Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-28
SENATE COMMITTEE HERE.
Will Begin Its Investigation Into
Charges of Police Corruption
This Morning.

. Senators ]. N. Ballard, of Montrose; Jo-
seph Orchard. of West Plains; Howard
Gray, of Carthage, and John +. Morton,
of Richmond, who compose the senatorial
Lexow committee, sent here from Jefferson
City to investigate the charges of police
protection extended to the gamblers of the
city, are at the Midland, and will begin
their task at l o'clock this afternoon
They arrived from jefferson City last even
ing and went at once to the Midland hotel
TO lor dinner BY the time they, completed
their meal. the lobby was filled with poll
ticians and others anxious to meet them
and until a late hour they were kept busy
talking with their callers.
Shortly after their arrival they We're met
by Mayor Jones, who, on behalf of the city,
rendered them the free use of the upper
house council chamber for their meetings.
After having met the mayor and Others
the members of the committee spent an
hour in private consultation in their room
discussing the plans they needed to perfect
before beginning the hearing. 1t was de-
cided that it might not be wise to meet in
the council chamber. The legislative COM
mittee that is known as the Whitewash
committee is meeting in the lower house
chamber, and 1t was deemed best not to
form u double-barreled machine in the
same building. For that reason the COM
mttee hopes to be able this morning to
secure another place that will meet their
needs, and may select the rooms of the
probate court in the court house. The SEN
ators had expected to meet Senator Lyons
at the hotel last evening, but he failed
to show up. and they We're unable to COM
plete arrangements until they could learn
what arrangements he might have made
for them.
This morning the committee will meet
him and then secure the list of witnesses
and issue the subpoenaes and get ready to
start the investigation promptly at
o'clock.
That the local affair is simply a fight
of the factions of the Democratic party
was easily seen last evening. The corri-
dors of the Midland hotel swarmed with
anti-Brown Democratic statesmen, all of
them being anxious to meet the members
of the committee and assure them of the
welcome that was waiting for them here.
Among the statesmen who were there
who are known in politics was ex-Repre-
sentative Charles A. Millman Jone Shannon
ex-senator Lyman, Frank p. Walsh and
Congressman W. s. Cowherd Charles
Oldham. who belongs to that faction of the
gambling fraternity that has not been so
far investigated by the grand jury or legis-
lative committee. was also prominent in
the lobby and evinced q deep interest in
the preliminary movements.
1t Is the purpose of the committee so the
members stated last evening, to begin the
investigation at the time the present COM
missionerS were appointed by Governor
Stone. They say they will endeavor to Sc
cure accurate information as to the condi-
tions that existed at that time. and will try
to uncover every act. crooked or other
wise. that has transpired since that time.
and see how near the charges made in the
resolutions may be found true. 1t is likely
the work will consume a weeks time.
The senate investigating committee was
given power to-day by the upper body to
summon witnesses and punish them for
| contempt.