Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-19
OHIO INVESTIGATION.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BRIBERY
CHARGES GETS TO WORK.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS SLOW,
RecnIcitrant Witnesses Given More
Time I'm Which TO Answer Ques-
Report Likely to lie Made.

COLUMBUS. o., January 1S.-The
Senate Committee tonight began its in
vestigation into the charges of bribery
made by Representative Otis during the
recent senatorial contest. The members
OF the House Committee, appointed to
investigate the same charges, were invited
to be present, but they did not partici-
pate officially. and there will be two
separate investigations. The committee,
in executive session, decided not to allow
any attorneys and adopted other rules OF
procedure. 1t was decided to hold execu-
tive sessions for business, and TO take
testimony in public. The committee went
from the committee-room to the Senate
chamber when it was ready 10 call witt
nesses, and n crowd awaited them.
The committee consists of Senators Ro-
bertson, Fink, and Long Oemocrats), and
Senator's Burke and Garfield Republi-
cans. Senator Burke was one of the
leaders of the opposition to Senator
Hanna. Senator Garfield is the only menu
be- of the committee who voted for Sena-
tor Hanna, and the votes taken were
to !.
There were four witnesses examined to-
night, as follows: Samuel Pentland, pro-
pretor Of the Neil House, I'm which Sena-
tor Hanna had his headquarters; Shepard
NJ. Dunlap. manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Company; w. L. Trues-
dale. manager of the Postal Telegraph
L n
the telephone company. Nothing new was
developed during the session of four
hours. The witnesses refused to answer
some questions, and to produce their
books and copies Of messages. Mr.. Pent-
land refused TO produce his books to show
who paid for rooms at the Neil House
and for other expenses, and was given
until tomorrow night TO do so. Manager
Ross wanted to consult his superiors be-
fore telling who was connected with the
private telephone in the Neil House, by
their long-distance lines, and he was
given more time-till tomorrow night.
Managers Dunlap and Truesdale were
given until tomorrow night TO produce
copies Of Geographic messages sent and
received by the managers for Senator
Hanna.
The investigation will drag along for
some time, if no more progress is made
at future sessions than was made to-
night.
AS the Senate stands 10 to II against
Hanna. with Senator Burke voting with
.t-- f- "a that
there will be some report made by that
body TO be transmitted to the United
States Senate.
The House Investigating Committee may
do very little more than look on at the
Senate investigation.
UNEXPECTED BITTERNESS.
COLUMBUS, O., January 1s.-In the
Senate to-day, there was a sensational
and somewhat unexpected outcropping Of
the bitterness engendered by the sena-
torial fight. When the standing commit
tees were reported, Senator Alexander
presented a formal protest in verv Bit
ter language against the placing Of the
name Of Senator Burke. of Cuyahoga
county, the only Republican member Of
the Senate who did not vote for Mr..
Hanna, on the committee. There was
immediate objection from the Democratic
members to the language Of the protest,
but a motion to expunge Objectionable
phases was ruled out of order by the
president, on the ground that the protest
was made under a constitutional right.
Senator Sullivan Republican), although
differing with Senator Burke in the sena-
torial election, said he regarded the pro-
test as inappropriate.