The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-23

HARRISBURG, Pa, March 22.-The
house to-day adopted resolution d.
recting the committee appointed to In
yestigate the charges Of corrupt solci-
tntlon In connection with the balloting
for United States senator and the recon-
sideration Of the McCarrsll jury bill to
summon before 1t every member Of the
house. The resolution asking for this
authority was presented to the house by
Chairman Fow. of the investigating
committee. 1t stated that the commit
tee was In doubt as to the scope of It's
instructions and desired to learn the
sense Of the house In regard to calling
each member for the purpose OF giving
testimony.
Mr.. fowler, of Forest, said the vast
majority OF the members of the house
are honorable men and they ought not
to be dragged before this committee.
The resolution was slur on the house
and 1t ought to be voted down.
Chairman Fow said the resolution was
prepared by subcommittee Of the
committee. consisting of Messrs. Dixon
md McClain, and handed to him just
before 1t was offered. Mr.. Skinner, OF
Fulton was perfectly willing to go be-
fore the committee, but he thought that
every member should not be called to
go before 1t. He moved to amend the
resolution to give the committee power
to summon before 1t any members
whom It may desire to hear. SIr. Ad-
ans. of Philadelphia, said the resolu-
tion was an insult to every member OF
the house. Mr.. Mccain, OF Lancaster,
declared the committee had no desire to
"whitewash" or "blnckwash" anybody
and that this resolution was offered In
justice to Itself and for Its future guild
ance.
Mr.. Young. of Tioga, q member of the
committee. said the resolution was Of
fercd to ascertain the sense Of the house
as to the future course Of the commit. :.
tee in the investigation. lMr. fowler.
OF /. Forest, said every member Of the
house on whom suspicion was cast by
the press. has been vindicated by the
testimony adduced by the committee.
Mr.. Young replied that the committee
was not after any member OF the house,
but after the persons who have ap-
preached the members Of the house.
Mr.. koontZ. of Somerset, n member
VI tHc SOilIiiltlCc, oilu IL "Ao a. BIC
mistake to say that all the evidence
was furnished by the press. Two mem
bers OF the house, whose honesty and
integrity could not be impeached, have
come before the committee and Swore
that they were corruptly approached to
vote for the reconsideration OF the Nc
Carrell jury bill. When two members
OF the house have come before the COM
mittee and told their story. why should
the other members not appear before
the committee. and like honest Engler
and Crlste, tell whether they were cor
ruptly approached.
The bribery Investigating committee
will begin calling members of the house
tomorrow TO tell what they know. II
anything. about the charges of alleged
bribery In connection with the consider
alton of the McCarrell jury bill in the
house. They will be called in alpha
betlcal order and asked the following
questions. which were framed at an
executive session this evening of the
committee:
First-Whether the witness was ever
directly or indirectly offered any money
or other consideration to vote for or
against the McCarrell jury bill or any
particular candidate for the United
States senate.
Sccond-Whether the witness knows
or ever heard of any other member be-
ing corruptly approached.
Third-Whether the witness or any
friend or relative was offered any posi-
tion or preference In return for his vote
by any member or outsider.
Under the resolutions adopted by the
house this afternoon, every member of
that body Will be called before the COM
mittce.