The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-26
CHARGES WILL Be PROBED
HOUSE MEMBERS SMARTING UNDER
IMPUTATION THAT BRIBES
HAVE BEEN TAKEN
ACCUsERs MUST MAKE GOOD
MeSsrs. jacobson and Washburn
Seem to BE in No Particular
Hurry to Appear Before
Committee.

The house is doing everything in its
power to facilitate the work of the
committee appointed to investigate the
charges of bribery made by Representa-
tives Jacobson and Washburn. AL
though nearly a week has elapsed since
these sensational charges and the APP
pointment of the committee were made,
nothing has as yet been heard from the
committee This is not, however, the
fault of the committee. At least that
is the view generally held by the rep
reSentatiVeS.
The resolution introduced Saturday by
Representative Sweet, of Minneapolis,
empowering the committee to summon
witnesses and administer oaths and take
such other steps as may be deemed nee
essary in the furtherance of the work
committed to its charge, was adopted
in the house yesterday. Subsequent to
the adoption of this resolution the chair
man of the committee, Mr.. Mallory, re-
QueSted, through a written commun ca
ton to the house, that any member who
might have any information bearing
upon the bribery charges present the
same to the committee. He stated that
a meeting would be arranged by the
committee at any time desired upon the
part of any one who may wish to APP
pear before it to present evidence.
Prior TO yesterday morning, when the
house adopted the Sweet resolution, the
committee was powerless to take the
initiative in prosecuting its work OF
ferreting out the charges CT bribery, and
for that reason no blame has been at
tached to the committee for not pro-
ceeding with its investigation. 1t natural
ly developed upon the gentlemen max
ing the charges to substantiate them,
and they were the ones to assume the
aggressive. The house, Of course, ex-
pected nothing else, but that Messrs.
Jacobson and Washburn, who made the
grave charges amid scenes of such in
tense excitement, would act in accord
ance with their rigid positions and dis
close to the committee all the necessary
data upon which it was expected to pro-
coed. But it appears that in this the
house has been disappointed The
WILD CRIES OF BRIBERY
that reverberated through the house
chamber week ago have dwindled down
TO a silence so dumb that it is almost
plaintive. But this indication of re-
cession by those who made the &C
cusations does not satisfy their col
leagues. all of whom are resting under
the same odium of dishonesty until the
matter is cleared up and the response
bility, if there be any, is placed upon
the proper parties. The charges are
too serious to pass over, and Che house
is steadfast in its determination to
press the gentlemen for proof of their
grave assertions, in lieu of which they
will have to submit to consequences Of
the most drastic character
A prominent member stated yesterday
that he did not intend to allow these
disreputable accusations to be buried,
even If ferreting them out does cost
some maTbers their seats in the house
The stigma is too dark to tolerate.
The sentiments of this gentleman are
those of the house, and now that the
committee has been given the proper
and necessary power to act the mem
bers will not have to sit back and wait
the pleasure Of the accusers to act, but
may take the reins in their own hands
and prosecute the work with diligence
and dispatch. The house Is eager and
impatient for the report of the commit
tee, and if there is any information
which, a few days ago, was said to be
floating around in chunks, those con-
cealing it will be made to Cough up
regardless of consequences.
Mr.. Washburn is to be represented in the
hearings of the committee by J. A.
Peterson as his attorney, and Mr. E. G..
Hogan, of New Paynesville, whose name
has been connected with the affair, W II
have for his counsel Senator Ripley
B. Brewer, Of st. Cloud.
When told yesterday that the commit
tee had held no meetings because he
and Mr.. Jacobson had failed to aprear
before it, Mr.. Washburn is said to have
expressed surprise He said he thought
he had performed his full duty b. in
forming the house that he knew of GER
tain information which he believed
should be gotten hold of and asking that
q committee be appointed.