The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-15
Gov. Leedy Says investigated 4
of Bribery
Shall Begin at Once, Regardless
of the Bill.
No GMonkev Business" Shall Inter
fere With Ferreting Out of
Guilty Parties-WIE Pay
for Investigation Out
of the Contingent
Fund.

The effort on the part of the house OF
representa- tives to defeat the bribery
investigation contemplated by Senator
F'orney's concurrent resolution, while
responsible for the long delay in reach
ing an agreement on the miscellaneous
appropriation bill between the two
houses, will not prevent the beginning
of the investigation at once.
Governor Leedy today ordered the
committee to proceed at once and if
any question as to the payment for
their services should arise he would
draw upon his contingent fund
The members of the committee on the
part of the house are Outcalt, chair
man; Ravenscraft and Frank Grimes.
On the part of the senate Householder
and Cooke.
The senate miscellaneous appropria-
ton bill provides whatever sum might
be necessary for the investigation. 1.-The
house refused to accept that provision
and half dozen conference committees
passed upon the subject before an
agreement was reached, the bill being
finally passed at IL O'Clock Saturday
night, limiting the amount to be ex-
pended for the investigation at $4,000
and providing that it should not be
available until May 10. 1t has been
suggested that the courts would be
called upon to prosecute the men who
attempted to buy members of the leg
islature. In that event the appropria-
ton bill provides that the SO, 900 shall
not be available for the purpose of an
investigation.
Representative Outcalt and Ravens
craft could not be found this morning
but the remaining members of the COM
mittee, majority called upon the gov
ernor and held conference upon the
subject. The governor ordered the
committee to proceed with the investi-
cation at once and not wait for the APP
propria ton to become availa bic.
The governor said: Some interest
ed person injected into the bill pro-
vision that if the committee began pro-
ceedingS a this time no money is to be
paid to them. Further, the money is
not to be available if the courts COM
mence proceedings. This was done for
sinister purposes but / want to say that
If there is any rOttennesS to be shown
up by the investigation and if the mem
bers of the committee think they have
grounds for conducting an investigation
it must begin at once regardless of the
provisions of the appropriation bill, and
l will pay the expenses from my con-
tingent fund The reference to the
courts is useless as no court has the
right to usurp the powers of an investi-
eating committee If there were at
tempted briberies, and there seems to
be ample evidence that there were, we
want to know it and an investigat ton
committee will bring ii OUT
Mr.. Ravenscraft said in explaining
his vote upon the final passage of the
bill carrying the appropria ton for the
investigation:
Il have been named as a member of
the committee but Will not serve under
any circumstances. There were at
tempted DribeTies and money was used
among members On the floor of this
house. I know all about ii and we can
furnish evidence that will send certain
members of the legisla ture, to the peni-
tertiary. The courts will undoubtedly
take action
why is it that some of you men who
have so much information, do not file
it with the county attorney and insti-
tute legal proceedings?" inquired Fitz-
gerald of Ford.
Consultations have been held and
this is very likely to be done at an ear
ly date replied Ravenscraft.
Asked to give out the names of the
men who had attempted the briberies
and the names of the persons guilty of
accepting them, Mr.. Ravenscraft said:
Il will do so at the proper time. 1t is
not information that should be made
public until the investigation or trial
begins. The evidence will convict and
don't you forget it,
The investigation will begin at once,
at a time to be named by the committee
which will hold a preliminary meeting
this evening