Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-09
SCHEME OF GAMBLERS
Slip a Law Through Legislature to
Legitimatise Their Calling.
RAISE MONEY TO GREASE THE BILLS WAY
Suspicious Actions Of Some of the Senators
Toward the Measure.
RANS0M'S WRATH FINDS AN OUTLET
sulphurous Profanity Affords an Escape for
His Raging Passions.
UNSEeMLY ZEAL TO PROTECT OTHERS
Objections by the Reform senator
Prevent witness Charles NJ. Rigg
from Revealing with
whom He Negotiated.


Following Is a continuation OF the testi,
mony of C. NJ. Rigg before the senate COM
mittee appointed to investigate the charges
made by The Bee in connection with the
introduction and passage Of senate file No.
S31, the gambling bill. 1t Is n transcript
of the notes OF the sworn stenographer OF
the committee:
Odd you leave a note reading as fol-
lows: IL tried to see you today. l laid the
matter before the gang and they said they
wouldn't touch 1t until at least 20 per cent
was in my hands. l go to Lincoln this p. m.
Let me hear from you?" Ayes, sir, I
wrote that.
Q.-You will now please explain what that
matter was. A.-That matter WAS a
gambling bill almost identical with 1871. Of
which I have no knowledge. Now, l will go
on and answer all your questions.
OWN you explain who composed the
"gang?' Al will say this, that no men,
Der of the senate or no member of the house
composed the gang.
| Q.-That is not the question. Ais 1t
necessary to go any further than that, Mr..
Chairman?
Senator Murphy, Chairman-Well, I sup
pose Mr.. Rosewater is entitled to have an
answer.
Victor Rosewater-I insist upon an answer.
The committee led me to believe they would
compel testimony from witnesses whom I
had subpoenaed.
Senator Murphy, Chairman-It is not for
the chair to rule, 1t is for the committee to
say. ,
Senator Ritchie-I think 1t is a proper ques-
l A.. f@u q D;- - ,a.,or ii. mt -
how we can proceed with the investigation
| unless it Is answered.
Senator Talbot-Do the balance of the
committee think 1t proper for the witness
to answer the question? or course / do not
think 1t s~the proper thing to give testi-
| mony here against some outside fellows that
| had no notice OF this hearing.
Victor Roeewater-This question seeks to
develop that.
Senator ~Talbot-The main thing l want to
know is, whether anybody in the house or
senate have taken any Doodle to influence
| their vote, that is what / want to know.
l suppose there are a lot of gamblers in this
| city probably, and other cities probably,
that would like to influence votes, but / am
not concerned in that.
Senator Osborn-It is not pertinent to the
question whether there was money raised or
not, Is 1t?
Victor Rosewater-I have brought this LETT
ter out that he admitted writing and the
question seeks to develop on that. Aft I
remember correctly those are the words
used in that letter. 1t was a short note I
wrote there on the Oxford paper; that is 1t.
isn't 1t?
Victor Rosewater-I didn't say / had the
note. A.-Well, I admitted 1t.
RANSOM EXCUSES THE LOBBYISTS.
Senator Ransom-I do not see If these
fellows hired a lot of fellows to lobby around
here to influence senators and representa-
tives but did not use the money with the
senators and representatives what that could
have to do with it. That is done on every
bill. Every man that Is interested in a bill
here hires people to come here and 1t Is
generally understood to be legitimate. You
cant get people to come here and work for
nothing.
Senator Talbot-Mr. Rosewater's chargeE
are that certain moneys were raised and GER
tain per cent of 1t paid.
Rigg-I will say this, the parties that
spoke to me were not parties that are con-
nected with the house or senate, either one.
as an officer or member Of either one.
Q.-I asked you the name Of the parties
referred to by you as the "gang?" All
the committee says to answer | will answer
IT. / do not want to answer anything that
Is Objectionable to the committee.
Senator Murphy, am inclined
to think 1t is pertinent IL these letters are to
go in, as they probably will, why their
meaning should be explained, that IL my
view Of 1t. OF course we cannot show all
by one witness, you simply have to show a
part by each witness.
Victor Rosewater--I think under the rule
/ am entitled to have that question an
swered.
Senator Ransoin--Well, 1t is something that
l am not interested in at all.
Victor R0sewater-You probably are not,
you probably know.
SOME CHOICE EXPRESSIONS.
Senator / insist that this
investigation either stop so far as
is concerned, or that he stop these slurs.
Now, j did not come here Voluntarily,
came here over a protest. and while he has
got the right to run his paper as he sees
ft. he has not the right to insult me in this
committee. and by God ! am not going to
stand II, / Will tel you that, by Jesus Christ,
and II you don't run this thing right, BY
God, I will report II to the senate.
Senator osborn-We should be entitled
to respect.
Senator Ritchle-I think those slurs should
be stopped.
Victor Rosewater-I will withhold my re-
mark outside of the question.
Senator Murphy. Chairman-Yes, I think
the desires a respectful hearing
and a respectful treatment of the witness
and each member Of the committee, and I
think the committee will insist upon that.
Mr.. Rigg, Witness-I am waiting TO hear
what the committee says In regard to an
swering that question. '
Senator Ransom-I have given my vote
and one Of the other senators has his.
Mr.. Rosewater-I think this Investigation
is largely In the nature of a grand jury In
yestigation, the parties charged are not
brought into the grand Jury room.
Senator ~Talbot-They sometimes are, but
OF course not very often, that Is true.
Senator Osborn--I would like to hear
the name, II 1t Is a proper thing.
Senator Talbot have no objection to II.
Senator Murphy, Chsirman-Then ! pre-
sumo you should ans yer him, Mr.. Rigg.
Senator Talbot think this, that 10
should be kept r secret by the reporter.
Q.-Mr. Rigg, give the names OF the parties
referred to by you as the "gangT" A,-LeS!
Herdman; that is all the party I had o talk
with at that time,
Q.-Who did you refer 70 as the gang,
that is the question? A.-Well, Lee HEIDI
man was the only one | referred TO. because.
he was the only one I knew In the mstterf
there might have been Others implicated
with him that knew nothing about.
n-uhaI utnr IL M uhnn aalA