New-York tribune., 1910-01-26
PLANS FOR INQUIRY
OUTLINED TO SENATE.
Grady Objects to adoption of
Report, Which Goes OUer.
lsy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

lSy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.
Albany, Jan. 25.-Formal procedure for
the conduct Of the inquiry into the Aids
Conger bribery charge. was outlined TO
the Senate to-day in a report passed on
last night at the conference of Republi-
can Senator'S. AS it involved suspension
of the Senate rules It went over until to-
morrow, when the report will be debated
and adopted. though Senator Grady will
oppose some features of II.
The report provides that the charges
against Senator Aids must be filed before
February l; that the accused Senator shall
have until February to make reply, and
if there are TO charges filed the Senate
shall take UP an inquiry into the pub
ished statements about the alleged bribery
incident by February s.
This inquiry Is to be conducted before
the committee Of the whole. The reason
for that is that no Senator may be ex-
PEELED from the Senate save after the re-
port OF a. committee on the case, Thus. IL
the Senate sat as the Senate, there could
be no expulsion of either or both parties
TO this controversy. Sitting the COM
mittee OF the whole the Senate VIII make
a report which will be passed or by the
Senate proper. which then will have puni-
tive power.
If Senator Conger presents written charges
against Senator Aids. each Senator will be
entitled TO counsel, and proper place for
counsel will be provided in the Senate
Chamber. II no charges are presented,
Senator Aids will be entitled to counsel,
and the Senate will be represented by coun-
sci, who will conduct the inquiry into the
published charges. The report provides that
the committee of the whole shall have
power TO summon witnesses and to compel
tneIr attendance and the production of all
books papers and the like. 1t provides also
that rolcalls may be taken in the commit
tee, and that rules for the limitation OF
debate may be made and carried out The
rules OF evidence prevailing in courts of
record will be followed.
4 minority report was presented by Sem
ator Grady objecting to the conduct of this
inquiry before the committee of The whole.
When Senator Bracket asked unanimous
consent to have the majority report dis
cussed Grady objected, throwing it over un-
I'll to-rnorrow, when. on Brackets motion
TO suspend the Senate rules this report can
be thrashed out.
Seemingly the report provides opportunity
for the fullest kind of an inquiry into the
alleged bribery incident. either on charges
from Senator Conger or through investisa-
ton Of the published statement While
Conger's lawyers telegraphed TO the confer
ence of Senators last night that they could
not be ready TO go ahead for twenty days,
there is little question that charges will be
submitted at the specified time In case
charges should not be forthcoming, the first
witness summoned in the Senate inquiry
probably would be Senator Conger himself.
Senators in general are pretty well sa ATS
fed with the prospect for the inquiry.
There have been all kinds of runors since
the beginning of this affair that the white
wash pail greatly in evidence and
that political and corporation influences
We're al work to choke off full and fair
investigation, on the theory that the reve-
lations which would be made would be too
damaging 10 prominent politicians and to
some men high in the business world. But
there is to be an election OF Senators this
fall. and most of the present members
want to return to Albany. They realize,
and make the fact evident. that any at
tempt TO smother this affair or whitewash
any guilt would be visited on them as can
didates for reelection. and would be the
most damaging kind of campaign material
against the Republican party.
Moreover, there are several Senators who
have pledged one another their word that
they will do everything in their power 70
see that there is the fullest and freest pos
sible investigation Of this affair. regardless
Of the nature of any disclosures They
deem that the only feasible method Of
showing the voters that the Republican
party stands for political cIeanness and
honesty and intends to have nothing to do
with public officials who cannot come up
10 the proper standard.