The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-10
SAYS SENATORSHIP WAS SOLD.
$4,000 USED IN CONNECTICUT,
REV. DIR. SMITH ASSERTS.
Tells Legislative Committee That He Has
Investigated the Recent Election. and
Oners TO give What He Has Learned
TO Any Public Prosecutor OF the state.

HARTFORD. Conn. March s-The Rev.
! DR.. Newman Smyth of New Haven mem
! Der of the Yale Corporation. this afternoon,
before the Committee Of the Judiciary Of
the General Assembly. charged that from
information which he had obtained there
was expended in the contest for United
States Senator between ex-Gov. Buckley
OF this city and Samuel Fessenden of Siam
ford $4,000. Gov. Bukeley was elected
Senator.
DR.. Smyth was discussing proposed
amendments to the Corrupt Practices act
in Connecticut, and vas appealing TO the
Judiciary Committee for more safeguard
for elections in Connecticut He said he
had been making inquiries in more than 100
towns In Connecticut since the senatorial
contest. to get information OF violations
of the existing Corrupt Practices law. He
told the committee that il was the case
that money was spent at the caucuses
in considerably more than 100 Of the 1903
towns Of the State, and that If he were at
liberty to disclose his authority for that
statement the members OF the committee
would not question it whatever.
Then he said
IF ! add together the sums credibly
reported as so used in about fifty towns
ranging from $500 up to $500, and more
if needed and If | compute therefrom an
average for the State, the amount foots up
to $4,000 More than s., 600 10 take one
instance, in a town of 500 voters. Is large
pecuniary cover for small political pot
Il do not hesitate TO say with such in
formation as have from men in n posi-
A. 1
instances from men who we're in the game,
and who have themselves seen the goods
handled that this mass Of political co-rup-
ton has become intolorable
DR.. Smyth said also TO the committee
that notwithstanding the notorious use of
money and other considerations n that cam
paign nobody has been prosecuted and not
a jail door has swung open to receive
single political robber OF the people Of
Connecticut He appealed TO the State
police 70 investigate these charges Of polti-
cal corruption and offered to furnish all the
evidence he had 10 Supt T F. Egan of the
State police. The latter informed DR.
Smyth that he had no power to prosecute
offences of this nature and nothing was
done about pushing an investigation.
Dr. Smyth said he appealed then to
one Il the state attorneys, who turned !
down the appeal on the ground that he !
was poweress 10 act. He added that he |
stood ready to-day TO present evidence |
to any properly constituted prosecuting |
officer that would put such an officer on
the trail
Sin steaming and odorous of alleged |
political corruptionists, DR. Smyth de-
clared that he could mentoa. for in
stance, to such a prosecuting attorney
where he could look for evidence as to
the number of votes alleged to have been
purchased, the names of the delegates
with whom definite sums of money may
have found Judgment, and more directly
accessible still, he could adduce verbal
and even written statements from those
who claimed TO have rejected brides
Some Of these delegates so DR. Smyth
aid. had offers of $500 for the entire dele
cation in some towns and 5000 and $500
'or a single vote.
Then DR.. Smyth offered for the com
nittee's consideration an amendment to
he existing law in which provision was
made for competent authority to make
searching inquiry into all reported cases
If political corruption at elections in Con-
leCtiCut