Daily inter mountain., 1899-03-07
In Connection With the Utah
Senatorial Fight.
TWO REPORTS WERE MADE
The Majority Finds That Mr.. McCune
Was Not Guilty of Wrong Do
ing in the Matter.

lative investigating committee submitted
a majority and minority report to the
joint assembly this evening. The major
ity report is signed by Senator Whitney
and Representatives Stewart, Manseld,
Sorense and Cummings. The minority
report is signed by Senator's Shurtliff and
Howells. The findings OF the majority
report are as follows
1. In the matter of the charge of brib-
cry preferred by Representative Law
against A. w. McCune, we find, after the
most careful consideration, that the
charge is not sustained by the evidence.
?. In the Sloan Nebeker case, we find
that the said r. w. Sloan improperly APP
preached Senator W. G. Nebeker for the
purpose Of securing his (Nebeker's) sup
port for Mr.. McCune, but the evidence
does not establish an attempted bribery
or other public Offense.
3. In the Ivins-Jackson case the evil
dence is not sufficient to justify the con-
clusiOn that any attempt was MADE to
secure by improper means Mr.. Jacksons
vote, We believe that Mr.. Jackson in
this matter la bored under an honest but
mistaken impression.
4. The evidence in the Cook Farr mat
ter is so remote that we deem it irrele-
want to any issue under consideration.
The Lapish charge-a supplemental
case-is one in which the evidence bear
ing upon the statement made is not Suf-
ficient to warrant the finding of an at
tempted bribery or other public offense.
In conclusion. we record our emphatic
dsapproval of the present method of con-
Quoting senatorial campaigns, particu-
lary the practice, by senatorial candi-
dates, of opening headquarters, employ
ing numerous assistants, and entertain
ing by means of free dinners, free the
aters and other gratuitous dlspensations,
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, and in the interests 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 ru-
mors designed to injure the prospects Of
senatorial candidates.
The minority report says:
We have considered with great care
and much deliberatiOn the case of Albert
A. Law against A. w. McCune and from
the evidence introduced, we are OF the
opinion, by testimony, which to our mind
is entirely satisfactory that A. w. Nc
Cune did. by the use Of money, attempt to
secure the vote of Albert A. Law, a
member Of the house of representatives,
for him, the said A. w. McCune, for
senator. From the evidence which we
have received, we are likewise of the
opinion that r. w. Sloan. acting for and
on behalf of A. w. McCune, on or about
the 1th day Of February, 1899, improp-
erly approached w. G.. Nebeker, a state
senator, for the purpose of securing
said Nebekers support for A. W. Nc
Cune. We find from the evidence intro
duced respecting the charges made by
Representative I.apish, that while the
charges have not been fully cOrrobOrated,
Mr.. Lapsh is impressed with the honest
belief that d. G. Dunbar, acting for A.
w. McCune, did attempt to influence his
vote by Indicating to said Lapish, who
was securing patent for a device to be
attached to air brakes upon railroad
trains, (and who is afflicted with the in
firmity of blindness) that if said McCune
was elected United States senator he
| would assist the said Lapish in further
| ing or prosecuting his invention, and that
| if he was not elected he could not do So
| We further find from the evidence that
| a certain contract in writing was entered
| into in October of last year between T..
| c. Chambers and A. w. McCune by
which McCune agreed to pay Chambers
all losses which might be incurred in pub
fishing the Herald for five months, to-
| gether with the S796 overdraft incurred
| in October. the said Chambers having the
option to March 1st to reimburse McCune
| one half the losses so paid by him, or to
give said McCune 495 shares of the Her.
aid stock.
| We further find that the losses for the
five months aggregate $500, which. ad-
ded to the overdraft, makes a total of
,296, which was paid by McCune in pur-
suance of this contract. We further find
that at the time the contract was entered
| into Mr.. Chambers was a hold-over state
! senator and that Mr.. McCune had not an
| nOunced himself as candidate for
| United States senator. While both Mr.
Chambers and Mr. McCune in their testi-
mony insist that this contract was made
! without the slightest intention on the
part of either by it to affect the sena-
| torial contest, the least that can be said
| of It is that under the circumstances it
was improper and injudicious in the ex-
/ tren1e.
After the reading Of the reports the
! joint assembly adjourned until $50 to-
morrow morning. when the reports will
! be taken UP for discussion.
The ballot: McCune, q; King, 6;
Nebeker, 6; Rideout, 2; Cannon, Z;
| Sutherland, II: absent, 10.