The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-08
CASE OF W. A. CLARK
New Senator to Be Investigated by
Committee on Privileges
and Elections.
TWO PROTESTS FILED
They Give Names and Amounts Said
to Have Been Paid to Legis-
lative Members.
TWO PROTESTS FILED

Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Chan
der, chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections, today reported
from that committee the following res
olutions:
"Resolvcd, That the committee on
privileges and elections Of the senate or
any .sub.committee thereof be author
lied and directed to investigate the
right and title Of William A. CLARK to
seat as sehator from the state Of Mon
tnaa and said committee is authorized
to sit during the sessions of the senate,
TO employ a stenoRrapher, to send for
persons and papers and to administer
oaths and the expense Of the inquiry
shall be paid from the contingent fund
Of the senate upon vouchers to be ap.
proved by the chairman Of the com.
mittee.'
Without objection it was referred to
the committee on contingent expenses
of the senate for report. An Identical
ly similar resolution in the Scott case
from West Virginia was also presented
at the same time and the same action
taken. 1t is reported ex Senator Faulk-
ner has been retained by Senator Clark,
while the opposition has secured the
service of the famous Washington law.
yer, Judge Jere Wilson.
Washington, Dec. An the course
Of the proceedings of the senate today,
Mr.. Carter of Montana presented a
memorial from some Of the members Of
the Montana legislature against the
validity of the pretended election of
William A. CLARK to the senate. 1t
was referred to the committee on priv.
ilegeA and elections. The memorial
recited that Mr.. Clark did secure and
procure votes in this legislative assem-.
bly, by the payment therefor, Of large
sums of money Further, "your
emorialists and protestants do aver
that the suid William A. Clark by him
self and his agents, did bribe sundry
members Of said legislative assembly
to vote for him for said Office" the
memorialists alleging that he was not
the untrammeled choice of the legisla-
ture Of Montana.
The assertion is made that by oorrup-
tion and bribery Mr.. CLARK was enabled
to secure enough votes to compass his
election as senator. It is reoited that
the sum Of $50, 900 paid to the mem.
bers of the Legislature by Mr.. CLARK or
his agents for votes. was produced in
open session OF the Legislature and de-
posted in the treasury Of Montana,
where it still remains. still unclaimed
by Mr.. CLARK. The sum of $35, 1000, it
is alleged, was to be paid for the votes
of four members Of the legislature. It
is alleged the 100000 is but small
fraction Of the amount expended by Mr..
Clark to compass his election. The
memorialists offer to show to the SEN
ate ample evidence to establish the
charges they make. The charges are
signed BY Henry 9. Stiff, speaker Of
the house and twenty-seven other mem.
bers Of the Montana legislature.
Appended to and made part Of the
memorial is report of the investiga-
tion made. Of the election Of Senator
CLARK by the legislature of Montana.
Mr.. Garter also presented a petition
signed by Robert B. Smith. governor of
Montana; 7. r. Collins, state treasurer
Henry Q. Stiff, and many other promi-
nent citizens Of Montana, asking for an
early and full hearing Of the charges
against Senator CLARK. which are set
out fully in the petition.
The petition declares that "for the
purpose Of securing the support Of mem.
bers Of said legislative assembly to vote
for and elect the said William A. Clark,
he did confederate and conspire with
parties named and unnamed by the pc.
titioners," to corrupt and bribe the
members of said legislature and tc
thereby secure their Votes in behalf Of
the candidacy of said William A. CLARK.
tt is alleged that CLARK did, in the fur.
theranoe of his desires, pay large sums
Of money to the members Of the legis.
lature for their votes. The petition
then names some thirty members Of the
legislature. with the sums they are
alleged to have received set opposite
their names. The sums aggregate, ao.
coYding to the petition, about $500. 900.
In addition to the sums alleged tc
have been paid by Senator CLARK tc
members for their votes or influence, Il
is asserted that Senator Clark offered
thirteen other persons for their votes or
influence sums aggregating &l76, 900.
Those persons are also named IN the petit
tion. The petitioners aver that many
other sums unknown at thia time were
paid out oorruptly BY Senator CLARK In
advancing his candidacy for the senate,