The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-23
REPORT
AGAINST
~ nlIs
Committee Finds He Was Not
Duly and Legally Elected TO
the United States Senate.

Washington, April Ex-senator Chan
| dler from the Senate committee on
| privileges and elections today submit
| ted 10 Senate report of committee in
| the case OF Sen. Clarke of Montana.
| The report is comparatively brief. COW
ering only about fifteen pages of print
cd matter. 1t does not rehearse the
testimony, but simply presents the
finding OF the committee. and its rea-
sons for its course The finding of the
committee is stated as follows:
The finding of the committee is that
the election to the senate OF William A.
Clark of Montana is null and void on
account OF briberies, attempted bribe-
ries. and corrupt practices by his
agents. and OF violation OF the laws OF
Montana defining and furnishing crimes
against the elective franchise"
In view OF this finding the committee
reports and unanimously recommends
the adoption by the senate of the fol-
lowing resolutions:
Resolved. Tthat William A. Clark was
not duly and legally elected 10 seat In
the senate of the United States by the
legislature Of the state of Montana.
The report concludes with strong
recommendation for early considera-
ton of the case as follows:
The senate should, as a duty TO it
self and 10 the country demonstrate
by its action in this case that seats in
the United States senate procured as
Senator Clark's has been procured.
cannot be retained by the deliberate
judgment of the senate. The senate
also owes duty TO the people of Mon
tana, who. conscious of the bad repute
into which the state has fallen by rea-
son or vast expenditures of money in
connection with It's elections. manifest
Ell such a pubic sentiment that the
legislature of 1895 passed a statute
which, If obeyed, would have redeemed
the state from its bad name. For the
direct AMI gross violations of that stat
ute, and the consequent dlscredit which
continues to rest upon the state. Mon
lana has a right to expect a prompt
and decisive remedy from the action
of the senate uIon the report Of this
committee.
l. The expenditures in the contest Of
1895 as testified to by Senator Clarke
and Governor IIauser.
2. Quotes the law of 1896 reyative to
crimes against the elective franchise,
which limited in purpose and amount
the political expenditures which could
be made IN any election, ethcr by a
political committee or a candidate, ss-
pccially naming candidate for Uni
ted States senator who could not give
more than $1,000 10 any committee in
one county and could not pay more
than $1,000 for his personal expenses IN
lawful ways specified.
3. Asserts that Senator Clarke has
been constantly candidate for Office
and gives his record in that respect
and notes the organization of a COM
mittee in his interests in the summer OF
1898, after a consultation with his
friends in Butte ITO this committee,
thority to spend money which he agreed
| to furnish: an estimate, however. being
made at least $4,000 would be neces-
sary to secure the state convention,
and that $4,000 might be needed TO
secure the state Legislature"
4. In the canvas which ensued the
| approximate expenditures admitted by
| the various members OF his committee
| and their assistants were as follows:
BY Charles Clark $4,000: by McDer-
| mott S22, 900; by Davidson agent $22, 400:
| by Wellcom $4,000; by Steele Si1 900;
| by Corbet $4,000; by Whitmore $4,000;
| by Sooper $4,000; mainly furnished by
| tudrles w. tldrke, ana the amount OF
| these expenditures Senator Clarke him
self paid to his son. The advances and
| payments made by Senator Clark TO
| his committee and agents as admitted
! by him, amounted TO about Sl39, ,000 OF
| which sum George w. Clark received
| from him on August Il, 1885, S35 900;
| October IL, 500. 1000; November %, $40 900:
and February 13. 1900 $40. 592 and in
addition to this s139 900: Senator Clark
| paid $4,000 to McDermott one of his
agents; $1,000 to Welcom. his attorney.
and $4,000 to T., G. Day, a member of
the legislature.
;. None OF the members OF his COM
| mittee made the sworn returns re-
| uuired by law, nor did Senator Clark
bimself make any return.
| Sections 10 IL deals with the busi-
! ness transactions OF Mr.. Clark and his
representatives with members OF the
legislature including the purchase cs
Representative McLaughlin's property
the tender OF $4,000 TO Representative
| Woods TO raise the mortgage of his
| ranch and the subsequent sale OF the
ranch; the establishment of bank af-
ter the adjournment OF the legislature
largely through the efforts OF Senator
| Tierney and Representatives Eversole
and Shovelin of Broadwater county;
the sale OF lots and other property in
jefferson county to a representative of
Mr.. Clark by Senator Warner; the con-
ductor Of Messrs. Carr. Gioger. Fina,
Reasley and Bywater and the present
of $4,000 to Representative Day after
the adjournment of the legislature.
\
| r,0ruru xn.uura