The Washington times., 1905-03-10
DECLARES SENATOR
BOUGHT HIS SEAT
Minister Says BuIkeley Paid
Fortune for Election.
w ANTS AN INVESTIGATION
Rev. DR.. Smyth Creates a Sensation
at Hartford, Coan.-Votes
Bought

HARTFORD. Conn. March 10.-The
Rev DR. Newman Smyth of New
Haven, member of the Yale Corporation,
before the committee of the judiciary
of the general assembly here, charged
that from information which he had
obtained there was expended in the
contest for United States Senator be-
tween Ex-Governor Buckley, of this
city, and Samuel Fessenden. of Stam-
ford, $780, ,000- Governor Bulkeley was
elected Senator.
DR.. Smyth was discussing proposed
amendments to the corrupt practices
act in Connecticut, and was appealing
to the judiciary. committee for more
safeguards for elections in Euuuecticut
He said ne had been making in
quiries in more than 100 towns in Con-
necticut since the Senatorial contest, to
get information of violations of the
existing corrupt practices law.
Much Money Spent.
He told the committee that it was the
case that money was spent at the
caucuses in considerably more thans 100
of the 16S towns of the State. and that
if he were at liberty to disclose his
authority for that statement the MEM
bers of the committee would not ques-
ton it whatever. Lhen en- ne sald; d.oa;,,l,,
reported as so used In about fifty towns.
ranging from $500 UP to $3.50, and naore
If needed. and if | compute fherefrom ar
I'D 10 $4,000 More than 5000. to take
one instance, in Il town of 500 voters, Is
ii large pecuniary cover for small
political pot.
information as | have from men in a
position to know. In many towns and in
some instances from men who were in
the game. and who have themselves seen
the goods handled, that this mass of
political corruption has become intoler-
able.
Wants Investigation.
DR.. Srnyth said also to the committee
that Notwithstanding the notorious use
of money and other considerations in
that campaign nobody has been prose-
cuted and not a Jail door has swung
open to receive a single political robber
of the people of Connecticut
He appealed 20 the State police to in
vestigate these charges of political cor
ruption and offered to furnish all the
evidence he had to Superintendent t F
EEgan of the State police. The latter
informed Dr.. Smyth that he had no
power to prosecute offenses Of this ma
ture and nothing was done about push
ing an investigation.
DR.. Smyth said he appealed then to
one of the State attorneys. who turned
down the appeal on the ground that he
was powerless to act. He added that
he stood ready today to present evidence
to any properly constituted prosecuting
officer that would put such an officer on
the trail.
Still steaming and odorous OF alleged
political corruptionists, DR.. Smyth de-
clared that he could mention, for in
stance, to such a prosecuting attorney
wheIe he could look for evidence as to
the number of Votes alleged TO have
been purchased, the names of the dele
gates with whom definite sums of
money may have found lodgment and
more directly accessible still. he could
acduc@ verbal and even written state
mentS from those who claimed 30 have
rejected bribCs.
Some of these delegates, so Dr. Smyth
said, had offers OF $500 for the entire
delegation in some towns, and $500 and
$500 for single vote.
Then Dr. Smyth offered for TIE COM
mittee's consideration an amendment to
the existing law in which provision was
made for competent authority 10 make
searching inquiry into all reported cases
Of political corruption at elections in
Connecticut.