The Washington herald., 1911-04-06

will not again be directed to conduct
the investigation, mainly because that
committee will not be reorganized per-
haps for several weeks
Vice President Sherman probably would
be glad to be relieved Of the RESPONSE
bi!ity of naming the members OF a select
committee to conduct The examination.
and, besides, there is a feeling that the
question is of such transcendant impor-
lance that the Senate should bring to
Lear upOh it. so far as possible. its direct
influence There is a disposition to wait
4 few days for developments in Illinois.
The second investigation will not be or
dered before next week. in all proba-
bility, if it is decided upon. as now seems
certain.
News of Fund No Surprise.
The news of the startling testimony
that a corruption fund of 10000 has
been expended to elect Lorimer Senator
did not come as a surprise to some Sena-
tors Several of the Senators who took
the lead in opposing Lorimer had very
definite Information before the adjorn-
ment of the regular session of the Senate,
even before the vote on the L.orimer case,
of the alleged conversation between Ed
ward Hines. the friend of Senator Lori
mer and Clarence S. Funk, of the Nc
COrmiCk Harvester Works, who testi-
fled yesterday before the investigation
committee of the Illinois Legislature 1t
was this phase of the case to which
Senator La Toilette referred at one stage
of the proceedings in the Lorimer case.
when he declared that he had good and
sufficient reason for refusing to agree to
a day for vote on the case and he hint
ed at certain possible developments that
might have an important bearing on the
case.
Mr.. La Toilette had no monopoly of
the information even at that time. But
efforts to put the story in an authentic
form for use before the Senate proved
unsuccessful. Senators opposed TO Lorimer
realized also that the record of the case
had been completed. and that the Senate
was legally bound to determine the case
on the record as then made up. For a
time there was grave discussion of the
of forcing a postponement of
the case until the extra session in the
or hope that the possibility
of proving the story of the alleged
800, 900. corruption fund might develop.
Lorimer Opponents Strong.
II vote were taken to-day as the
Senate is constituted, it is the opinion of
Lorimers opponents that he would he
on the record as it is now made
up, regardless of the Funk testimony or
what may follow.
Senators who were most active in op-
posing Senator Lorimer's right to retain
his seat admit their reluctance to enter
again upon an investigation of the case.
That there is no legal bar to second
of the case is conceded 1t
IS not res adjudicata But the conserva- |
tive Senators of ripe legal experience |
shrink from appearing to put colleague |
On trial for a second time, even in face |
If testimony that makes such action i'm |
oerative to preserve the good name and
traditions of the Senate.
Meanwhile the development of the tes-
imony at Springfield, Ill, will be watched |
With interest 1t was the general opinion
around the Senate yesterday that the
senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections had been left in an awkward
position by the developments in the legis-
ative investigation at Springfield.
The practical certainty that the Lori
ner case will be reopened adds another
ection to the programme Of the special
ession of Congress and tends to dispel
whatever hope that may have existed Of
reasonably early adjournment