Rock Island Argus., 1910-12-21
Lorimer Report Says His
Testimony is Un-
trustworthy.
CASE is NOT PROVEN
Not All Members Sign Finding,
but the Minority Is Not
Heard From.

Washington, Dec. 21.-The senate
committee on privileges and cleo
tions today filed a report on the in
vestigation of alleged bribery in con
nection with the election of Senator
Iorimer. The report recits Lorimer
received los of the 2O2 votes cast
and then discusses the question of
what constitutes a constitutional
majority. concluding that d major
ity of a quorum of each house is
sufficient to elect.
QUOTES PRESIDENT
The committee says the senate has
already held that to invalidate the
election of a senator on a charge
of bribery it must appear he par
ticipated in or attempted bribery. or
that by the bribery enough votes
were obtained for him to change
the result of the election
DID NOT CONNECT WITH BRIBERY.
Testimony is quoted showing
counsel for the Chicago Tribune
(wno conducted the inquiry against
Lorimer) announced he did not eX-
pect 70 connect LOrimer with any
acts of bribery. The committee di-
rects attention to Lorimer's denial
in the open senate of any act of brib-
cry on his part in connection with
election TO the senate.
The committee then declares
there was no testimony offered
during the Investigation which
would tend in the remotest degree
te impIicate Lor4mer- in any per
sonal act of bribery or attempted
bribery or corrupt practices of any
nature"
WHITE Is ATTACKED.
The report says the investigation
was chiefly to the claim that several
legislators were bribed to vote for
Lorimer and if sufficient number
were so bribed to render LOrimer's
election invalid The report says
four legislators testified to receiving
; money for their votes are White,
Link, Beckemeyer and HOlstlaw.
sThe committee accuses White of cor
ruption throughout his legislative
career. and that he appears to have
conceived the plan of claiming 10
have been bribed in connection with
the senatorial election as a basis
for extorting money from Lorimer."
The majority then concludes no
credeuce should be given Whites
testimony.
COMMENTS UPON OTHERS.
The report comments in detail
upon the cases of Link, Beckemeyer
and HoIstlaw.
The committee says that cOnced-
ing that these four were bribed TO
vote for Lorimer, there is nothing
to show any other members of the
legislature were so bribed, and de
clare there are no good grounds for
deducting the votes of Browne,
Broderick and Wilson from those re-
ceived by Lorimer. The committee
finds Lorimers majority in joint as
sembly was A and that if it were
admitted the four legislators above
named were bribed to vote for LOr-
inner and their votes eliminated he
still had a majority and his election
was valid.
MATTER NOT RELEVANT.
The committee commenting on
the alleged payment of money to
legislators by Wilson. says the fact
that such money was paid or not had
no relevancy to the matter the COM
mittee was appointed to investigate.
The report concludes:
THE committee submits to the
senate the testimony taken in the
investigation with their report that
in their opinion the title of Lori
mer to a seat in the senate has not
been shown to be invalid by the use
or employment of corrupt methods
or practices"
BEVERIDGE ASKS FOR TINE.
The report as presented was not
signed by all members of the COM
mittee, although it did not appear
there was any minority. On the
floor of the senate. however. Bever- /
idge stated he bad not been able to
concur with or dissent from the find /
fngs because of the voluminous /
character of the testimony. He said |
he would digest the proceeding of .
the investigating committee during the I
HOLIDAYS He asked that a specific I
time be named for acting upon the /
report. bur objection was made by .
Gallinger on the ground the matter 4
was privileged and could be called
from the table at any time by the
senator.
FRAzTER's REPORT WITHHELD.
The statement of the views to the
committee by Frazier, member Of
the subcommittee, was not filed with
the report It was stated Frazier
had asked it be withheld and that