The record-union., 1899-02-08

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.asmuch as the condition of my health
admonishes me that may not be able
to appear IN person at the bar of the
Assembly in the near future.
! I realize that your honorable body has
awaited time with patience, in my
case, and / assure you that it has been
a matter Of regret that 1 have been
compelled to ask your indulgence in this
behalf
1 testified before the committee and
here repeat, that | never at any time
or place paid any money or other con-
sideration, or offered or promised to
pay any money or other consideration
to any person as an inducement for
vote for United States Senator.
! deny that any contributions were
conditioned upon the express OF inn
piled promise that the candidates should
support anyone for Senator. On the
contrary, in most of the cases the con-
| tributions were made through some in
dividual members Of State, Joint Legis-
iative or County Committees, but
chiefly through prominent and active
members of the party. In no instance
was there an attempt or offer made by
me to corrupt a candidate or exact a.
promise from him in return for any as
sistance from me.
Your committee has SO found in their
report and have also found that all
moneys expended by me were legiti-
mately expended, and your honorable
body has adopted this report.
To answer these questions which /
failed to answer before the committee
would in no instance show improper, IL
| legitimate or corrupt use of money, nor
could such answers, if made, change in
| the least the findings already included
in the committees report, and adopted
by the Assembly. To answer the ques-
tions propounded 10 me would be to di-
yulge confidential communications, and
would serve no useful purpose.
1t is solely a question of honor with
me. I have faith in the rectitude of
my intention and am absolutely conf
dent that answering these questions
would in no wise change the report of
your committee, or the action of the
Assembly.
! I mean no disrespect to your commit
tee, or the Assembly, and trust that
this explanation will convince your
honorable body of that fact. And
hereby waive my right to be personally
present and now submit the matter to
your judgment.
MILTON ]. GREEN.
CROWDER'S RESOLUTION.
| AS soon as the statement was con-
cluded Crowder of San Diego offered
the following resolution, but neither he
nor any other of Grants adherents Of
fered a word in support:
| Whereas Mr. Milton j. Green, being
prevented by Illness from attending the
bar of this house in answer to it's cita-
/ ton, has furnished the House with a
written statement of the reasons for
| failure to answer questions propound
ed to him by the special committee of
the House; and
Whereas, The said committee has
made and filed its report on the main
issues presented for it's consideration,
which report has been adopted by this
House, and 1t appears that no practical
good can result to this Assembly or
the people of California by further con
sideration of the matters before the
committee:
Whereas, 1t is desirable that the
work of said special committee be
brought to- close; therefore be it
Resolved, That the contempt pro-
ceedings against Milton j. Green be
dismissed; the report of the special
Investiga Committee heretofore
adopted be considered final. and said
committee fully and finally discharged
on the filing of its report Of expenses
incurred.
Crowder moved the adoption Of the
resolution.
Burnett opposed it He said that
Green claimed that his use of Grant s
money in the campaign had been legiti-
mate. Burnett claimed that it was not
for Green to. decide that, but the AS
sembly For his part, he denied that
the money had been legitimately used.
He opposed a disgraceful compromise
| with Green. The actions of the AS
sembIy would require an explanation;
certain changes had been made in the
officers of the House on the basis that
Grants money had been used wrong
fully, and to dismiss all charges against
Green now would be to vitiate that ac-
ton. A candidate for United States
4 Senator never places money behind a
candidate for the Legislature unless he
supposes it will be used in some way
for his own benefit. Burnett hoped
the resolutions would not carry.
Cosper, Chairman of the Investigating
Committee, claimed two elements which
ought to be separately considered:
First, the charges against the Speaker,
and whether unlawful methods had
been used in the campaign of any can
didate for United States Senator; Sec
ond, the contempt proceedings against
Green.
Cosper claimed that the committee
had fully discharged it's duties in the
matter of the charges against the
Speaker and the showing up of the
methods used in the United States Sem
atorial candidacy. They had investi-
gated and reported and the Assembly
had adopted the report The matter OF
Green's contempt, he held, was now
wholly with the Assembly, and the
committee should be discharged.
Dibble said it would be improper to
discharge the committee until Green
is settled with. Do that first, and let
the committee suffer a little longer.
WHAT MELICK THOUGHT.
MeIick hoped the resolutions would
not be adopted. The Assembly had de-
cided deliberately that the questions
asked Green were pertinent and proper,
and that they should be answered. The
Assembly should stand by that deci-
sion. 1t is unfair to dismiss these pro-
ceedines now. Mr.. Green talks about
his honor not permitting him to answer
in the case of other members, but his
honor did not trouble him in the cases OF
Wright and Jilson, both of whom were
voting against Green's candidate. It
=; ,,,fo;. 40 +hoca members to allow