Evening journal., 1901-02-23
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WILL PROBE BRIBERY CHARGES
democrats and Regulars Resent Appointment of Ad-
oicKs investigating Committee, Augment It
and Provide for Publicity

hlstahS IN ndl rowing the sphere OF
suspicion in that way.
BY unanimous vote, Representative
hoicomD's motion to appoint an in.
Vestgating committee was adopted.
speaker McCommons namad Repr5.
sentative HolcOmb. Democrat. and Rep
resentative Moore and Baynard, Onion
Republicans, Numbers of the commit
tee.
That action set the House afre. He
had ignored the Regular Republicans
entirely and given the Addicksites
complete control of the situation.
The committee held a mseting at
l2.l5 o'clock, took a recess until 2
O'Clock, and then met in the State
tIeasurer's office Representative
Holcomb was elected chairman. and
Representative Baynard secretary.
Philip Q. Churchman, attorney, was
present to represent the committee.
Joseph l.. Cahall and Walter II
Hayes looked after the Addicks inter-
asts. Alexander III. Daily and Henry
Ridgely, Jr., appeared fer Represen-
tative Hearn.
A reporter for the PHILADELPHIA
Daily Evening Telegraph attempted to
be present Mr.. Hayes blocked his
entrance. The reporter resented his in
teIferenca and asked Chairman Hol-
comb who was running the committee.
Are you running this committee, or
is Mr.. Hayes" he inquired.
am, said Chairman Holcomb.
The reporter then asked whether the
meeting was open or secret.
1t is secret" said Chairman Hol-
comb.
III reporter thanked him, and with
drew.
After the meeting Chairman Hol-
ccmb gave cut this statement:
The committee appointed to inves-
tigate the charge that Representative
Hearn was offered a bribe have decided
70 postpone the investigation until
Tuesday February 26. at 10 o'clock"
Meanwhile the Democrats and Reg
ular Republicans had not been idle.
Ihey decided to have an Investigation
and an open one, at that, and not to
let the Add.cksites control the situa-
ucn They lined up to a man to meet
the emergency.
When Representative Monaghan's
name was called about the middle al
the afternoon, he presented the follow
ing resolution:
BE ii Resolved, That the committee
Of three appointed for the purpose all
investigating certain alleged charges cf
bribery be increased to nve members
Dy adding the names Of Messrs. Clark
ana Shallcross, and that the commit
Tee be given power to summon w.t.
nesses; be it further
resolved, That the meetings Of the
ch 10
II went like a shot. Representa-
i've Moore yelled:
NO! Nol"
But he and Representative Layton
were the only two who voted against
After it was over the Addicksites
l-scoVered what had been done. All
-her plans had been upset. Instead
II controlling the committee. it con-
rolled them; and instead of secrecy
here was to be publicity. No cover
ng up for the benefit Of anybody.
There was talk of reconsideration. |
lut it went unheeded. The House
vas mad and had the bit in itsi
eeth 1t was in no temper to listen
o anything The Addicksites could
Tot object to Representatives Clark
md Shallcross, for they are two of the
-blest and most respected members of
he House. All they could cry was:
Discourtesy to the speaker"
The answer came:
Why didn't the speaker put a Regu- /
ar Republican on the committea?"
And there was no answer.
Now the Addicksites, it is said. will
ndsavor to get the House to ordsr
eciet sessions, and thereby prevent
he psople from knowing Just what is
lack of Representative HearnB accu- 1
alton. The Democrats and Regulars
ope they viii attempt it. for they
ay, it will show to the world that the
are afraid Of the inveeti- |
alton. and accomplish nothing else
or they are determined to let the
eople know the full truth.
1t has been suggested that the Adj
icks.tes will try to cover their star
hamber wishes by leaving the ques-
ion of publicity or secrecy to the dis
retion of the committee.
If an attempt of that kind is made
will be voted down on the floor. for
he members believe that the people
re entitled to know all, and that if
be Regulars and Democrats were to
ON in the Addicks attempt to close
he doors against the public they. too.
'ould be subject to suspicion.