Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-22
COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES AND
ELECTIONS A1soLvEs SENATOR
OF CHARGES or BRIBERY OR
CORRUPT PRACTICES.
WHITE is HELD
ASA BLACKMAILER

rESSEO 6OOOLEH8 WERE
THROWN OUT THE COMMITTEE
HOLDS LoRlMER HAS MAJORITY
Washington, D. G., Dec. 2f1Ths
senate committee on privileges and
elections today fled its report on the
investigation Of alleged bribery In
connection with the election OF Sem
ator Lorimer. The report recites that
Lorimer received 1O8 OF 202 votes cast
and then discusses the question .oi
what constitutes constitutional ma
jority, concluding that majority OF
quorum OF each house Is sufficient ia
elect. The committee says the senate
has already held that to invalidate the
election of a senator on the charge OF
bribery, 1t must appear that he par
ticipated In or attempted bribery. OF
that by bribery enough votes were OBJ.
tained for him to change the result OF
the election.
LorImer AbsoIved o. Blame.
The testimony is quoted showina
that counsel for the Chicago Tribune
who conducted the inquiry against
Lorimer' announced that he did not
expect to connect Lorimer with any
acts of bribery. The committees directs
attention to Lorimer's denial in th~-.
open senate OF any act OF bribery on
his part In connection with his elec.
tiOn to the senate.
The committee then declares there
was no testimony offered during the
investigation which would 'in the re
motest degree implicate Lorimer In
any personal act of bribery or at.
tempted bribery or corrupt practices
Of any nature"
White Called BiaekmaIlsr.
The report says four legislators
testified to receiving money for their
votes, White. Link, Beckemyer and
Holstlaw. The COMMITTEES accuses
White Of corruption throughout hia
legislative career, and that he ZAP
pears to have conceived the plan OF
claiming to have been bribed IN con-
nection with the senatorial election 40
q basis for extorttng money from Lori
mer." The majority then concludes
that no credence should be given to
Whites testimony. The report COM
ments in detail upon the cases OF
Link, Beckmeyer, and Holstlaw.
Held Bribery Evidence Irrelevant.
The committee says that concedine
these four were bribed to vote FOR Lori
mer, there is nothing to show that any
other members Of the legislature were
so bribed and declare there In no good
grounds for deducting tho votes Of
Browne, Frederick and Wilson, from
those received by Lorimer.
The committee finds Lorimer's ma
jority in the joint assembly was four~
teen, and that II 1t were admitted that
the four Legislators above named
were bribed to vote for Lorimer and
their votes were eliminated he still
had majority and his election was
valid. The committee commenting on
the alleged payment Of money to
legislators by Wilson says that
whether such money was paid or not
the fact had no relevancy to the mat
ter the committee was appointed to
Investigate.
The report concludes that the COM !,
mittee submitted to the senate the
testimony taken in the Investigation
with it's report that in the opinion OF
the committee the title OF LOrimer to
q seat In the senate had not been
shown to be invalid by the use OF en-
ployment Of corrupt methods or prac-
tices.
Reveridge Asks Time.
AS presented, the report was not
signed by all members, although 1t did
not appear there was any minority on
the floor of the senate. However,
Senator Beveridge stated he had not
been able to concur with or dissent
from the. findings because Of the
yoluininous character of the testimony.
He said he would digest the proceed
ings of the investigating COMMITTEES
during the holidays. He asked that a
specific time be named for acting up
on the report, but an objection was
made by Senator Ballinger on the
ground that the matter was privileged
and could be called from the table at
any time by a senator.
Frazier Report Not Submitted.
The statement of views sent to the
committee by Senator Frazier. q mem-
bers of the subcommittee, was not
filed with the report 1t was stated
Frazier had asked it to be held and
that he should be permitted to file a
minority report II he should desire to
do so later.