The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-06-18
BRIBERY REPORT.
The Investigation Committee Submit
Their Conclusions te Gov Leedy,
The Use OF Money FOR Corrupt Purpose,
ChaFgsd-The Republican Member
Dissents-An Extra Session OF
the Legislature Favored.

TOPEKA, Kan, June 1.-THE COM
mittee appointed to investigate rus
mors and charges Of bribery among
members OF last winters legislature
closed its work Saturday. In its re-
port to Gov Leedy the committee as
seFts that it found the charges to be
ttie. 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 oft The
governor was not in the city when the
report was made, having gone to 0tta-
wa. The other officers about the capi-
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, 1866, not including the stenogra-
piers fees, Which will be enough to
bring it up TO nearly ST, 800
After reviewing the committees or
ganizatiOn, taking Of evidence and ad-
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 viii carry out e8-
pliCitly their demands for laws that viii relieve
them from the e1t6ftions 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-
ton are made the people have the right to
know all the facts so that they NAV be able to
fix the responsibility where 1t belongs, to pun
ish their dishonest servants and to guard
against similar tTegchery in the future, The
people are justly indignant at the failure to Sc
cure needed legislation They will have ad-
ditional cause fOT indignation and disappoint-
ment in the premature ending Of this inYesti-
ton.
The committee has honestly endeaYoFed to
bring out the whole truth and all the facts in
regard 20 the charges Of bribery, but has been
hampeTed from the beginning by attacks upon
its legalitHand powers, emanating apparently
from men learned in the law, whose names In
popular estimation are connected with those
measures concerning which the corrupting in
fiuences OF the lobbies were most evident
Their views have been disseminated by GER
tain Of the newspapers, and nave served to ere
ate in the minds Of the public the belief thaE
this investigation would be farCicaL
During the closing days Of the legislature
determined effort was made to discharge the
committees failing Ia this those interested ia
preventing an investigation endeaYored to pre-
vent an appropriation to carry on the inVestiga-
ton, and when this attempt also failed the ap-
prOpriatiOG was hedged about with restrictions
and provisions that have been embarrassing to
the committee From these circumstances
those arising during the progress OF the invess
tigatioh ana from careful review Of the evil
dence adduced, the committed is led inevitably
to the conclusion that Well-Organizsd l0bbies
with distinct purpose Of controlling legisla-
ton. infested the legislative halls at the last
session, and that their methods involved eor-
Fuption and bribery Of members Of the legisla-
ture.
It's to be regretted that the committee is NOT
clothed with authority to continue its work in
an ehective way. The evidence submitted here
with viii 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-
clusioa 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 an 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 a misdemeanoE
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
the late legislature to pass certain laws de-
manded by the people was due to improper in
iuences welded by corporations and lobbyists
amounting to outright purchase in some cases,
and that the necessity for such laws Is as uT-
gent as ever, Il is, therefore, recommended
that the legislature be called in extra session
that the will of the people be crystaIlized into
law.