The Portland daily press., 1895-06-18
PURELY A FIzZLE.
New Haven CIergymen We're Talking
Through Their Hats.
HAD NOTHING TO SAY REGARDING
SENATORIAL CORRUPTION.
Except to Affirm That 1t Existed-They
Could Mention No Individual Gases
However-The Inquiry To Be Con-
tinued

Gould Mention No Individual Gases
However-The Inquiry To Be Con-
tinued.
Hartford, Conn, June 17-Rev. John
II. Mason of New Haven, and Rev. c.
A. Paddock of this city, editor of the
christian Secretary, were on hand this
morning in the Senate chamber when the
special committee of the Senate, Webster,
Lounsbury and Paddock began the in
yest1gation into the alleged charges affect
ing the integrity of the Senate. The OBJ
Ject of the inquiry was to ascertain what
! truth there was in the statement made
by Rev. J. H. Mason in the address of
June 2, at New Haven, that the members
of the legislature had been ''bought like
cattle in the shambles. - The Senate
chamber was filled with senators, repre-
sentatlyes, minister, and a large crowd of
| spectators Rev. j. II. Mason admitted
the correctness of his remarks in the
pulpit, as published in the press, and
Rev. G. A. Paddock admitted having
| written the approval of Mr.. Mason's re-
marks which appeared in the Christian
Secretary. Their attention was called to
| the following extracts from Mr.. Mason S
| address: 1T means the passage of the
antl-pool law amendment. and that MEM
| bers of the Connecticut legislature are
| bought like cattle in the shambles. :"
| Mr. Mason said he was prepared to SUBJ
| stantiate his address, which, he said, had
misunderstood He said: II am. pre-
pared to substantiate the statements
made by me, but l am not here to make
charges of corruption or bribery against
any, person.
Senator Webster" Have you any facts
within your knowledge of any bribery or
corruption on the part of any member of
| this Senator
Mr.. Mason admitted that he had not
Senator Webster Have you any facts
or information received from any other
person to substantiate any charges of
bribery or corruption against the mem
bers of the Senator"
Mr.. Mason-"I have not. -
The same questions were put to Mr..
Paddock, who made similar replies. Mr..
Mason said he was not willing to disclose
the source of information upon which he
based his remarks He had not heard of
a specific charge against any member of
the Senate of 1885, He received no specific
Information tending to show an specific
act OF bribery on the part, of any. member
of the Senate. Mr. Mason declined to
make any explanation as to the tenor of
his address and the motive underlying
his public Iltteranees as q minister in
ducing certain facts.
The committee confined its inquiry to
any facts within his knowledge and Mr.
Mason mentioned the names of ex-
Governors Well and Bulkley, A H
Walker, Hartford, H. E. Benton of New
Haven, chairman of the Republican state
central committee; Rev. DR.. Newman,
Smyth of New Haven, Representative
Hall, Wilmington, Garaner and Greene,
Jr., of Norwich, as among those who he
thought could give information as to
Legislative corruption f the scope of in
mentioned Ex-Governor Bulkley' name
that gentleman took the stand, saying
that the committee need not wait for
him. He was sworn and declared that
he knew of no bribery or corruption on
the part of any member of the Senate of
1895. He thought it as honorable a body
as any which ever met in the Senate
chamber. He advised the committee to
ask each member of the Senate personally
if he was corrupt, and thought each
would answer truthfully. Mr. Mason
asked leave to present a written state
ment which he said would substantiate
his address. The committee decided to
confine the inquiry to the facts within
his knowledge, but did not receive a
statement At one O'Clock the committee
declared the hearing closed.
Rev. J. H. Mason and Rev. G. A.
Paddock declared that they were disap-
pointed in the inquiry not to be made
general. Mr.. Mason said if the commit
tee would only enlarge the scope, he
would in a few days present the names of
several other persons whom he thought
would be able to testify as to legislative
corruption.
q At an executive session of the commit
tee this afternoon it was decided to hold
another meeting Monday to give an
opportunity to persons mentioned by
Rev. j. H. Mason to appear and testify.