The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1911-05-12
Senate Seeks to Investigate Graft
Charges.

luton providing for the appointment
of a committee to investigate the
charges made by Mr.. Little in the
house that bribery and graft had been
going on in the senate. The senate
unanimously adopted the resolution,
which follows:
Whereas, Certain charges have
been made against the membership
OF the senate in reference to tie ac-
ceptance of brides to defeat legisa-
ton, which charges, while made
against only a few members of the
senate, is very indefinite, and casts
q reflection on each member individ-
ually and,
Whereas, 1t is the sense of this
body that one who accepts brides is
unfit to sit in this body; and,
Whereas, When such charges have
been made it is the duty of this SEN
ate to freely and fully investigate the
same, to the end that justice may be
done and the senate set right with
the public; therefore,
Be it Resolved, By the senate that
committee OF five be appointed to
investigate said charges, who shall
have all and singular the inquisitory
power OF grand jury, and that this
committee be charged with the duty
and authority to subpoena all persons
who have made charges of corruption
against this body or may have knowl-
edge of any reputed corruption, and
make their report to this body before
adjournment, which report, together
with stenographic copy of all testi-
mony taken, shall be filed with the
senate for the purpose OF making it
a part of the public record Of this
body's proceedings.
The committee appointed consists
OF Turner, Watson, White, Hughes
and Martin. The committee summoned
Mr.. Little to appear, and the follow
ing is the report which the commit
tee filed and which was unanimously
adopted:
We your committee, appointed to
conduct a special investigation and
inquire into the charges made BY
Ilcpi ILiNtiC oli llc Iiooi y.
the house against the senate, in
which he charged the use of money
in the defeat of what is known as the
Bradham- Hurst bill and the passage
of the game warden bill, introduced
by Senator Williams, and the numer-
Gus other charges of corruption, beg
to report that in pursuance of the
resolution adopted by the senate, We
at once caused the said Little to be
summoned before the committee, and
on being advised of the object and
purpose of the investigation he &c.
clined to testify or to give any infor
nation Or any facts whatever upon
which his charges were based. He
contended that under the constitution
he. as a representative of Arkansas,
while acting as such, could not be
compelled to testify or to give any
information concerning any corrupt
practices in the legislature known to
him, while actually engaged in the
discharge of his duties as represen-
tative. We feel that it was the
highest duty he owed to the state to
answer the questions propounded to
him by the committee and TO give
all information, If any he possessed,
in reference to the use OF money as
alleged by him. thus cutting off any
and all information that we might
procure upon which to make find
ing or advise the senate in regard to
said charges, and in view OF the fact
that he hides behind what he terms
constitutional rights, candor COM
pels us to say that the only just
conclusion is that his charges are
groundless, and he at least has de-
MED us the privilege and right 10
expel any person or persons so
charged by him, since he is the only
person, so far as we know, havino
or claiming to have such informatio
as claimed by him. We therefor
ask that we be discharged unless he
should offer to furnish such informa-
ton in the future"