The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02
AND BOLDLYPROCLAIM
The Offer Made to Them Giving
Names and Dates.
Two Persons, r. s. Boyd and
"AI" TOuchie
NAMED IN WARRANTS
For Arrest in the Hands of Ser
geant at Arms.

A sensation was sprung in the Kan
sas senate this morning. member
OF that body rising to question of per-
sonal privilege, stated that he had been
offered $1,000 to support a certain stock
yards measure then under considera-
ton, and announcing the name of the
man who had made him the offer.
He was Immediately followed by an
other member who stated that he also,
had received a similar offer for the
same purpose, and announced the name
of the man who had attempted to bride
him Within five minutes after these
announcements, the sergeant-at-ar
had been supplied with warrants for
the arrest of both parties, and within
ten minutes more, one of the men was
in custody in the room of the secretary
of the senate, and the sergeant-at- arms
had left the senate chamber in search
of the other.
Senator Titus, Pop.) of Harper coun-
ty and Senator Jumper Pop.) of Usage
county were the two members of the
senate who made the sensational state
ments, and r. S. Boyd and AL"
Touchie were the men who they res
pectively announced had attempted to
bride them.
At 10 o'clock this morning the senate
entered into the consideration of the
three stock yards measures on the SEN
ate calendar. These consisted of bill
by Senator King, one by Senator Han
ma and one by the committee on agri-
culture and irrigation Senator Kings
bill was the first taken up
When the reading of the King bill
had been concluded, Senator Hanna
moved to Strike out all after the en-
acting clause and substitute instead the
q
was then read, and Immediately after
the clerk finished the reading, Senator
Jumper took the floor.
Mr.. President" said he. ct sincerely
hope this motion to substitute the bill
just read for the bill that was first read
here this morning will not prevail. I
have a great many objections to this
bill, but my greatest objection is that
this is the very measure that the stock
yards company desires to have passed.
1 do not know whether they drafted
this bill, or who in reality is the author
of this bill but / do know that this is
the bill the stock yards company have
been working for. They have had their
lobby here in this senate, and they have
had their corruption fund here in this
senate, and if you pass this bill you will
pass the measure that the stock yards
company have offered to pay, 1 will not
say have paid, out money to the mem
bers of this body"
Senator Jumper had not yet resumed
his seat when Senator Titus jumped to
his feet. Il do not know" said he,
what other members of this body have
been offered. but in my seat this morn
ing l was offered 81 900 to support the
Hanna bill. 1 will give you the name
of the man who offered me this money
Here he picked from his desk a card,
and holding it in his hand announced,
Continuing he said: ''I do not know
what the law of the senate is in refer
ence to this matter, but if possible
want to have this man placed under ar
rest
Here Senator Jumper jumped to his
feet. Il make a motion, said he. that
the geant-at-armS be supplied with
warrants. not only for r s. Boyd but
for AL. Touchie as well. and that he be
instructed to take both men into cuSto-
dy. 1 was offered $1,000 last night by
this man TOuchie to vote for the Han
ma bill"
The motion carried by unanimous
vote, and the sergeant-at-arms was at
once supplied with the necessary war
rants. Hardly had he received the
warrants, however, before Touchie
walked up to Senator Jumper and said:
Send after the other man. 1 am here
and intend to stay here
Touchie was escorted to the room of
the secretary of the senate, and placed
under guard. Sengeant-at-arms Gray
then started on a search for Boyd
turned in a few minutes saying that he
was not to be found anywhere in the
state house. He then left the building
in search of Boyd elsewhere. Up to
noon he had not found him.
Shortly after the warrants had been
issued for the two men, a resolution
was introduced by Senator Forney. pro-
viding for the appointment of a com
mittee of five, three members from the
house and two members from the SEN
ate. to fully investigate all charges of
bribery, attempted bribery or other i'm
proper conduct in connection with the
business of the present legislature. The
committee is empowered to appoint a
sergeant-at-arms, a clerk and stenog-
rapher, and to send for persons and
papers An attempt to bride a mem
Der of the legislature is a penitentiary
offense.
Touchie is a resident of Ottawa. and
has been a member of the Populist
party for a number of years. When
questioned concerning the action of the
senate in causing his arrest, he said:
This matter is clearly understood
between Senator Jumper and myself.
1 have simply helped to bring this mat
ter to a head. I have acted as an ac-
cessory, you might say There will be
no trouble as far as 1 am concerned"
When asked if he had offered Sena tor
Jumper 81 600, TOuchie simply replied
that he would neither deny or affirm
anything at this time.
To Senator hummer was stated To11oT-