The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-04-26
SENATORCLARK
MUST.GET OUT
Report of Elections Committee Is
Submitted to Senate.
HIS SEAT IS DECLARED VACANT
Resolution to Fire Montana Man
Unanimously Recommended
By the Committee.

A Washington special says: Senator
Chandler, from the senate committee
on privileges and elections, submitted
to the senate Monday the report Of
that committee in the case of Senator
Clark, of Montana. The report says:
stThe finding of the committee is,
that the election to the senate of Viii
liam A. Clark, of Montana, is null and
void on account of briberies, attempt
ed briberies and corrupt practices by
his agents, and of violation of the
laws of Montana defining and punish
ing crimes against the elective fran
chise."
The committee unanimously recon-
mends the adoption by the senate of
the following resolution:
Resolved, That William A. Clark
was not duly and legally elected to q
seat in the senate of the United States
by the legislature of the state of Mon
tana."
The report concludes:
1.-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 re-
pute into which the state has fallen by
reason of vast expenditures of money
in connection with its elections, mani
tested such public sentiment that
the legislature of 1895 passed stat
ute which, if obeyed, would have re-
deemed the state from its bad name.
Montana has right to expect a
prompt and decisive remedy from the
action of the senate upon the report Of
this committee.
The findings are based on the fol-
lowing admitted and undisputed facts
appearing in the testimony:
4. The expenditures in the contest
OF 1895 as testified to by Senator
CLARK and Governor Hauser.
SO. The law OF 1895 relative to
crimes against the elective franchise,
limiting the purpose and amount of
political expenditures in any election.
s.3. Senator Clark has been con.
stantly candidate for Office. The
organization of committee in his in
terest in the summer of 1898, to which
the report says: He gave unlimited
authorized to spend money which he
agreed to furnish; an estimate, how:
ever, being made that at least $35, 900
would be necessary to secure the state
convention and that SIS, 900 might be
needed to secure the state legislature.
81. In the canvass which ensued
the approximate expenditures admit
ted by the various members of his
committee, and their assistants, were
as follows: By Charles ". Clark,
$25, 900; by McDermott, 500, 1000; by
Davidson, agent, $22, 800; by Well
come, S25, 600; by Corbett; SIS, 900;
by Whitmore, $4,000; by Cooper,
50, 900, mainly furnished by Charles
w. Clark, and the amount of these
expenditures Senator Clark himself
paid to his son. The advances and
payments made by Senator Clark to
his committee and agents, as admit
ted by him, amounted to about $780,
600.
..5. None OF the members of his
committee or their assistants made
the sworn returns required by law,
nor did Senator Clark himself make
any return"
Sections to Is deal with the busi-
ness transactions of Mr.. Clark and his
representatives. with members of the
legislature.