The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-04-16
BRIBERY In KANSAS.
THE INVESTIGATING CON-
MITTEE BEGINS WORK.
Senate Leweliing, Representative Smith.
and Ex- Representative ID. II. Hanna I'm
pugnod-Insinuations Against Super
intendent Stryker.


TOPEKA, Kan, April 9.-The com
mittee appointed by the late Legisla'
ture to investigate the charges of brib-
cry and other misconduct against GER
tain member of the Senate and House
and certain lobbyists yesterday caused
three big sensations and little one.
Reputable witnesses accused Repre-
sentative Frank II. Smith of Sherman
county and eX-Representative Dave
Hanna of Graham county OF attempted
bribery, and Senator L. ID. Lewelling
of proposing scheme for the state to
buy some additional coal lands at
Lansing which had ''$25,000 in it. ="
These were the big sensations. The
little one was an insinuation that
State Superintendent William Stryker
''knew something about the anony-
nous letter campaign against the
book trust carried on when the book
bill was pending.
Representative Wesley M. Metzler OF
Sheridan county testified under oath
that Hanna offered him 500 and after
ward $50 to vote against the Hack
new amendment to the Senate railroad
bill in the House.
Representative Joseph w. Clark OF
Thomas county testified that Repre-
sentative Smith offered him $3.50 to
vote against the Brown maximum
freight rate bill in the House.
Warden Harry Lands of the peni-
tertiary told the story on Lewelling
and Representative Glen Fairchild
made the insinuation about Stryker
and the anonymous letters.
The committee was making great
progress and likely would have in
creased the list of sensa tions, but it
suddenly struck stump. Represen-
tative Clark, who had ''peached' on
Smith, refused to give the name of a
personal friend who also had APP
preached him on the subject of rail
road legislation. The committee in
sisted, but Clark was firm and did not
answer the question asked.
TOPEKA, April 10. When the bribery
investigating committee met yesterday
morning Attorney General Boyle stated
that he had not yet decided as to
whether the committee had power to
compel Clark to testify, but that the
investigation should go on and he
would give decision later.
Senator Titus swore that Senator
Lewelling took him in "a room IN the
National hotel and said that there was
something in it for both of them" il
they could get a substitute adopted
for the original text book bill.
Representative Dingus of Linn coun'
ty swore that Representative Doyle OF
Republic county had offered him $3.50
if he would cease his fight for the text
book bill and that the money would be
placed on his desk the following morn
ing Afterward Doyle said that since
the stories of bribery IN the Senate,
the men who were handling money
were afraid to use it freely. Dingus
said he gave Doyle no encouragement.
They sat together during the session.
DR.. Frank Fl. Smith, representative
from Sherman county, appeared and
demanded to be sworn that he might
testify in reply to the statements made
bv Representative Clark. He said the
statements by Clark were utterly
false. The only conversation he hat
had with Clark touching railroad mat
tcrs was about Clarks Missouri Pacific
railroad pass. Clark had lent his pass
to q friend and the conductor hac
taken it up. He wanted him Smith
to use his influence in getting it re
issued. AT the same time Clark said tc
him that he was in need of $500 and
asked him when he could get it.
Mrs. Nellie Bennett of Emporia
clerk of the House committee of en-
crossed bills (Dr. Smiths committe e.
testified that she was present at con-
versation betwee n DR.. Smith and Mr.
Clark in the committee room. Clarl
was leaving the room. She sat at {
table. Clark said there ought to bt
something in that railroad bill; tina
he needed 5000 or $500, and asked DR.
Smith if he thought there was any
thing in it. Smith said he did not
know Clark also said something about
a pass. After Clark went ont Smith
said to witness that Clark was one o.
the men Brown of Pratt was counting
on as for sale.
Senator Jumper repeated the story
about how Tucher of Ottawa had of
fered him 81 900 TO vote for the Hanna
stock yards bill. The only new feat
ure of the story was that Horace Jen
ness of Topeka also had tried to intiu
ence him in an undue manner to sup
port the Hanna bill Senator jumper
produced LIST of Senators whom
BOYD had told him had been fixed b.
the Stock Yards company. The lis
contained the names of Senators Shat
fer, thinner, Ryan. Campbell. Farrelly
Hanna, Helmick, Forney, Lewelling
Helm and Armstrong.
j. w. Butler of Topeka was placed
upon the stand, but he did not know
nything about the charges CT bribery
His name had been given to the com
mittee by someone. The committee
then adjourned until D o'clock thi
morning.
The attorney general has advised
the committee that 1t has no power t
compel witnesses to answer questions
so it has been decided to contine tn
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