The record-union., 1899-01-28

of his opinions on matters of religious
belief; but the liberty of conscience
hereby secured shall not be so construed
as to excuse acts of RIGHTEOUSNESS, ETC.,
or any disorderly conduct"
IN RE THE SPEAKER.
Investigation Committee Renders
Its Report to the Assembly.
The Assembly waited long and late
| yesterday afternoon for the Report of
| Special Committee of Investigation of
| the Methods Employed in the Election
Of a United States Senator
Between and 6 o'clock the commit
tee filed in and Chairman Cosper adj
dressed the Speaker, Dibble, Of San
Francisco, being in the chair, and an
nounced that their report was ready.
| There was no crowd in the Assembly
Chamber People who had been in the
lobby and the gallery earlier in the af-
ternoon had given up hope Of hearing
the report and even the Senate, which
had adjourned, was but SHINY repre-
sented
Speaker Wright was not present.
The House and those in attendance
listened in perfect silence to the reading
| Of the report, and no demonstration
was made during any part of it or at
| the end. ~
Johnson Of Sacramento, when the last
word was spoken, moved that the re-
/ port be made special order for to-day
at IL o'clock a. M, and that it be print
| ed in the Journal. Carried, and so or
dered. Following is
THE REPORT.
| Mr.. Speaker: Your Special Commit
! tee on Investigation beg leave to report
that on the 10th day of January, 1899,
| the Assembly duly passed the following
resolution:
BY Mr.. Johnson:
Whereas, Direct charges have been
| made that improper means have been
| used to influence the action of Hon.
Howard e. Wright, member of and
| Speaker of the Assembly. in the cleo
| ton of United States Senator by the
| Legislature; and,
Whereas, It has been charged that
some persons have used, and are using,
| illegal methods to influence the action
| of members of the Assembly in the said
| election; and,
Whereas, It has been indirectly
charged that members of the Assembly
have been improperly influenced in their
votes for United States Senator; and,
Whereas, Such charges have been
given wide publicity, and should be in
vestigated to the end that If found to
be true the guilty should be punished,
and if found to be untrue. the origina-
tors thereof should be punished; now,
| therefore, be it
| Resolved, That a select commit
| tee of seven members of the Assembly
/ be appointed by the Speaker pro tenn,
to Immediately and fully, thor
oughly and carefully, investigate
each and all of said charges,
whether direct or indirect, and also to
| investigate in like manner the methods
| used to influence members of the As
sembly in their votes for United States
| Senator, and that said committee have
| full power to send for persons, books,
| kilograms and papers, and to employ
Clerk and Stenographer, and that 1t
have leave to sit during the sessions
of the Assembly, and that said COM
mittee report, fully, as speedily as pos
sible, with such recommendations as 1t
may deem proper"
That Immediately upon the adoption
of the resolution, we entered upon our
| duties in that behalf, and have dill
gently prosecuted the inquiry to this
time, holding our sittings daily and
nightly.
"A great number of witnesses have
been examined, and a wide range of in
curry has been instituted, entering even
| into the domain of rumor and conjec-
ture that no hidden truth might escape
us.
We herewith report our
FINDINGS.
First-That the Hon. Howard E.
| Wright, Speaker of the Assembly of
this, the Thirty-Third Session of the
Legislature Of the State of California,
received from Ulysses S. Grant, Jr.,
| through his duly accredited political
manager, Milton ]. Green, the sum of
5000 as contribution to assist him to
secure his election to this Assembly;
which sum of money, as testified by
said Wright, was expended by the said
Wright in advancing his nomination
and election, prior to the primaries next
preceding the general State election on
November 8, 1898.
Second-That the said Wright also re-
ceived from the same sources, the fur
Their sum Of $3.50 after his nomination,
and preceding his election, which sum
was loan to be repaid.
Third-That the said Wright, prior to
his election as Speaker of this As
sembly, led John D. Spreckles and W.
S. Lealxe, owner and manager. respec-
lively, Of the San Francisco Call" to
believe that he was wholly unpledged
and under no obligations relative to the
election Of United States Senator, and
thereby secured to himself the support
ing influence Of the San Francisco
Calf in the furtherance of his candi-
dacy for the Speakership.
Fourth-That the said Howard E.
Wright secured to himself the influence
of Robert N. Bulla and his friends in
aid of his election to the Speakership
by an expressed promise that, if elect
ed, he would vote for Robert N.
Bulla for United States Senator.
Fifth-That the said Howard E.
Wright by the acceptance of said con-
tribution of $500 in aid of his election,
and in the acceptance OF said loan OF
said sum of $3.50 from Ulysses S.
Grant, Jr., led the said Grant to be-
lieve that If the said Howard E. Wright
iwere elected to the Assembly he would