The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-20
MINORITY REPORTS
IN STEPHENSON CASE
Wisconsin Senator Declared
Not to Be Entitled to His
Seat in Senate.
HEPBURN TAKES FLOOR
Chides Clerk of Printing Com
mittee for Delay; Refer
ence to Sn1oot.
TAKES FLOOR
By Tad

WASHINGTON, Feb l9.-United
States Senator Isaac Stephenson of
Wisconsin is not entitled to his seat,
in the opinion Of Ave members of the
senate committee on privileges and
elections, who filed a minority report
with the senate today. The majority
report on the Investigation OF senator
Stephenson s campaign expenditures
WIS submitted February IL. In sub
stance il held that the charges or cor
ruptiou in the primary of loUS were
not proven.
The minority report is signed ny
Senators Kenyon, Clapp and Jones, he-
pubIicaus: Lea and Kern. Democrats.
1t contends that enough evidence was
adduced by the inquiry to warrant the
senate IN declaring Senator Stepnen'
son s seat vacant.
Enormous Sum Spent.
Referring to the fact that the senator
through his lieutenants spent $l0I.f93
In his campaign and that the csndl
dates for the state legislature spent
proportionately large sums, the report
quotes from the majority report
"Such expenditures were i'll violation
of the fundamental principles underly-
ing our system of government, winch
contemplated the selection of candI'
dates by the electors and not the seler,
tion of the electors by the candidate.
The minority report then proceeds:
eve concur in this statement aud it
iustifies us in opposing the conclusion
of the majority, How seat IN the
senate can be secured in violation of
the Fundamental principles underlying
our system of government with the
evidence showing the use Of such
large sum of money, and not he tainted
by corrupt methods and practices We
arc una bic TO comprehend.
"The question now s9uareIr before
the senate is whether methods and prsc
tices 'in violation Of the fundamental
principles underlying our system Of
Government shall he denounced by our
words and approved by our votes, -
Debate Begins.
Senator Hepburn, who was chairman
OF the subcommittee making the m
uuirv, occupied the entire session IN
support Of tue majority report OF the
committee He declared Mr.. Stephen
son was entitled TO his seat because the
charges had not been proved. He said
he would not ask for vote before next
Wednesday.
Much of Mr. Hepburn IS time was
consumed in an arraignment Of the
printing clerk of the senate who bad
failed TO have printed the hrst volume
OF the committee report containing the
recommendations OF the majority. He
said instructions to print bad been
given a week ago but that acting nm.
der advice the clerk wllfnlly failed
to uhev the order.
When Senator Smoor sought TO point
ont that the clerk bad held up the re-
port on the understanding that the
views OF the minority were TO accom-
pauy the MAJORITY report, Mr.. Hepburn
referred TO the Utah senator as ''spe'
cial counsel for tue clerk, Of whom
he spoke several times as disobedi'
ent uudorllng
Ultimately he moved TO have the
clerk summoned before the bar or the
senate, hut his motion. was defeated
overwhelmingly.
Taking IN the majority report Mr
Hevburu said the investigating com
mittee had heard every one who would
appear and declared that the proceed
incs had not been q star chamber one
Senator IIeyburn still held the hoor
when the senate adjourned.