The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-08
VIII Conduct Its Sessions In a
Committee Room.
ELECTS ITS OFFICERS.
Promises Some Interesting De-
velOpments-But Little
known of the Character OF the
Testimony Expected.

The committee appointed by the leg1s-
lature to investigate the charges Of brib-
erv in connection with numerous meas
ures which were considered at the last
session. began work today The members
are: Senators NJ. A Householder and A
S. Cooke, and Representatives Frank
Grimes. Lot Ravenscraft and o. o. Out
calf Representative Outcalt is chairman
and Mr.. Grimes is secretary.
The committee consumed four hours IN
executive session yesterday afternoon IN
the election of a clerk and stenographer-
j. B. French secured the first posltloh
and Miss Maude Stonecypher OF AtchlsOA
was elected stenographer-
The committee adjourned last night un-
til o'clock this morning, at which tine
but three members were present.
The committee assembled in the senate
chamber which was cold as a barn. rms
did not suit Senator Householder and he
moved to adjourn to the senate judiciary
committee room This was carried and
committeeman. Witnesses and newspaper
reporters went to that room. There the
furniture was covered with dust, there
was no fire but one table and a half
dozen chairs. for 25 men, the committee
members, reporters and committee OIL
cials 1t was an uninviting prospect but
the members were not deferred from es-
tablfshing themselves therein
Mr. Forrest. the sergeant-at-arms of the
committee went to Charles NJ. Ross, the
assistant secretary of state to secure
some additional furniture for the rooms.
Mr.. Ross referred Forrest to the super
intendent of the building, MIR. Lehman.
Mr. Forrest informed Lehman that the
committee desired some chairs and would
also be pleased to note the presence OF
a janitor to clean the rooms To this re-
quest Mr.. Lehman replied that the Jani-
tors had enough work to do and could
not be spared to serve the committee.
Mr.. Forrest then returned to the com
mittee room and the members and men
who wanted chairs proceeded to go out
into the senate chamber and carry them
in.
The committee assumed all the dig
nifty possible and announced an execu-
tive session. The witnesses and re-
pOrters were requested to leave, which
they did, and ten minutes ended the
secret caucus. Then the StenOgrapher
was not present, a wait of one hour and
a half having already been required by
her absence. MIR. Grimes went to the
office of the attorney general and Sc
cured Miss Lizzie Grain to take testi-
nOny.
Mr.. Grimes escorted Miss Grain into
the room and she took a seat at the
desk prepared to do the work
Miss Grain will take the testimony
until the stenOgrapher elected by the
committee arrives" said Mr.. Grimes.
young lady;
The committee has decided that no
testimony will be taken until after din
ner. and we will not need the services
of stenOgrapher at this time"
I am sorry that you have been
troubled TO come up here" continued
Mr. Outca1t to Miss Grain, but Mr..
Grimes upon his own responsibility and
without authority from the committee,
brought you here"
Miss Grain left the room while Mr..
wi 81 4
calf, finding breath after while to
exclaim:
You gave me the worst of that. Out
Gait L was merely trying to help mat
ters Out,as the StenOgTap pher which your
committee has elected, has not yet pre-
sented herself
Nevertheless replied Outcalt 'you
acted without authority"
EXAMINATION BEGINS.
At 1 o'clock the committee assembled
but it was O'Clock before the work be-
gan. Representative FairchiId was tbe
hrst witness He was asked by the
assistant attorney general, who first
read the concurrent resolution under
which the investigation was brought.
what he knew of the a+teD1ted
prlber1es in connection with various
blIls pending before the legislature
Falrchlld said: DO you want what
1 know, or what 7 have heard?'
Mr.. Schnelling-What you know. of
course.
Al know nothing
Q--haVe you any personal knowledge
OF any attempts to exert influences for
or against certain measures?
A--Supporters of the different meas
uIeS called upon me, but in no instance
Gid anyone attempt to approach me in
any other than a legitimate and proper
manner I did receive some LETTERS
pertaining to school book legislation.
ters? 'iie
Al am not sure
Q--HaVe You the letterf
Al have.
Own you read it7
Ayes, sir.
The letter follows:
Hon. Glenn Fairchild:
He'll knows no fury like a people be-
trayed. We know Wilson we know,
you. Support the school book bill
bill without amendment. a word to
the wise is sufficient.
Asked to narrate what followed, he
said:
I went, in response to an invitation.
to Speaker Streets room and found
that he had received a similar letter
We went to see Mr.. Stryker. I handed
him the letters and asked him if he had
any knowledge concerning them. After
reHectlng Tor some moments, he said
that he did not
It was apparent in Mr.. Fairchild's
demeanor that he believed Mr.. Stryker
to be the author of or at least in a
measure responsible for the letters.
Q-Why did you go to see Stryker?
A-One reason was that Mr. Striker
had asked me to see him privately
about the school book bill and / Thought
that perhaps the communication r9i9.bt
pc from some one opposed to the bill
-OO you Know or have Won anv Sis.