The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30
Early Congressman Who Had
to Face Bribery Charges.
TRICKS on EVE OF THE ELECTION
distances OF the Past Which Serve as In.
dicatiens Of What May Happen in the
Next Few DaJs-Rsbbery and MatiIa.
tioH Of Ballet Forms In Printing Once
Interesting Career Of nm UnuaturaIixed
FreHehman Who Became senator.

=
eress In recent years has led to the belief
I that such a thing was unknown In those
| days. known as the better days of the
| republic" but In looking over the Con-
gressional proceedings ! find that as early
as 1895 case Of bribery is recorded. or
ar attempt at 81
| Robert Randall and Charles Whitney
were arraigned before the bar OF the
| House OF Representatives on the 39th OF
December, l7s5. upon the charge of offer
ing bride 10 certain members of Con-
sress for the advocacy OF a bill TO grant
/ all the lands lying between Lakes Miehi-
gan. Erie, and Huron. comprising 20,OO0.coo
| acres, to company Of which Randall and
Whitney professed to be the agents.
The company was made up of Canadians
| OF large wealth and influence. through
whom the Indian titles were to be eX-
! tinguished and paid for The stock of the
company was divided into forty-one
shares, and twenty-four shares were as
/ signed for distribution TO such members
1 OF Congress and Senators as would favor
! the bill. the reward OF those advocating IL
10 be commensurate with their zeal.
| They had in cash, as they stated, from
$4,000 to 100000, and to such Members
or Senator's as preferred cash they were
| prepared to give IL. Randall approached
Mr.. Giles. of Virginia, and made the
| proposition TO him as above stated. MIR.
| Giles informed the President of the offer,
and Mr.. Murray, of South Carolina, and
arranged an interview where Randall met
| other members, among them Mr.. Harper,
Of Maryland.
President Ordered the Arrest.
The Presiden. ordered the arrest of Ran
dali by the United States marshal, and
when the House of Representatives order
/ ed the Sergeant-at-arms, Maj, Wheaton,
| 10 arrest Randall and bring him before the
| House, conflict arose about jurisdiction.
On the 10Th Of December, however, Maj.
Wheaton reported that he had the body
OF Robert Randall, and desired instruc-
tons. He was ordered to hold him in
custody and to produce him at the bar
| of the House the next day. ana then a
| long debate ensued as TO the powers of
Congress.
This debate went on at intervals for two
weeks. Randall and Whitney were repri-
| manded by the Speaker of the House,
and discharged after they had been held
| in custody for some two weeks. This
scheme seemed a precursor of the land
grants upon which Credit Mobilier was
founded.
In 1918, when Henry Clay was Speaker
| of the House of Representatives, the case
OF Col John Anderson created a sensa-
ton. Claims for reimbursing the sufferers
al the River Raisin for losses inflicted by
the British forces to the amount of $50 900
had been presented TO Congress, and Col.
Anderson, the principal claimant, for
himself and others. wrote a letter to the
Hon. Lewis Williams. of North Carolina,
offering him $780, Ito pay him for the eX-
| ira trouble he gave him in desiring him
to relate the conduct of the British in
that country on the floor of Congress"
Mr. Williams, who was chairman of the
Committee on Claims, demanded the ac-
ton of the House on the attempt to bride
him, laying before the Speaker the letter
he had received from the venerable SOL
der, who was vouched for by the Hon.
Richard NJ. Johnson, of the House of Rep
| resentatives. as a very gallant and brave
man Of integrity, who had refused the
command of a regiment, rendered him by
| the British when the English held pos
| session of Michigan. The order for his
| arrest was strenuously opposed, the op-
position claiming Congress had no power
gwen IL by the Constitution or the law
TO arrest and imprison.
Mr.. Philemon Beecher, of Ohio, made a
long and learned speech denying the DOW
er OF Congress. and said the only mode
or Furnishing bribery was to try the case
before court of justice. He said:
The power assumed by the British Par
lament had always been the subject of
complaint in that country, and the prae-
tice was always attended with bitter oppo-
sition.
The action of that country should form
no precedent for the House of Representa-
nves, acting under a written Constitution
and exercising none but delegated DOW
ers"
The House. however, by a vote of liz
TO 49, ordered the arrest of Anderson. aft
er protraeted debate When he was ar
raigned before the bar of the House. the
Speaker. Mr.. Clay, was instructed 10
question Col. Anderson as to the extent
Of the influence represented in his offer
TO MT Williams. Col. Anderson disclaim-
ed any intention of bribery, and produced
as witnesses TO his good character. POST
master General Meigs. Gen. William Hem
~ Harrison, and Col Richard NJ. John
SON. They all Endorsed Col Anderson and
ne was reprimanded by the Speaker and
dismissed from custodv