The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-07
M'CUNE is EXONERATED
ON BRIBERY CHARGE
Five Members of Committee Submit Report Fa-
VOrabIe to Him.
Two Members, Both CannOnteS, Find Him Guilty On the
Law Charge-JOnt Session Will Act Today.

The report Of the legislatures inves-
tigating committee on Representative
Albert A. Laws charges of bribery
against A. w. McCune, the leading can
didate for United States senator from
Utah, and also into the various and
sundry rumors of corrupt methods used
to obtain support from other members
Of the legislature, was submitted yes
terday. There were two reports in fact,
out this was in line with popular ex-
pectation. Consideration of the COM
mittee's findings viii be the special or
der in the legislature this morning,
commencing at $40.
The findings of Senators Shurtliff and
Howell, the minority of the committee,
We're unfaVorable to the accused, but
that sucn would be the case has been
widely known from the time the COM
mittee on investigation was chosen.
The majority CT the committee, Sen
atcr Whitney and Representatives
Mansfield, Cummings, Sorenson and
Stewart, found the evidence of the con-
spirators insufficient to substantiate the
charges of bribery and other corrupt
practices to secure votes for his lMr.
McCune's) election to the senate. TheY
exonerated Mr.. McCune.
The report of the committee was due
yesterday noon at the joint assembly,
but at that hour q communication from
the committee announced that it would
be impossible to submit the findings un-
til O'Clock. The Indulgence Of the
assembly for a few more hours was re-
quested and granted. After taking the
ballot for senator the assembly dis
solved till o'clock, but it was nearly
S before the assembly reconVened-
The announcement Of an unavoidable
delay was a keen disappointment TO the
vast 1hrong who edged their way into
The legislative han TO hear the reacing
of the committees findings. However.
everybody returned to the hall at the
adjourned hour. Long before the ap-
pointed time every available foot OF
space was occupied. The committee
rooms, the cloak room and the corri-
dors were packed with men ana women
from every walk of lie.
AS the hour for recOnvening the joint
assembly came and went by the crowds
in the gallery became tr;fte impa-
tient, but along about Ten minutes TO
5 the state senate fled into the repre-
sentatiVeS' hall One rap OF president
Nebeker's gaNel restored order, and
from then on every person 5elc on
bated breath TO hear the monentous
proceedings that were 10 follow
The doors were thrown open ana the
windows raised for better Ventilation,
and then the roll was called
r.. With this preliminary aside, Presi-
dent Nebeker asked, Is the committee
on investigation ready TO report!
THE committee is ready" answered
Chairman Shurtlif. There are TWO
reports, a majority and minority, ne
continued, but owing to the shortness
of time the. typewriter copies of the
,hinority's findings for the members OF
the assembly are not yet prepared
Standing erect, Senator Whitney said:
"aere is the majority report ana a
messenger bore If to the president, VINO
handed il 10 Chief Clerk Cohen.
In clear and distinct tones the clerk
proceeded TO read the findings of the
majority Of the committee. The vast
throng gave breathless attention 10 the
reading OF the document Not a word
of approval nor a demonstration of ap-
rlauee greeted ii. The same obsequi-
ousness and respectful attention
marked the reading of the minority re-
port.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
Following is the text of the majority
report:
sTo the President and Members of the
Joint Assembly Of the Legislature OF
the State OF UCah:
Your special committee appointed to
,-,-estjsate The charges Of bribery made
bv Renresentative Albert \. Law, q
member Of this assembly, against the
Hon. \. w NcCUne, a senatorial candl-
date. beg leave TO report that they have
discharged that duty. and herewith
submit their findings
"a resolution adopted by the assem-
blv on Saturday, the 18th of February,
1893. authorized this committee to or
eranize and select its chairman and
proceed 10 investig2te'the charges made
hv Representative Law, ana any and
all charges made against any candidate
for United States senator. or against
any member OF this legislature, and TO
that end the committee was empower
ed TO subpoena witnesses and swear ana
examine them, and do ali things neces-
gary TO be done TO carry out the intent
Of this investigation.
Acting under this authorization,
YOUR committee Immediately organized
nv eiecting as its chairman Senator L.
". ShurtiifI. and as its secretary Rep
,,.sentatiVe Horace Cummings Mon
dav. Feb 20, 1899, at . o'clock a m,
was the time set for the investigation
20 begin: the place, an Office adjoining
f,e senate chamber of the legislature.
The parties in the case of Law VS.. Nc
Cune were duly notified and directed 10
file with The committee, on or BEFORE
that time. the following papers, tO-Wit:
A written statement by Representative
Law of his charges against Mr.. Nc
Cune "a copy Of which he was to fur
nish to the latter not later than u
O'Clock. noon, of Feb. 80; and written
answer by the said McCune to said