The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-31

inal minutes of the first meeting Of the
committee. From these 1t appears That the
committee agreed TO take up the inVesti-
cation in order as follows:
''The defalcation: sale of products to ALI
son for S741, without security-absolute loss;
purchase of supplies above market. price;
coal contract; lumber; salartes: supply pur-
chaSes.
Moved by Browne. seconded by Riess,
that committee procure. or attempt to pro
cure competent stenographer-lost.. !Ayea,
Browne and RieSs; noes, Miller. Christian
and johnson. Recess.
Moved by Johnson that the committee
secure a disinterested stenograDher When
ever the committee deems his services nee
essarv.
shall. before the beginning of the investiga,
ton. cause to be subpoenaed to appear and
testify all such witnesses as any member OF
said committee shall designate by name TO
said chairman, and shall cause the testi-
1nony of all such witnesses to be taken
dow in shorthand by a competent disin-
terssted stenographer, and all said testl-
mony shall be preserved for the proper use
St his committee and the General Assem-
On this the two Democrats voted aye
and the three Republicans nay. Inc mo-
lion of Johnson was then adopted by a
Decided to Exclude StenoErapher.
III ! furnish you with a list of witnesses
them to swear to-" said Mr.. Riess. will
you subpoena them?- VIII you employ d
stenographer if we pay his bill"
finally Chairman Miller refused point blank.
1.-The notes of a stenograpner would be too
voluminous, and want to say tnat no
stenographer will be permitted TO be in the
room. The testimony would get into the
newspapers and create a scandal. Witnesses
will be called if the committee think they
are necessary"
Messrs. Browne and Riess then declared
they would have nothing to do with the
proceedings. While they were in the room
writing up the minutes for future reference
the Republican members proceeded and
called in some of the officers, who brought
their books along. None Of them We're
sworn, the bills d.d not carry attidavits or
their face and the line OF questions seemed
to be understood by both sides,
Thu matter under consideration was the
defalcation under the Altseld administra-
ton, five years ago. This ancient offense
has been whipped and by Repuo-
licans for four years, and the attempt to
resurrect it to draw a veil over the infamies
Of the Tanner regime will not serve Ihe
ficer is in the courts. The present question
is how have the Tanner agents admins
tered the Penitentiary affairs.
State Skinned" ON Coal Contract.
The Democratic members learned before
they left Chester that the State had been
Skinned" on a coal contract to the tune CT
500, mine run having been furnished when
screened lump had been contracted for. The
bond of the contractor is said TO be good.
I should add that during the recess men,
toned above Chairman Miller and the Re
publicans Immediately went into secret con-
ference with the Warden and ex-Commis-
committee r%econvened, declared his final po-
sition, denying the demands of the Demo
Gratis. These demands are expressly con-
ceded by the statutes Of Illinois.
graduated or the position they have as
saamed. It would have been humiliating a.