Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-16

Host"n. June l5.-'rhe report OF the
committee on rules OF the House OF
Representatives which for Il month has
been investigating charges of bribery
against members of the present LeSis-
lature was made public today and the
finding of the committee was tina; no
evidence had been submitted to show
that any member of the House had &C.
c"ptcd bride. The committee found.
how ever that Frank J. GGtIro of BOS-
ton. 4 representative from the 9Th Suf-
folk district had approached other
members of the House. offering mon
cy reward for votes against .hc So
called anti-bucilct shop bill and recon-
renIs that Representative Gcthro be
expelled from membership. fepres"nta-
tive simon Swi- Of Taunton is found
also ly The committee Ia hava made
conflicting statements with reference
to bribery charges and the committee
recommends ;hat he De ccnSurcd.
Tho committees N:.dimg WAS reported
by Sr.4Ecr John \. Gle. ti!r chairman.
e!orti,- after the opening OF tn" HUuse
| ecs#io! TO-DAY. Tie Speaker ue.l.d that
Tic presentation 81 tho reI"rt g over
| until next Tucs,la;. il order that it
might i" submitted in print. Milo
naSrcN &c I:"stnn objected. desiring
| that the clerk road t,e report. I'll" doc
uincnt Was then communicated u the
| public.
Ia the summary ~ tho proceedings
X ference is HluGc t. the argument for
| p~iy:lt" sessions. Among tho.tC cited
v'or, that the witnesses would give
| their evidence with greater readiness
| that the rules of evidence need not be
| rs binding and opinions. surmi&es and
suspicious which under proper circum-
stances might BE- of great value 10 the
| committce would hc admissible ut 4
| private hcaInG; that any suspected
| person through publication NJ the evil
| dencc might have opportunity :" pro-
| tact himS elf; that as the House of Rep
resentativcs by the constitution is
made the grand inquest Of tn com
| monwealth" and that it's committed
| was given work to do nearly analogOu:
| to that of the grand jury which from
| time immcnorial has found secrecy alb
| solutely necessary: that the committee
| members might weigh tie c,idenc,
with open mind. uniniluenced and nm
| biased 10y outside comments, criticism
| or conclusions.
| The report also touches upon tlt
| statute which cxempts from prosccu-
| ton any person 'cstifying before an in
| ycstigation committee Of the LegisIa'
| turC saying that the statute was in
| tended to permit the LeGisla ture tn.
| fullest and most ample opportunity t.
| ascertain any matter that night be dis
| closed by any person WhOnSocVer tend
| ing to show the existence Of ans cor
| rupt influence in the enactment of thu
| laws Of the commonwealth 1t WGul,
| be idle" the report says, TO hold tina
an Investigation should nol be had an,
| possible wrong corrected to the end
that public service be pur" although
by so doing some individual may he
come immune from processes Of tn
| courts
The report shows that $50 WitncsSe
came before the committee, inCludin,
members of the House. reporters, edi
tors. brokers, legislative agents. mem
bers of the Stock Exchange an
others. Members of the committee iii,
not testify, the attorney general havin,
given an opinion that such a cOurs
would be improper
The report says that the assistance o
the district police was invoked to aid il
the investigation and Chief Joseph j
Shaw reported to the chairman of tn
committee as follows:
After most careful and rainstakin
investigation on the part of my officer
| am una BILE to find that any unlawful
means were used in either direction.
lhave found that certain members of tn
Legislature were approached by me-
interested in some degree in the bucket
shop business, but l cannot find in an
, instance that any unlawful means wer
. used in the way of money, threats O
otherwise, for the procuring of certai
. members votes"
The report complete. contained abou
5000 words. When the clerk had com
: pleted it's reading. consideration of til
a matter was put over until next Tues
day.