Gesford and Burke, to Judge Slack and to
| John P. Dunn and others. He was willing
| to go before any investigating body or a
grand jury to substantiate his accusation.
Attorney Joseph Nougues had drafted
resolution which Senator Fay introduced,
which was as follows:
WHEREAS, The chairman of the committee
appointed TO investigate the charges implied
| from the language used by Senator Buggy in
| the presence ofthe Senate, of corrupt COM
| bination of members of the Senate of the State
| of California, also of the unlawful expenditure
or promise of payment OF money on the part OF
persons corporations and associations to in
| fluence legislation or obstruct and defeat the
| progress of the same, and also the employment
of agents or lobbyists for the purpose of cor
ruptly influencing the actions and votes of
members of the Senate, states that they
will be unable on account of the short
time intervening before the day fixed for adj
journment to fully investigate the charges,
and; whereas said statements are of such
character as to cause widespread notoriety and
to lead the people of the State of California to
infer that members of the Senate are or have
been corruptly influenced or that the Senate OF
this Legislature is and has been corrupt in its
proceedings and actions; therefore, be it
Resolved That the committee of five ap-
pointed by the President pro TEN of the Senate
and consisting of Senators Simpson, Smith,
, Aram Seawell and Whitehurst, shall fully in
; yestigate the charges and statements by Sena-
tor Buggy. Said committee shall have full
power to send for persons, books, papers and
documents, shall have power to administer
oaths to witnesses and to do all other acts
necessary to arrive at a full, free and thorough
investigation of said charges.
RESOLVED That said committee shall hold ses-
sions at such times and in such places as il
may determine during the present session OF
the Senate, and after the adjournment thereof;
) and said committee shall transmit from time to
time to the Attorney-General of this State q
, full record of all its proceedings, including q
transcript of the testimony taken; and, be il
further
RESOLVED. That the Controller be and is hereby
authorized and directed to draw his warrant
upon the Treasurer for such sum or sums as
may be required to defray all expenses neces
sary and incident to this investigation; sub
which said expenses shall be paid out of thu
contingent fund of the Senate.
| RESOLVED: That the Acknowledgement be ant
he is hereby requested to attend the sessions o.
meetings of said committee and examine sucf
witnesses as he may desire to examine anC
, assist the said committee in its investigation
! and that he be requested to present to thu
Grand Jury of any county having jurisdiction
3 of any offense which may be discovered tn,
names of witnesses and testimony disclosed, O
to have presented before committing magis
e trate such person or persons who in his opinion
the evidence discloses has committed publ
, | offenSe.
. There was a prolonged discussion, il
which Senators Simpson, Wilmington, Sea
well and others spoke of the advisability o
a course to be followed.
/. Senator Burke of Santa Cruz offered
It substitute that the whole matter be re
d ferred to the Grand Jury of Sacramento
n with request to make a searching inves
e tigation.
Senator Earl supnorted the motion n