The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-06
INVESTIGATE
B00DLING
C0MPLI M ENTS
Committee Was Appointed by
Oklahoma Council
HICKMAN MADE HOT TALK
Cattlemen Accused of Trying
to Defeat Legislation.
HICKMAN MADE HOT TALK

ton Of a resolution in the council this
afternoon. Senators Hickan, Webster and
Massingale constitute a committee to
investigate charges of ''boodlilg'' in con-
nection with quarantine legislation. Two
quarantine biIIs-one the Mathews bill
and the other a substitute measure-were
brought up for consideration in the COM
,nittee Of the whole. A motion was made
to substitute the council substitute for
the house bill. Senator Hickam made a
forceful speech, plainly intimating that
there had been undue influences at work
for weeks trying to defeat quarantine
legislation, especially the Mathews bill.
ia part, he said:
"Cattlemen have been here like buz-
yards on a carcass trying to defeat the
Mathews bin. You give to me a COM
mittse and I viii show you within forty
eight hours something that has been go
ing on under cover for weeks. They say
/ am politically damned because 1 do
not bend the knee 10 these Internal
whelps who are trying TO defeat the
Mathews bill. There are better men in
the penitentiary than these damnable
whelps who are around the hotels trying
TO dictate tC this legislature. I do not
cars- if I am politically damned. l am
here to stand for the 5000 people in Paw
nee and Payne counties. l do not care
for the opinions Of these men who lay
around in these hotels"
Following this speech were remarks by
other senators. Senator Blakeney was
opposed TO the Mathews bill. 4 motion
was made to take up the Mathews bill
under a special order at 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning. and carried.
At this time Senator MassingaIe pre-
sented the investigation resolution.
brought on by the speech made by Sen
stor Hickam It was amended so that
the committee secures the services of
County Attorney Mcclure of Logan
county and a competent stenographer to
take testimony. If damaging evidence
IS secured relative to the 'boodling' on
quarantine matters. it will be turned over
70 the Logan county grand jury. The res
olution reads as follows:
Resolved. BY the council Of the sew
enth legislative assembly Of the Terri
tory Of Oklahoma that committee of
three members Of this body. consisting of
John 7. Hickam (chairman). Sam Mas
singale and 9. r. Webster be appointed
for the purpose Of ascertaining what. #
any. improper influences have been
brought 70 bear on the members of the
legislature relative to what is commonly
known as the quarantine bill and to re-
port TO this council the names and ad-
dresses Of all persons directly or indi-
reCtly connected with or concerned in
the employment Of any improper inlu-
ences regarding such quarantine or other
bill: and further. to report what mem
her or members Of said assembly has
been influenced thereby. or have been in
suspicious relationship to any such per-
son or lobbyist guilty of attempting to
So influence any member Of this legis-
lature; and that said committee is vested
with all power and authority of the coun-
cl to compel attendance Of witnesses,
and to punish for contempt, and that
the sergeant at arms Of the council IS
requested TO attend upon the meeting Of
said committee. at the direction Of the
chairman Of said committee That the
county attorney Of Logan county and
competent stenographer be employed by
said committee"
The adoption Of the resolution for an
Investigation created something of a sen
sation among members Of the lobby 1t
IS true that cattlemen have been here
for weeks. but what they have been 90
ing remains TO be developed by the in
VestiSation. The vote on the resolution
stood as follows: Yeas -Blakeney. Camp
bell ChampIin. Winkler. Gore. Hickam,
Nassingale, Woolsey. No-Updegran,
Foster. Webster. Alexander. Absent.
Mathews.
Almost Immediately after the adoption
OF the resolution. the council adjourned.
Spectators who filled the council cham
Der filed out on the streets and the topic
OF conversation for the balance of the
day was in connection with the oncoming
investigation.
McTaggart Of Woods this morning. n
the house. presented petition from cit
izens Of Norman asking the legislature
t. provide a safe guard for boys attend
fng the Norman schools. protecting them
from the saloons. The ptition was re-
ferred to the committee on liquor traf-
fc.
Hickam's council bin &c. an act to fix
The salary OF the secretary of the terri
tory. which passed the council. was sub
st:tuted for the Mathews bin in the COM
- =rrr..