Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-12
SENATORIAL INQUIRY.
Fearing of Charges Against Senator
Dietrich of Nebraska.

Washington. March 1.-THE sena-
t0ril inquiry INTO the charges against
Senator Dietrich of Nebraska. began
today. before the special committee in
Senator Hears committee room. The
inquiry which was instituted upon the
demand CT Senator Dietrich. is for the
purpose of probing the charges on
which the senator was indicted last
fall in Nebraska. ard which We're dis
missed on demurrer.
The committee consists of Senator'S
Hoar. Platt of Connecticut, Spooner.
Cockreil and Pettus.
All of the members of the commit
tee except My. Spooner We're present
when the inquiry began. Senator Die
triCh was iii Attendance with his at
tCrney. +. \. Battey of Hastings. A
number of witnesses were also present
Mr.. Dietrich repeated his wish that the
Investigations should be the fulles.
possible.
Leopold Hahn. postmaster ut Hast
ings from 1897 to 1901. was the first
witness. He WaS succeeded i'm that
Office by Mr.. Fisher. In reply to ques-
lions Cy Senator Hoar. Mr.. Hahn re-
pcatcG u conversation with Fisher on
April 23. 1901. relative to his G'isher'.)
appointment; as postmaster. "Ho asked
me- the witness said. what the office
paid. l told him $500. He said that
was what Dietrich wanted him to pay
for the office. He also told me that
Adam Breed had said that Dietrich
had asked him $500 Or $500 year for
four years.
tinued. what | had paid Senator
Thurston for my appointment. and l
said not one cent"
The witness also said that Fisher had
questioned him as to whether he G'isn-
er) would have to ray Il note for tho
$4,000 if he should give one. and the
witness said that he had volunteered
to investigate that point for Elm am!
had done so. getting legal advice that
such Il note would not be negotiable.
At Il later date Fisher had come to his
store with William Button and thcy-
had announced that they were there
for the purpose of fixing up thea post
office business. and he retired. He WAS
told afterWard that the matter hui
been arranged. He then produced Il
memorandum which he said he had
made on the day Of the conversation.
20 minutes after it occurred
Replying to Il question from Hoar
Hahn said that when Dietrich WAS
elected he had given up all idea of he
ing continued ms postmaster because
he had understood from various
sources that Dietrich "was after his
scalp" Asked if his feeling towards
Dietrich was very friendly. he admitted
that il WAS not.
Hahn also testified to Fishers good
character and said that he, Fisher, had
supported Dietrich loyalty. Fisher had
| told him that he H'isherD. was friendI!
to him Hahn. for re-appointment. but
| had told him he was satisfied that he
Giahn could not get it,
Batty crossed-eXamined Hahn ant
the witness said that he had know
| Fisher for - years. He said that Fish.
| er had told him that Dietrich had sale
to him that Breed was to give $500
The witness added that he had talkcc
with Breed more than once and thai
Breed had told him the story of his Of
| fer as true. II was Il candidate for tn,
| position of postmaster before the sena
| toriul fight began said the witness
| but Dietrich said to everybody that
could not have the place. He had Al
ways fought me before when I ran 70
Office while | had loyalty supported
him"
| He admitted that he had frequentl,
| said that 1T WIS n long road that hat
! no turn and that he would see that whei
| Dietrich's term was out he did not ge
| another election He would not ad
nit. however, that he had said that h
would spend $4,000 to beat Dietrich.
| John ID. Poue was the next witness
| He is a former Nebraska state senator
an attorney. who. Hahn testified, ha'
| advised as to the course Fisher woul
have 10 pursue when the note for $3.50
which Fisher has told Hahn he wante
to give 10 Dietrich for the postmaster
ship. was under consideration.
1t being understood that Pope's ties
timony would be of a hearsay charac
ter. the committee decided to admit
| While holding that it was not regular
| Pope said that Hahn had asked hir
whether note given for thepurpos
- e..r,-y;,-rr ~ could T.