The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-02-09
STARTLING STATEMENT.
Senator Thor A;ak@s Sensa-
tional Accusations.
PROCEEDINGS ARE SPICY.

Senate Decides to Appoint Commit
tee Of Three to investigate the Mat
ter, the Members to Thoroughly
Look into and Report Within Week.
Austin. Feb 9.-Quite sensation
was sprung in the senate Monday
when Senator Thomas of Hopkins
county arose to a question personal
privilege and charged that he had been
improperly approached and intimated
by outside interests. He also declared
that other senators have said that
never before in the history OF the state
has there been such an open and
fragrant lobby maintained at Austin
during 4 session of the legislature.
II have seen the brazen effrontery Of
lobbyists who have appeared before
our committees" said Senator Thorn
rs. and even suggest to members OF
the senate how they should vote on
pending measures"
He called attention to various pro
visions Of the anti-lObby law: that the
committee rooms had been thrown
open to everybody. whether interested
In q bill or not He wanted to ap-
peal to the president and members OF
the senate to rigidly enforce the anti
lobby law He charged that he had
been approached and his vote solicited
for bills pending before the legislature
in violation Of anti-lobby law: that the
anti-lobby law has been violated in
the senate and committees room over
1000 times.
He charged that he has seen a Ger.
tain state official. who should be at.
the senate aud in committee rooms
using his influence to defeat certain
bill He asserted he had been told
that II he brought this question before
the senate he would be shot full OF
holes"
Tie believed that some bills have
already been defeated by outside in
fluences.
President Davidson wanted to know
II senator Thomas referred 10 the
chair as to granting OF privileges on
floor Of senate to outsiders or to state
officials. Senator Thomas replied:
NO"
Senator Meachmm took the floor and
said he was surprised at disclosures
made by Senator Thomas and In i'm
passi0ned speech moved that there be
roll call and let each senator answer
whether he has been improperly ap-
preached; that It was Thomas duty to
h~ nj ispru hArA a nd
der oath tell OF violations Of law.
Senator Hume said that there is no
need for a lobby law to paintain the
senate's self respect. that he was able
to. take care himself IL approached by
any one. He said he had not even
been approached by the preachers.
Senator veale thought it was Sc
rious charge and seconded the motion
It Senator Meachum.
Roll call was taken and of twenty
five members present all except Thorn
a. himself voted that they had not
been approached or intimated
Senator Murray offered a resolution
that Senator Thomas be brought be-
fore the bar Of the senate and furnish
names and dates on which he charges
that he and other senators had been
intimated and solicited.
He subsequently withdrew his reso-
LUTON and another offered by Senator
Meachum and Sturgeon. which was
adopted. providing that the president
OF the senate appoint q committee OF
three senators to make Investigation
Of the language and statement Of Sen
ator Thomas. and. report back their
findjngs in a week. The committee
70 empowered to take testimony. ad-
minister oaths, etc. The chair ap-
pofnted Sturgeon, Veale and Me4chum