New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-09
EVIDENCE IN ALLEGED BRIBERY.
PROGRESS OF INQUIRY BY PENNsYL-
vANIA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
MONEY FOR DEMOCRATS TO STAND
BY THEIR CANDIDATE
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBCYE.l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rR1BCNEl
Harrisburg. Penn, March S.-The testimony
tonight before the House Investigation Com
mittee inquiring into the charges that there was
corrupt solicitation OF legislation In the attempt
TO pass the McCarrell Jury bill developed the
fact that the Democratic legislators were weary
Of each other on the United States Senatorship
question, and that Democrats and Quay Repub-
leans had endeavored to bride Democrats to
sign paper to stand by jerks. the Democratic
caucus nominee
This grew out Of the movement early In Feb
ruary to combine the Democrats and anti-Quay
Republicans on an independent Republican to
thwart which a paper was secretly circulated
among the Democrats pledging them not to de-
sert jerks
A great crowd assembled in the big commit
tee-room at the Capitol at the meeting Of the
committee. It was expected that evidence equal
to that taken last night. when two members or
the House swore they had been corruptly so
lic1ted to aid the McCarrell BILL would be Sc
cured The first witness was Irwin ~ Johnson
ODem). a member of the House from Northamp-
ton County After considerable clubbing and
equivocating the witness said he had had a
conversation relating to the bill with eX-Sena-
tor Coye Rep). in his room at the Lochiel
Hotel His colleague. Mr.. Miller CDem), asked
him to see Coyle and they went together. Two
Democratic members, Spatz and Rosenberg,
were there at the time.
The witness ard Miller were left alone with
Coyle who had a document, which he read
The point IN this paper was that the siSners
would not vote for anybody but Mr. jerks
Dem) for United States Senator Coyle prom
ised to let the witness in on some bills that
were coming up in the Legislature, and he would
cd IN committees. There
was money mentioned at this meeting Coyle
saving that the witness was to write a pre-
scrintlon and get his fee. Coyle offered him
$50 or 500 to sign the document he had and
said there would be bills up later In the ses-
sion in which there would be money and he
would let witness in on them.
Covle at another meeting offered the witness
n sum Of money, running into the hundreds OF
dollars. to support the McCarrell bill. In an
swer 10 Representative Young the witness said
that he understood that Coyle was offering him
money TO influence his action on the McCarrell
bill on subsequent visit to Coyle. the witness
said that In his conversation with COyle the lat
fer suggested that he would like him to vote for
Dr T. Frank Miller (Dem). Representative
from Northampton County, said he had paid
visit to the Lochiel Hotel with other Democratic
members Of the House. Mr.. SpatZ took some OF
them to be introduced to ex-senator Coyle in
another room He too. was asked by Coyle. a
Republican, to sign a pledge to stand by jerks,
the Democratic nominee Tor Cnlted states sen
atOr.
A member Of the House named Rosenberg
Denn) advised them not to sign, as there was
money in it. He and Mr.. Hell ,Dem( had an
offer Of $50 each from Spatz to sign the paper,
and subsequently 500. They refused to sign.
on another visit to Coyle the latter asked him
what he would take to vote for the McCarrell
bill Coyle told him that people often came to
the Legislature and went home and built brick
houses. There was amount liked to vote for
the McCarreH bill, and COyle told him to fix the
price He was not asked h. vote for Quay.
Philip H. He'll, Democratic Representative
from Northampton. testified TO offer Of 500
from Spatz to sign the paper to support jerks
for Senator. Spatz took him to Coyles room'
where Coyle also asked him to sign the paper.
He rot asked 10 support the McCarrel bill.
Representative John G. Herself 1Dem). OF
Montgomery. was also n visitor 10 the Lochiel.
with other Democrats and somebody asked him
what he could 90 for the McCarron bill. but he
did not remember who asked him. Mr. Hersch
most unwilling witness. and his memory
was poor that nothing definite could be
learned from him. All in all II developed that
thus far only Democrats have been approached
with offers. The committee will hold another
meeting tomorrow night
SEVENTY FOURTH BALLOT IN CALIFORNIA.
Sacramento. CAL March s-No change In the
Senatorial deadlock on the seventy fourth ballot
to-day.
AN EFFORT TO ELECT CANNON IN UTAH
Salt Lake. Utah. March 8.-On the first ballot
for United States Senator to-day Heber Benniun
(Dem) OF Salt Lake. and formerly n Mcclure man.
made a strong plea In favor Of George @ Cannon
OF tho Mormon Church Bennon said Mr.. Cannon
had assured him to-day that ne was an advocate
OF free silver. Representative Bywater strongly