Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-13
when all the facts are taken into consii-
DennisOn Knows Nothing.

when all the facts are taken into consii-
Grafton.
Knows Nothing.
The BARLEY investigation committee held
a brief session this afternoon, examining
but one witness. Thomas Dennison of
Omaha. United States District Attorney
W. S. summers and Attorney General Prout
were present, but the debate in the house
on the revenue bill made it necessary to
defer further action by the committee until
Friday morning at $50, when Summers will
take the stand. Dennison's testimony was
all negative. He said he had had no busl-
ness transactions with BARLEY, never
talked with him about his declarations
never saw the cigar box and knew nothing
Of 1t except h he read in the papers and
was not Instruments in securing Bartley's
pardon. He said he had visited BARLEY
twice while the latter was in the peniten-
tiary, once to solicit political support from
the convict. He did not get 1t. Ee had
met BARLEY shortly after his release in
a saloon at Thirteenth and Douglas streets,
Omaha, when w. s.. Summers was present,
but the defalcation or pardon was not dis
cussed, he said.
No Sitting Committee.
lne euOTI 10 nave a 5lttlng committee
named by the speaker has again been
blocked. Hunter of Webster presented a
resolution providing for the appointment
by the speaker of a sitting committee of
seven, whose powers in the assortment and
arrangement of bills should be practically
unlimited. But the resolution was romptly
and without the least dificulty laid on the
table. Sweezy made the motion which ac-
complished this. This was a direct test Of
strength between the two factions, the one
in favor Of adequate revenue revision, the
other opposed to 1t. Certain members Of
the house expressed the determination that
the speaker should not have the privilege
OF appointing a sitting committee and that
II any such committee was named at all It
would be named by the house. 1t appears
they were going to be able to make good
their word.
Speaker Mockett took occasion this morn
ing to repudiate newspaper reports that he
had decided on a sitting committee and dis
owned the committee as his creation, which
was named In the papers. He asserted that
but one Of the members named on this al
legged committee had approached him re-
garding a sitting committee. He also said
that should he appoint a sitting committee
1t would be composed Of representative
1t was noticeable that one of the
committee published in the papers was
Hunter. who introduced the resolution this
morning.
BY some means or other the story that n
committee had been agreed on has found
iodgment in the minds of certain members.
One OF them said this morning.:
Il don't know how nearly correct I am.
but l understand that the committee which
was named in the papers recently as having
been decided on did not meet the approval
OF j. H. Ager. the Burlington pass singer,
ana was therefore called of. / further I'M
oerstand that subsequently a committee
was decided on which did meet Mr.. Ayers
approval and that had Hunters resolution
carried this morning that committee would
have been named. Now, as 1 say, I don't
know how near I Am to the facts, but this
is what / have understood and / am not
prepared to deny It."
Fights Shy of Steufer Committee.
WANTED-A member of the house of rep
resentatives to act as chairman of the
committee appointed by the speaker to
investigate the Official conduct OF ex-State
Treasurer Stuefer.
The above position has been rendered to
three members OF the house, Nelson of
Douglas, Warner of Lancaster and Douglas
oHN pCOA dCCilucu Oy edC0. NOW
the question is, Who will accept It? When
Speaker 'Mockett appointed the committee
In pursuance to the Sears resolution and
Nelson's motion, leading to this proposed
investigation, he named Nelson as chair
man. but Nelson, thinking he had enough
OF such honors in being a member of the
BARLEY investigation committee, declined
and warner Of Lancaster was then selected.
IL did not seem to occur to Warner hat he
ought tn decline until a day afterward. Ha
made no objection when appointed, but
some time later informed the speaker that
ne would prefer not to accept the position.
Then the speaker conferred the distinction
upon Douglas and Douglas took the matter
under advisement, with the result that to-
day he reached a decision not to accept.
The question has been raised by certain
members why not appoint Sears to the
place. since he brought this important mat
ter to the attention OF the house and
would above any other member, be most
aggressive In prosecuting the inquiry? % It
is perfectly we'll understood that Sears is
thoroughly dissatisfied with the committee
tne speaker appointed, butt whether he
would care to act as chairman Of the COM
mlttee Is not known. Not only Sears. but
other members who are anxious to have
this stuefer complication cleared up, are
Vexed at the turn affairs have taken.