Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-06-19
BRIBERY REPORT.
The investigation Committee Submit
Their Conclusions to Gov. Leedy.
The Use of Money for Corrupt Purposes
Charged-The Republican Member
Dissents-An Extra Session of
the Legislature Favored.

TOPEKA, Kan, June 14.-The COM
mittee appointed to investigate ru-
mors and charges of bribery among
members of last winters legislature
closed its work Saturday. In it's re-
port to Gov. Leedy the committee as
serts that it found the charges to be
true, but deplores the fact that it was
robbed of its usefulness by the SUI
preme courts decision that it had no
authority to compel witnesses to an
swer questions.
When the report was read all the
members agreed to it except Frank
E. Grimes, the republican member,
who objected to the wording of it. The
governor was not in the city when the
report was made, having gone to Otta-
wa. The other officers about the capt.
toll who could be seen expressed them
selves pleased with it as it was stated
to them, and especially with that part
of it which suggests or favors an extra
session of the legislature.
The expenses of the committee were
81, 1856, not including the stenogra-
piers fees which will be enough to
bring it up to nearly 81, 800.
After reviewing the committees or
ganization, taking of evidence and adj
journment from time to time until the
supreme courts decision was rendered,
the report continues:
The people have the right to expect that
their legislative servants will carry out ex-
plicitly their demands for laws that will relieve
them from the extortions of corporations. A
failure to do this, caused by improper influence
brought to bear upon legislators by individual
or corporate interests. cannot be too severely
condemned Where such charges of corrup-
tion made the people have the right to
know all the facts so that they NAV be able to
tha uhara holn tn
ish their dishonest servants and to guard
against similar treachery in the future. The
people are justly indignant at the failure to Sc
cure needed legislation. They will have ad-
ditional cause for Indignation and disappoint-
ment in the premature ending of this investi-
tion.
The committee has honestly endeavored to
bring out the whole truth and all the facts in
regard to the charges of bribery, but has been
hampered from the beginning by attacks upon
its legality and powers emanat1ng apparently
from men learned in the law whose names in
popular estimation connected with those
measures concerning which the corrupting in
fuences of the Hobbies were most evident
Their views have been disseminated by GER
tain of the newspapers, and have served to Gre
ate in the minds of the public the belief that
this investigation would be farcical-
During the closing days of the legislature
determined effort was made to discharge the
committee; failing in this, those interested in
preventing an investigation endeavored to pre-
vent appropriation to carry on the inveSt1ga-
ton, and when this attempt also failed the ap
propriation was hedged about with restrictions
and provisions that have been embarrassing to
the committee. From these circumstances,
those arising during the progress of the inveS-
tigation and from a careful review of the evil
dence adduced, the committee is led inevitably
to the conclusion that well-organiZed Hobbies,
with distinct purpose of controlling legiSla-
ton. infested the legislative halls at the last
session, and that their methods involved cor
ruption and bribery of members of the legiSla-
ture.
1t is to be regretted that the committee is not
clothed with authority to continue its work in
an effective way. The evidence submitted here
with will disclose the fact that in several in
stances attempts were made to bride and
corrupt members of the Legislature Facts
known to different members justify the con-
clusion that additional, direct and conclusive
evidence of bribery would have been developed
The committee believes that the presence of
professional lobbyists in legislative halls is a
menace to the peoples rights. a disgrace to
the state and unmitigated nuisance 1t is
therefore. recommended that laws should be
passed to restrict the privileges. custom has
allowed them, and to make the practice of
their nefarious acts misdemeanor.
The committee believes that similar COM
mittees in the future should be empowered to
compel an unwilling witness to testify. 1t is,
therefore. recommended that law similar to
the federal law upon the subject be passed at
the next session of the legislature
The committee believes that the failure of
manded by the people was due to improper in
fiuences welded By corporations and lobbyists
amounting to outright purchase in some cases,
and that the necessity. for such laws is as ur-
gent as ever 1t is. therefore, recommended
that the legislature be called in extra session
that the will of the people be crystallized into
law.