The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-07
The Committee Investigating the
Bribery Charges
Completes Its Labors and Hands in Two
Reports on the Subject.
The Majority Finds That the Tes-
timony in No Way Substan-
tiated the Charges That McCune
Was Using Money in the Inter-
est of His Candidacy, While
Minority Reports Directly OPP
posite.

Minority Reports Directly OPP
posite.
SALT LAKE, March 6.-The Legis-
1ative Investigating Committee submit
ted majority and minority report TO
the joint assembly this afternoon.
The report is signed by Senator Whit
ney and Representatives Steward, Man
field, Sorensen and Cummings. The mi
nority report is signed by Senators
Shurtliffe and Howells. The findings
of the majority report are as follows:
s'First-In the matter of the charge
of bribery preferred by Representative
Law against A. w. McCune, we find,
after the most careful consideration,
that the charge is not sustained by the
evidence.
'sSecond-In the Sloan-Nebeker case
we find that the said r. w. Sloan i'm
properly approached Senator w. G.
Nebecker for the purpose of securing
his (Nebecker's) support for Mr.. Nc
Cune, but the evidence does not estab-
lish an attempted bribery or other
public offense.
'Third-In the Ivins-Jackson case the
evidence is not sufficient to justify the
conclusion that any attempt was made
to secure by improper means Mr.. Jack
sons vote. We believe that in this
case Mr.. Jackson labored under an
honest but mistaken impression.
"Fourth-The evidence in the Cook
Farr matter is SO remote that we deem
it Irrelevant to any issue under con-
sideration. The Lapish charge-a sup
Elemental case-is one in which the
evidence bearing upon the statement is
made not sufficient to warrant the
finding of an attempted bribery or
other public offense.
I'm conclusion, we record our en-
phatic disapproval of the present
method of conducting Senatorial cam
paigns, particularly the practice by
Senatorial candidates of opening head
quarters. employing numerous assist
ants and entertaining by means of free
dinners, free theaters and other graft
tious expenditures persons whose votes
are desired by the candidates at whose
expense these things are provided. 1t
not only tends to evil but it works evil.
ana IN the interest of good government,
pure elections and that higher political
morality which all good citizens desire
TO see attained, the practice should be
abolished.
We also condemn the circulation of
unfounded rumors designed to iniure
the prospects of Senatorial candidates. +"
Inc specific findings of the minority
report are as follows:
we nave considered with great care
and much elaboration the case of AL
pert A. Law and A. w. McCune and
from the evidence introduced we are
or the opinion. by testimony which to
our mind is entirely satisfactory. that
A w. McCune did, by the use of mon
ey, attempt to secure the vote of AL
bert A. Law, a member of the House
OF Representatives, for him, and said
A. W. McCune, for Senator.
From the evidence which we have
received, we are likewise of the oninion
that *. W. Sloan. acting for and on he
half of A. w. McCune. on or about tho
TN day of February. 1899, Improperly
approached w. G. Ne5el1er a State
senator, for the purpose of securine
sad Nebeker's support for A. w. Nc
Cune.
We find from the evidence intro
duced respecting the charges made nv
representative Lapish. shat while the
charges have not been fully corrobo-
rated, Mr.. Lapish is impressed with the
honest belief that D. c. Dunbar. acting
LOT A. W. McCune. did attempt to in
nuence his vote by Indicating to said
Laplsh, who was securing a patent for
a device to be attached to air-bralxes
upon railway trains land who is aff,ict-
ed with the infirmity of bIindnassl that
u said McCune was elected JTnitad
States Senator he would assist the ssi5
Lapish in furthering or prosecuting tis
invention. and that If he was not elect
ed he could not do so.
We further find from the evidence
tnat certain contract in writing was
entered into October last year between
Il. e Chambers and A. W. Mctsune b,-
winch McCune agreed to- pay Chambers
all losses which might be incurred in
publishing the Herald for five months
together with 1896 ovardraft 1ncur-ed
in October. The said Chambers navino
the option to Mach 1st to reimhnrse
McCune one-half the losses so raid h;r,
OF 10 give said McCr1e A93 shares of
the Herald Company's stock We fur
Ntti ii4u .tldl The losses FOR the five
months aggregate $500. which added
to the overdraft makes total of So
296 which was paid by McCune in mr.
suance of this contract.
We further find that at the time the
contract was entered into MIR Cham
bers was hold-over STATE Senator and
that McCune had. prior to that time
announced himself a candidate for
United States Senator While both men.
Chambers and McCune in their testi
mony insist that this contract was
made without the slightest intent on
the part of either by 1t to affect the
Senatorial contest. the least that can be
said of II is, that undac the circum-
stances, 1t was improper and injudicious
In the extreme"
After reading the reports the joint as
sembly adjourned until $50 a. m.
when the reports will be taken up for
discussion
To-day's joint Senatorial ballot re-
suited: McCune 81. King 8. Nebeker 6,
Rideout :, Cannon 4. Sutherland IL.
Absent 10.