The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-20
Senate Committee Will Be-
 gin Hearings In Chicago
CONFERENCE IS PLANNED
Members of Committee Will First As semblc To Outline a Plan of Pro- cedure Which VIII Be
 Followed

Chicago, September 19.-Senator Ju- Illus C.. Burrows of Michigan, chairman of the Senate committee which is to investigate the election of Senator Will liam Lorimer of Illinois, arrived here today with others of the committee and prepared to take up the consid- eration of the charges that the cleo tion of the junior senator from Illinois was tainted with bribery.
 The initial session, which is to be held tomorrow, will be devoted to ar ranging the programme for the sittings of the committee and will be execu- tive.
 Among other things which will be then determined Is what evidence asked for by the committee. The general impression is that much testimony will be declared admissible before the committee which in a criminal trial would be held not competent.
 With the exception of one member of the senatorial body, Senator Nor gan G. Bulkeley of Connecticut, all the members of the committee are law yers. This Is expected to simplify the hearing. Chairman Burrows declined to discuss in detail the plans of the committee.
 "The committee itself must deter mine what will be the course of pro- ceedure." said Senator Burrows.
 q have not conferred with the mem- Bers as yet; that will be done tomor row and until then no definite state ment can be made"
 The Investigating committee, which is a subcommittee of the Senate on privileges and elections, is composed of the following senators:
 Chairman, Julius c. Burrows, Michi- gan, republican,; Weldon B. Hepburn Idaho, republican; Robert J. Gamble South Dakota, republican,; William B Dillingham;, Vermont, republican, whose place Is to be taken by Morgan G Bulkeley, Connecticut, republican,; lame: B. Frazier. Tennessee. democrat; Thomas H. Paynter, Kentucky, democrat, anc Joseph F. Johnston, Alabama. democrat
 Of these Senators Burrows, Heybure and Johnston arrived today, and Sena- tors Gamble, Paynter and Frazier are ex- pected tomorrow. Senator Bulkeley may not join his colleagues until the session in Washington.
 Under the resolution, on which the ap- pointment of the committee was made, the services of an assistant sergeant-at- arms of the Senate will be at the dis posal of the committee to summon such witnesses as are desired and the United States marshal in Chicago will give whatever aid Is needed.
 In the absence of formal programme, 1t is expected that the formal petition, which was presented In the Senate, call
 of tao n allegations of bribery and corrupt prac- tices in connection with the election at Springfield, H., at the close of the dead locked legislature of 1909. when William Lorimer was elected Senator. will be the basis of the initial hearing and that wit nesses in support of these allegations will be heard first.
 Senator Lorimer will be represented at the hearing by former Judge Elbridge Hanecy of Chicago. Neither Senator I,orimer nor Attorney Hanecy would dis cuss the hearing in detail.
 .swhat we present to the committee and what witnesses we will summon, If any," said Senator Lorimer, will de- pend on what testimony is given before the committed.
 The allegation of State Representative Charles w. White, democratic member of the Illinois legislature, who swore that he was paid 5000 by Minority Leader Lee  O'Neil Brown to vote for William Lori mer for United States senator, the prin- cipal basis of the charges into which the committee is to inquire.
 All the witnesses who were examined at the two trials of Minority Leader Browne may be asked to repeat their stories before Chairman Burrows and his colleagues. Tn addition 1t Is expected that the great majority, if not all of the nembers of the Illinois legislature who voted for Senator Lorimer may be called to declare under oath their reasons for so voting.
 In neither of his trials, in the first or which the jury disagreed. and In the sec ond found verdict of not guilty on the charge of bribery. did Lee O'Neil Browne take the witness stand, and his appear ance before the senate committee. If he is summoned to testify, will be awaited with interest
 The sittings may continue several weeks.