The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-03-13
THE BRIBERY INVESTIGATION.
Charges Held to be Proved and
Both Guilty.
But the House Fails Of the Two.thirils
Vote Necessary to Expel--Joines
Wanted to Return Money.

Wanted to Return Money.
The bribery investigation culmi
mated Saturday evening in the pre-
sentation of a report to the Hous
recommending the expulsion O
both JONES and Perkins. The re
port was unanimous, eomewha
significant fact, there being one Pop
ulist, one Democrat and one silve
Republican on the committee. Tn,
House, however, refused to expe
either. Perkins friends succeeded
in preventing the conclusion of the
committee as to him from being
adopted, and the silver Republicans
determined that JONES should moi
be made a scapegoat if the man
who is charged with having bribed
him was to 60 free. The report oil
the committee was as follows:
"Mr. Speaker: Your special CON-
mittee appointed to investigate the
charges of bribery in the matter of
the Senatorial election have had the
same under consideration and we
submit the following report of our
findings, together with the affidavit
of H. S. JONES and tie evidence
taken before us, which we herewith
transmit:
"First-That the said H. S. JONES
did make the said affidavit and that
he did on several occasions try to
extort money corruptly from differ
ent persons rs certified to before the
committee. The testimony of the
said II. S. Joines is contradictory
in many points and that we recon-
mend that he be expelled from the
body of this House.
"Second-That we further state
that the conduct of w. Y. Perkins
in his efforts to unduly influence
H. S. JONES by bride or otherwise
is highly culpab!e, and while the
evidence is not so strong in bis case
as that of said JONES, we believe he
should be expelled from this floor,
but respectfully refer the matter of
the said Perkins TO the considera-
ton Of the House.
Third That the evidence be.
fore us discloses the further fact
hat money has been freely offered
for corrupt purpose by different
parties.
"(signed) &C. WALLuNr1NE.
WILLIAM F. RIGBY,
y. c. WAITE"
After the report had been read
here was rauch confusion and ex-
element. 1t was finally decided
% read the evidence in full. This
occupied several hours aud it was
not until l o'clock in the morning
hat the issue was brought TO vote |
The vote on accepting the commit
:ees verdict as to Perkins guilt was
/ tie.
The verdict regarding JONES was
hat he was guilty. Then Briggs
IF Bingham introduced resolution
or his expulsion. 1t was thought
he height of assurance for him to
,tfer the resolution, and the circum-
tance of his occupying a seat to
which he was not elected was fire.
Iuently commented upon during
he debate that followed. The op-
of expulsion took the
round that JONES and Perkins
rere equally guilty and that one
houId not be expelled while the
Their was permitted to retain his
eat. Those supporting the resolu-
ion generally declared that they
id not think there had been any
ribery but that JONES had been
Utility of perjury and should be ex
elled for that reason.
THE VOTE.
It requires two-thirds of all the
MEMBERS Of the House to expel Il
lem Der and the resolution fell short,
eceiving only 26 votes, seven less
IAN the necessary number.
During the afternoon JONES had
ought to secure recognition for the
urpose as is understood, of send
,g to the Speakers desk the money
aid him by Perkins. The Speaker
,fused to recognize him, and finally
rdered the sergeant-at-arms to re-
love him from the ball which was
one. i