The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-21
Subcommittee of Senate Declares
No Testimony Was Offered
duplicating Lorimer
With Bribery
MAY BE A MINORITY REPORT
Senator Frazier, Who Dissented From
Findings Of Majority May Send
in Report Of Own. White
Discredited.

Washington, d. CIV, Dec. 21.-The
Senate committee on privileges and
elections today filed its report on the
investigation OF alleged bribery in con-
nection with the election of Senator
Lormer. The report recites Lorimer
received 10S out of 202 votes cast and
then discusses the question of what
constitutes a constitutional majority,
concluding that n majority OF
quorum of each house is sufficient TO
elect The committee says the Senate
has already held that to invalidate the
election of a senator on the charge or
bribery ii must appear he participated
In or attempted mribery, or that by
bribery enough votes were obtained for
him to change the result of the cleo
ton. Testimony is quoted showing
the counsel for the Chicago Tribune,
which conducted the inquiry against
Lorimer, announced he did not expect
to connect Lorimer with any acts of
bribery. The committee directs atten-
tion to Lorimers denial in the open
Senate of any act of bribery on his
part in connection with his election
TO the Senate. The committee then
declares:
There was no testimony offered
during the investigation which would
tend i'm the remotest degree to impli-
cate Lorimer in any personal act OF
bribery or attempted bribery, or cor
rupt practices of any nature"
The report says four legislators tes-
titled TO receiving money for their
votes, White, Link Beckemeyer and
Holstlaw. The committee accuses
White Of corruption throughout his
Legislative career and that he appears
to have conceived the plan of claiming
TO have been bribed in connection with
the senatorial election as a basis for
extorting money from Lorimer.' The
majority then concludes no credence
should be given to Whites testimony.
The report comments in detail upon
the cases of Link, Beckemeyer and
Holstlaw The committee says that
conceding these four were bribed 10
vote for Lorimer there is nothing 10
} show any other members OF the legis-
lature were so bribed, and declares
there are no good grounds Tor deduct
ing the votes of Browne, Broderick and
Wilson from those received by Lori
mer. The committee finds Lorimers
majority in the joint assembly was
, fourteen and that If IL were admitted
bribed to vote for Lorimer, and their
? votes eliminated, he still had a major
[ ity and his election was valid.
q The committee, comenting on the al
legged payment of money to the legis'
e lators by Wilson, says whether sucf
f money was paid or not the fact had ne
l. relevancy TO the matter the commit
1 tee was appointed to investigate
s The report concludes the committee
d will submit to the Senate the testi
mony taken in the investigation. witt
their reports and that in their opinion
the title of Lorimer to seat In IN
Senate has not been shown 10 be In
a valid by the use or employment
corrupt methods or practices.
The report as presented was no
. signed by all the members of the com
mittee. although it did not appea
there was any minority.
The statement of views sent TO IN
y committee by Frazier member of IN
III subcommittee was not filed with IN
Is report. 1t was stated Frazier has ash
= ed il be withheld and that he shoui
=, be permitted to file minority repo
~ If he should desire to do so later