The record-union., 1898-01-20
Many Witnesses Subpenaed, but All Decline
to Answer Questions.
Likelihood That Several Arrests
for Contempt Will Follow-A
Test Vote in the House on the
Question Of Reorganization Re-
suits in the Defeat Of a Motion
for the Proposed Change of
Officers.

COLUMBUS (O), Jan. 19.-The in
vestigation into the charge of bribery
in connection with the recent Senator
ial election, reached a crisis tonight.
No matter what may be the final re-
suit of the investigation, there will
likely be several witnesses arrested
for contempt They had seven wit
nesses supoenaed for tonight, but they
We're not al Examined, because none
of them would testify.
The Senate Committee last night ex-
amined Samuel Pentland, proprietor Of
the Neil House; Frank P. Ross. mana
ger of the telephone company; w. F.
Truesdell, manager of the Western Un-
ion Telegraph Company, who then
asked to confer with their attorneys,
and were excused until tonight for
that purpose When they appeared to-
night they said their attorneys held that
the Senate had no jurisdiction in the
investigation of the bribery of a MEM
ber of the House, and had advised them
not to answer any further questions be-
fore the committee. They all followed
the advice of their attorneys.
Chairman Burke, Senators Lang and
Fink did their best to draw out the wit
IltSS6S, DuI 10 no avail. <AINcl liiC loui
others took their turns, Senator Gar
field would close each examination by
asking, DO you decline to answer
questions because your attorneys say
this committee has no jurisdiction in
this case, and have SO advised you?'
The reply was in the affirmative, and
the witnesses were excused. Each
witness was told that he was held under
service by the committee, and should
report tomorrow night at 1870. or
sooner, if called for.
As the committee will make a partial
report to the Senate tomorrow, live
ly time is expected. The committee
will ask the Senate to punish the wit
nesses for contempt, and to give the
investigators full authority.
A. d. Holenben of Chardon, Auditor
OF Geauga County, and member Of
the Republican State Executive Com
mittee, was among the witnesses called
Hollenben was asked repeatedly II his
son was not in the employment of Sem
ator Hanna, and if his son did not carry
funds from Columbus to Cincinnati
Representative Otis resides in Gin
cinnati, and made the charges under
which the investigation was instituted
He invariably refused to answer these
questions. doing SO, he said, upon the
advice of his attorneys.
Shepherd NJ. Dunlap, manager of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
was asked specifically for messages
signed H. D." Mr.. Dunlap, too, de-
ciined to make reply.
The committee went into executive
session to consider the extent or their
Jurisdiction in the investigation and,
especially in the matter of Furnishing
witnesses for contempt
The committee was in executive ses-
sion from till l o'clock, and adopted,
by a vote Of to i, Garfield voting in
the negative, a resolution to refer the
whole matter back to the Senate, and
adjourned for further instructions and
power.
In the House to-day there was test
vote Of then Organization, and it re-
suited in a vote of IS to 80 against the
proposed change. Speaker Mason, IN
giving some Hanna men the best CHAIR
manships, has quieted the reorganiza-
ton agitation.
The Hanna Senatorial Investigating
Committee is doing nothing.