The San Francisco call., 1905-01-31
SPEEDY TRIAL ASKED
BY ALL CONCERNED
Work Of Investigating the Charges
Of CrOOkedneSS Is to Be Com
IDGnCGd at Once.

Senator Belshaw, chairman of the
special committee OF the Upper House
appointed to investigate the charges
made in the affidavit read by NicoL
called to order the meeting of that
committee held in the Supreme Court
chamber at the Capitol at s o'clock
tonight. the room was packed with
people directly or indirectly interested
in the scandal. Belshaw said the spe-
cial committee was ready to go ahead
with the investigation at once and find
out the truth or falsity of the charges.
Attorney Nicol asked for more time.
saying that it was not practicable to
proceed with such an inquiry at SO
short notice. He asked until Wednes-
day night. If such an investigation
were to be had, he said, 1t was not the
proper thing to introduce the testimony
in incoherent form, but time should
be given to get all the testimony and
records together that a proper chain Of
facts could be presented.
Senator Wright sprang to his feet
and said that while he did not fear an
investigation he felt it but right that If
the accusers of himself and the other
three members of the Committee on
Commissions and Retrenchment were
to be represented by a special prose-
cutor the accused should also be given
time to consult counsel and prepare
their defense. He asked that the In
quiry be put off till tomorrow night.
1T Is an inexpressible pity that such
accusations as these have to be made"
said Attorney Nicol, the silence Of
deepest attention falling upon his hear
ers as he spoke. II wish to God that
/ could feel they were untrue. 1 sub
NIT, though, that If we start this in
quiry in a hurly-burly sort of way we
may get confused. Have the accused
men had time to go over the case to-
gether to consult and hire attorneys to
represent them? Let them have time.
I am not here to act as a prosecutor.
I'll be glad if the committee will excuse
ali attorneys from the case. This is
a grave matter, one that every Senator
and every constituent Of these Senators
is interested in. 1t will take until the
day after tomorrow to properly get
the testimony of the accusers in shape.
This evening will probably end my
connection with the case. / must be
in San Francisco tomorrow to attend
a trial. think it eminently reasonable
that the hearing should go over until
the day after tomorrow"
rs it impossible to get your wit
nesses here tomorrow EVENING"" asked
Belshaw. - !.
81 will not say that" replied Nicol.
"Mr. Corbin is here now and may. be
sworn, so he will know he has to be
here and no further processes will be
needed to secure his attendance"
1.-The committee desires. to proceed
with all possible haste,'' said the chair
man. 1T wishes to purge the accused
Senators of the charge against them II
it is proven untrue. If not it wishes to
do whatever else is best as soon as pos
sible. AS far as I am concerned, I am
willing to put off the hearing until to-
morrow night. We should hold as
speedy trial as possible"
Il have the same desire for speedy
trial." said Nicol.
TT will be understood" continued
Belshaw, that this committee is
neither prosecuting nor defending In
this matter
Simpson made a motion that the de-
PENDANTS be given all the privileges of
representation by counsel and it was
carried.
Secretary Corbin of the Continental
Building and Loan Association was
sworn, and he said he would be here
whenever required. The twinkle in his
eye showed he deemed that he stood in
an entirely different position than he
had few hours before.
II wish to appear here for Senator
Emmons,i said Attorney J. L. Cope
ldLiQ VI s0dL Il LdAClSOO AncSc dC-
cused men should have time to consult
attorneys and learp what this is all
about
How much time do you want?"
asked Simpson.
IT'LL tomorrow night is a reasonable
time" replied the attorney. 81 represent
Senator Emmons only, though. This
special committee was appointed one
hour after the affidavit of accusation
was read, and this meeting is being
held but four hours after the appoint
ment of the committee
Senator Emmons is not well tonight
and therefore is not present" said
French. Now, If you want to do some
business tackle me right now, and I
don't need any attorney, either"
No one paid attention to the invita-
tion.
Chairman Belshaw announced that i
the inquiry would be postponed until
tomorrow evening at s o'clock and
asked all those who had witnesses they
wished subpenaed to leave the names.
1t was stated that the Commissions
and Retrenchment Committees inves-
tigation of the building and loan and
other institutions that 1t had begun
would cease for the present.
Senator Keane stated on behalf of
Mayor Schmitz of San Francisco, who
has been called as witness, that the
Mayor would arrive at any time his
presence was desired
!s--
ments," he said in conclusion. "I want