The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-02-26
TO DISCHARGE ITSELF.
BY Fifteen to Eleven the Senate Gives
| lts Committee This Power


It's Committee This Bower
Austin. Feb 26. The presentation
of petitions from numerous districts
was the first order in the senate,
among them one from Valley Mills,
Bosque county, with fifty-four sigma
lures, asking Speaker Mayfield to vote
for Bailey's resignation.
Hudspeth had read a petition from
San Angelo endorsing the anti-bucket
shop bill. Petitions favoring the re
peal of the occupation tax and pure
food law and opposed to municipal
control of rates of public service cor
porations were also presented.
A resolution was offered, signed by
Senators Green. Skinner, Senter and
Greer, members Of the senate inyesti.
, eating committee, as follows:
BE 1t resolved, That should the
committee heretofore appointed under
resolution of the senate to investigate
any charge that might be filed against
Senator Bailey deem 1t expedient, ad
visable or proper to secure the testi
mony of H. Clay Pierce or other wit,
nesses or to examine any papers or
books beyond the limits of Texas
that 1t shall have the power to appoint
a subcommittee of two to go beyond
the limits of the state to such place
or places as may be necessary to Sc
cure the testimony of said Ii. Gay
Pierce or Other witnesses and to ex,
anime papers and books.
IF said committee deems ii neces
sary it is hereby empowered to take
the testimony Of said II. Clay Pierce
or other witnesses by deposition.
ut Is understood that the senate
committee Is hereby instructed to do
any or all things it 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 to secure desired testi
mony, so passed 1t up to the senate
to determine.
Senator Cunningham wanted to
know if Pierce's testimony could be
secured. Senator Green and other
members of the committee differed on
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 Sc at
once. He declared Pierce was under
Indictment in Travis county, which
would prevent his coming here; that
he had already corroborated every
statement made by Bailey touching
their financial relations; it also was
already provided by testimony OF Da-
yid r. Francis, and should Pierce ties,
tify differently he could not be be-
tieved, 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 so.
Senator Senter wanted to know the
reasons that prompted the presenting
of the resolution to the senate. He
felt that II any more evidence could be
secured 1t should be obtained at any
cost. 1T Is unthinkable,' said Sena-
tor Senter, that anyone would dare
shut out from the record Of the testa-
mony which ought to go there. He
denounced Attorney J. D. Jackson.
Senator Green insisted that the ties.
timony of Pierce should be secured.
Senator Looney offered a substitute
to 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. The resolution
concluded with the recommendation
that the investigating committee be
| withdrawn. The resolution was signed
by Hudspeth, Alexander, Barrett, Wat
son, Braehfield, Smith, Meacham
| Looney, Chamber, Terrell, Harper
| Stone, Cunningham, Kellie and Har
bison. Loonay moved the previous
| question on Green's resolution and his
substitute.
| Skinner contended the Looney sub
stHute was not germane to the origi
nal resolution.
| Lieutenant Governor Davidson over
ruled the point of order by Grinnan
Senator Senter made the point oil
order that the committee could not be
discharged before performing the dut,
It was appointed to perform without re
seinding the original resolution.
The chair overruled the point of or
der. The substitute for original was
called up and carried by vote of Il
III and one pair. The substitute res
olution was finally adopted by the
same vote The vote to table the orig
fnal resolution was adopted.
i Salary