The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-27
PERKINS COMES BACK
Ready to Meet the Charges Made
By JONES.
Committee Named by the Idaho
Legislature to Investigate the
Charges of Giving and Taking
Brides Made by JONES Regarding
Heitfeld's Election.
Csnecial to The HeralhA

Boise, Ida, Feb. 26.-An immense
sensation was created here today by
the publication of the fact that Repre-
sentative JONES of Elmore county had
made an affidavit charging that he had
been bribed to vote for Henry Heitfeld
for United States senator. AS soon as
the house journal had been approved,
Representative Perkins of Blaine, one
of those whom JONES accused of hav-
ing paid him money, rose to a question
of personal privilege. He said:
I desire the indulgence of the house
for few moments on a question of
personal privilege. 1 see in this morn
ing's paper, and hear from various ru-
mOrs, that grave charges have been
made against parties in this house, of
whom l am one. 1 considered it as a
joke at first, but it now appears that it
is a reality. The charges made are pub
liShed to the world, and / ask for a
complete investigation, not only for
myself but for all other parties innpli-
Gated in this charge. l do not care
how this investigation is made, by
whom or by what party, but in justice
to myself, 1 desire that steps be taken
at once I am ready to meet the
the investigation be by men who are
honest"
WILD SCENES.
A motion was made for the appoint
ment of a committee of three TO in
vestigate. This was followed by q mo-
tion by Flanagan (Pop.) to suspend
JONES from the privileges of the floor.
Then the storm broke, and for several
hours the matter was hotly debated.
Some took the ground that JONES
should not be punished without trial,
and others that Perkins should be sus-
pended also. Finally a motion was
made TO insert Perkins name in the
suspension resolutions. This was ruled
out of order. Then Hays Dem.) moved
that the resolution lay on the table
UNTIL the committee could make a re-
port This was carried by a vote of %
20 II: Wallantine (Dem.), Waite (Pop)
and Rigby (Sil. Rep.) were named as
the investigation committee. The COM
mittee met at o'clock in the afternoon
and issued subpoenas for a number Of
witnesses. AT 6 o'clock the taking of
testimony began. The original affidavit
was produced and two or three wit
nesSeS were examined. Then JONES
was put on the stand. He reported in
detail the allegations made in the affi-
daVit. The attorney general and mem
berS of the committee crosS-examined
him at length, but he adhered TO his
story. It varied from his affidavit only
in one particular. He said that Fuller
told him he would get the money from
Heitfeld, but he did not see Heitfeld
go to the bank with Fuller. Fuller re-
turned shortly and gave him the cash.
The committe adjourned to meet
again at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
RUMORS AFLOAT.
There are a great many rumors afloat
respecting the possible purpose of
bringing out these charges at this time.
1t developed today during the examin-
alton that JONES had been induced to
make the affidavit by persons connected
with the law Office of John r. Wester,
a Populist. This rather confuses those
who are looking for a purpose in the
matter. Some think a project is on
foot to secure an election for Senator
Dubois, with the expectation that the
senate would seat him in view of the
fact of corruption being charged in
connection with the election of Heit-
field. Others express the belief that the |
project is to elect another Populist to
contest the seat No one who can be |
regarded as responsible authority ad-
mits that there is any foundation for |
any of these rumors.