The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-15
Says He Was Asked That Par
ticular Man Enroll Certain
Bill.
ALSO OFFERED "A
CHECK FOR FAVOR
Refused to Grant Request and
Declined to Accept Money.
Committee Closes Hear
inE and Awaits the
Stenographic
Report.

Sensation. if not startling Disclosures
are anticipated by knowing oncs, as 2 sa
result OF the investigation now pract u.
scaily concluded by the joint Legislative
committee, concerning the alleged tam
spering with bills trfore tho General AZ
scmbly. ssSa
The committee held two long secret
sessions yesterday; completed the takinp
OF testimony and adjourned until next
of the testimony will be considered atic IS
the final report made to the attorney
general. ~
Tho testimony of former Judge w. S.
sGooch, enrolling clerk, created n ripple s
OF excitement. as we'll as establishment.
Tile chief points brought out by the wit,
ness were that he had been approached
by ono nttache and asked to give a par.
tcular bill to a certain clerk to enroll,
and that after granting a request mot
funusuuD from another enploye TO delay
5one hill in order to get another To the.
Governor ahead OF 1T, he had been offered
ytfe eripioye. for fiis sGrvfces He deciinedas
to allow the clerk designated TO earo:i
the bill as requested and. ref used 1tos n e.
scept the money in the other case. When
Judge Goocll Il concluded lie was coIit-s
sInendcd by several members OF the COM
Eniittce for his refusal.
Matters c Considered.
Three matters were gone into. and tile a
one about which tile least can be learnst,
sis said upon good authority to be by far
tho most serious and Important. The
Bslttings OF the committee lasted nearly all ISL
day, and ten witnesses were rigidly cx-
EaIrlined. 4 YAK
All tie members were present, MS fol-
lows: Hon. John w. churchman, Aus
gusta (cklairnan) Senators Nicmcyer, Of Z
APortsmolitl1, and 4. !. Al Wiekhain, OF
5Henr1cGy and Delegates Roger T. Greg
8ory, OF New Kent, and A. B. Colcn,an n, OF
who testified as to tho various matters:
Senators "a. II. Thomas and John S. asss
Chapman; Mr.. T. j. Wool. OF Ports
mouth; Col. Joseph Button, clerk of the 81.
Senate committee clerks; Harry b.
Owen and r. S. Sale, enrolling clerk
Sands, Delegates ordway Fuller and As
slstant Enrolling Clerk Geo. Il. Wise and
Mr.. Phil II. Shield. #;
The two matters gone into about which ri
T good deal is known: were the alleged Ill
tampering with House bill No. 12, relating
hospitals OF the State, and the measure
known as the Portsmouth Water. Conn
pany bill. While botll OF these consumed
considerable time before the commit ttee,
the body Is said by we'll in formed. PERSONS.
to have .'stumbled upon, something else.
which furnished the real sensation OF the Iii
day, and which is likely to result II, N 81
Shaking up'' when the report Is flnall
made public. ssss
Will Not Talk. s
Tho committeeman n are as dumb IS soys
sters concerning the nat OF their la
inquiry. lit is known, no weyer, hat Y sss
does not relate to tamperlng viii any bill -
or resolution but that It involves some
one upon a serious allegation.
Who this .some one" !" Is, no one VII lssss
say, nor can it be learned through the ss &
closest scruntiny and most searching ns In
squiry, what has been d liscovered to Ga ST.
any refec tons. Il.
III gentlemen last night iii close OUCH
with the whole arair,"it Is going to haye .
IN Very ugly sound to the public
Another thing it will do; q i am very cessss
s tain 1t will tend to purify the atmosphe here 'S
around the Capitol during the lcgisla tive
sessions.
When the committee mot yesterday, B, 4
! tile matter relating To the Portsmout H.
Water 5Company's bill. was a lick ID ls.es.s
posed OF. 1t was shown hat Colonel NJ
button, upon request of RNlr. y. II. WOO.
OF Portsmouth,. handetlSa n proposed a mend
ment which wa; tSpewrttten to Sanato I'M
Chairman, chairman of the Committee
on u Counties Cities and sst Towns.
amendment was pluced with the papers
gof5te committee and was, found 10 ltiass' ~
Sl1etwccIlSth bill reutins to I hcSs Port So
mouth Mater SGompa n.y., .ssTTF5 ssss
& No intention wrong-tlo ing WIS fnt,nts 5ss
in this. nor &did any danlnge to NJ ny irF
Eterests result. 8s.lg s6i ss
AS to Number Twelve.
Testimony concerning House biil No 3ss @
1., however, was spicy. fFhes nleas,lr
MAS offered by AIr. $ IIowlc, !, Of Isle Or @
NNiglt. and aimed TO maj n he insane
free Institutions, so that III,
part OF tho cost shotlld ia i ~ pom the
Inmates or their families 1t Was test i-s4
fled that amendments were put A on, h,
lowing suits for allg debts now and To-
become due by Inmates 70 bo brougl 1t IN AK
.tlle Circuit Court OF r iellnlond through MI
NJ, officer 70 be appointed ny tlia Cover sSS
nor, such officer to receive 30 per con
OF The amount recnyered. Senators &
Thomas and Phlesar got mo percentages VI
reduced to 10 per cent. l. and required tina ii
the suit should be brought at tho former
residence OF tho ia inniAyn. BS m tn ssAeasS
sWors that. upon a Disagreement
twStn tue two hou uAeA "A At11nA -