Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-02-26

Nv Fifteen to Eleven tes senate Gives
it, Committee This Power.

lts COMMITTEES This Power.
Austin. Feb. 20. - The presentation
Of petitions frs- numerous districts
was the first order In the senate.
among ,hem one from Valley Mills,
Bosque county. with hfty.four sigma.
lures. asking Speaker Mayfeld 10 vote
for Bailey's resignation.
Hudspeth had ead petition from
Ban Angelo endorsing the antf-bucktf
shop bill. Petitions fnvoring the r..
peal OF the occupation tax and pure
food law and opposed 10 municipal
control OF rates OF public service cor.
poratioas were also presented.
A resolution was offered signed by
Senators Green. Skinner. Senter and
Greer. members of the senate invest.
eating committee. as follows:
BE II resolved. That should the
committee heretofore appointed under
resolution Of the senate TO investigate
any charge that might be fled against
Senator Bailey deem II expedient. ad-
vfsabie or proper TO secure the testi.
mony OF II. Clay Pierce or other wit.
nesses or 10 examine any papers or
books beyond the limits of Texas.
that II shall have the power TO appoint
. subcommittee Of two 10 90 beyond
the limits of the state TO such place
or places as may be necessary to Sc
cure the testimony OF said II. Clay
Pierce or other witnesses and to ex.
anime papers and books.
II said committee deems II neces-
sary II is hereby empowered TO take
the testimony Of said II. Clay Pierce
or other witnesses by deposition.
1T 10 understood that the senate
Is hereby instructed TO do
any or all things II may deem neces-
sary In the premises. according to the
powers. practice and procedure con.
ferred upon like committees by the act
recently passed by this legislature.
which governs In the investigation be
fore the legislative committees"
Senator Green said the committee
had differed regarding the scope Of
its authority 10 secure desired testi-
mony. % passed Il up 20 the senate
TO determine.
Senator Cunningham wanted TO
know II Pierce's testimony could be
secured. Senator Green and other
members OF the committee differed OF
that point.
Senator Looney thought the resolu
ton could serve no purpose except pro-
long the investigation. declaring every
charge had been investigated and
every man summoned who knew any
thing or whose name had been men
toned. The house committee had be-
gun preparations OF Its findings and
the senate committee should do 30 at
once. He declared Pierce was under
indictment In Travis county. which
would prevent his coming here; that
be had already corroborated every
statement made by Bailey touching
their financial relations: II also was
already provided by testimony OF Da-
vid X. Francis. and should Pierce tes-
fifty differently he could not be be-
iieved. as he was under indictment for
false swearing In Travis county. which
branded him for the time as not al
ways telling the truth. He insisted
that nothing new could be obtained
from Pierce's testimony. He men
toned other obstacles, such as Pierce's
absence from Missouri. where Waters
Pierce books were kept; that he might
refuse TO answer questions and could
not be made to do 80.
Senator Senter wanted TO know the
reasons that prompted the presenting
Of the resolution to the senate He
telt that II any more evidence could be
secured II should be obtained at any
cost. 1T is unthinkable." said Sena-
tor Senter. that anyone would dare
shut out from the record Of the testi-
mony which ought 10 go there. He
Attorney J. ID. Jackson.
Senator Green insisted that the ties
limony Of Pierce should be secured.
Senator Looney offered a substitute
10 Green's resolution. which was TO the
effect that Bailey had been exoner.
ated and that evidence shows that he
was not guilty OF the crime" Looney
thought that the investigation had al
ready been too great a burden on the
taxpayers OF Texas. Tie resolution
rOUtluufU Win tttt Recommendation
hat the investigating committee be
The resolution was signed
BY Hudspeth. Alexander. Barrett. Wat.
son. Brachheld. Smith. Meacham,
Looney. Chamber. Terrell. Harper.
Stone. Cunningham. Keilie and Har.
bison. Looney moved the previous
question on Green's resolution and his
substitute.
Skinner contended the Looney sub
'titute was not germane 20 the origi.
,al resolution.
Lieutenant Governor Davidson over.
'uled the point OF order by Grinnan.
Senator Senter made the point OF
rider that the committee could not be-
discharged before performing the duty
I was appointed to perform without re
'cinding the original resolution.
The chair overruled the point of or.
Ter The substitute for original was
'alled up and carried by a vote of Is
o II and one pair The substitute res
'lution was finally adopted BY the
anne vote. The vote to table the orig