Gilpin observer., 1901-03-07

was in the chair, l made statements to
which l understand exception is taken.
l deny the right of the House or any
body else to call me in question for
what | said on the moor of the House;
but, waiving that, / made the state
ment that Il miraculous change mad
come over the minds of members. l
had been advised that undue influ-
ences, potent in their character, had
been used; that these influences were
attributable to an eX-speaker of the
House and part of his lieutenants.
II did not say that any member of
the House had received money. l
stated that the minds of some members
had been changed and that l believed
those influences, whatever they may
have been, had been brought about by
the lobby, anu l regretted that on IL
matter of such vital importance to the
state these influences had worked in
this way.
"The basis of what l said was that
] had been Informed that money hau
been used an, by other members. that
they had been offered money. 1t was
not stated to me that it concerned this
bill, but this being the only one under
consideration, ] thought it applied to
that | was informed that money HAD
changed hands in the south cloak
room. and it was on lis information
that made the remarks | did.
MY remarks were not correctly
stated by the press. / did not state
that any member had received any
money, and statements that it grew
out of an animosity between cx-Speak-
er Smith and myself are not true.
have seen Mr.. Smith on the floor of the
House during sessions and recesses
consulting members, and was informed
that he was managing the loyyy eff
forts to secure reconsideration of sec
tion AZ. According to my observation
nothing would have been sac .yout
my remarks except for the feenng
aroused over the speakership contest
and the desire of certain persons to
take advantage of every occasion to
oppose the speaker. / Deheve If it had
not been for the eXtravagant state
ments of the press no notice would
have been taken of it."
Asked If he would give the names
of his informants, he replied "Such
rs We're given me in confidence. no: as
to others, yes. Mr.. Necley informed
me that he had been offered money at
his room in the Broadway hotel, but
did not say IL was in reference to this
bill, although at the time thought So
AS to the matters in the cloak room,
prefer to have the persons who saw 1t
testify If they will. rather than to
state 1t secondhand
Mr.. O'Conncll demanded that .ur.
Montgomery give the names.
such things Ms | have received in
confidence shall not give without con
sent" he replied.
Mr.. Schweigcrt: "Ilow many per-
sons have spoken to You about ltf'
"a half dozen, perhaps" replied the
speaker
Asked If he would suggest witnesses
for the next meeting he said "Ycs."
The committee extended an invita-
tion TO any person To testify. EX-
Speaker Smith was sworn, and said:
IL took no interest In the speakorshlp
contest In favor of Mr.. Brlscoc. In
1892 | tried TO build an electric line
from Denver to Lookout resort and
went broke Since then | have re-
ceivcd pledges of enough money to
build ii. Some parts of this bIll antag-
onlzed my scheme, ana was against
1t. | talked to members about It. |
have never used any undue influence
and l have not headed any lobby or
used any money"
Mr.. Mcclure testified that the speak.
er had not mentioned names or money
In his remarks.