Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-19
HELM COMMITTEE REPORTS,
Findings of State Senator'S Apponted
to Investigate Election Of Lorimer.
JUDGE PETIT IS CR1TIC1SED
Ruins In Habess Corpus Csse Invciv-
ing Tudeu Asserted 60 BE
WrOnE-Jackpot Touched
but LInhtIH.

SPRINGFIELD. ll. May H-The ~
port OF the Helm senatorial committee,
appointed for the purpose OF investigating
the circumstances surrounding the election
Of Senator Lorimer was returned 10 the Fen
ate Wednesday Its two most vial II me-
are criticism of Judge Petit for hfsI rl,-
ing in the habeas corpus case, involving
Tilden, Cummings and Mitchell and this
expression: Your committee has reached
the conclusion that the election OF William
Lorimer before the last general assembly
would not have occurred had it not been
for bribery and corruption"
The report begins with the history Of the
appointment Of the committee on January
II, last, by virtue Of a resolution OF the
senate. The committee appointed by the
senate consisted OF Senators Helm, Hay.
| Mckenzie, Ettelson and Burton,
! 1t is set out that many witnesses were
called and sworn and testified before the
committee and that in addition the com
mittee received q full and complete tran.
script OF all the testimony taken In the
case OF The People versus Lee O'Neil
Browne. which case was tried in the
criminal court OF Cook county and con.
cluded on or about the first day ~ s.,
TENDER. 1910" ~
The committee also says Il received .
complete transcript of the testimony taken
in the case OF the People versus Pember-
ton and Clark and the People versus
Broderick. and also . transcript OF the tes
timony taken before the United States
senate committee which investigated the
election Of Lorimer.
KOhlsRat's Testimony Set Forth.
The report sets forth the summoning Of
H. H. Kohlsaat publisher of the Chicago
RaCprd- Harald nd ~
sure that II was Clarence g. Funk. score.
tary Of the International Harvester com.
pany, who had told him of a converse
ton which Funk had had with Ed
ward Hines, in which Hines is alleged 70
have Informed Funk that he had sue
ceeded In electing Mr.. Lorimer to | the
United States senate at q cost to him land
other unnamed persons OF about SlO00fO
In the matter Of the action Of fudge
Petit, who decided that Tilden. Cummings
and Mitchell need not appear before the
senatorial investigating committee the re-
port says
Your committee is advised and believes
that in the matter OF requiring the attend
ance Of said witnesses Il was acting within
its legal rights and the action Of said Judge
was an unwarrsnted and unIa wfiI inter-
ference on the part Of a member Of the
JUDICIARY Win legislative branch of Nthe
government That the inability of YOUR
committee TO compel the attendance of
said witnesses and the submission Of said
documentary proof has prevented onAths
part of this committee a full and compS -
investigation into the question Of corrunoN
ton and official misconduct on the part Of
members of this or the last general "a.
sembly."
The committee also touches on III. m.
called Jackpot episode, but SAYS 80 long
as no person publicly connected with that
matter is any longer a member Of the
senate no recommendation is made.
The whole question OF bribery and COR
ruption charges is placed by the committee
before the senate for whatever action the
members deem fit.
No attempt is made in the committees
report to recommend the reopening Of the
Lorimer investigation by the United
states senate or the unseating Of meubep.
OF the Illinois legislature charged -
bribery and corruption.
The senate agreed to receive thu r.nor,
and Its consideration for adoption or ra-
lection was made a matter Of special ord.r
Tor tomorrow morning.