New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-21
LOR|MER CASE AGAIN
BEFORE THE SENATE
Majority and Minority Reports
Submitted for and Against
Illinois Senator.
LIKELY TO LOSE HIS SEAT
Indications That a Majority OF
His Colleagues Will De-
clare His Election
Invalid.
lrron Tho Tribune Bureau.

IIr0uI Tho Tribune EH.oau..
WASHINGTON May 2o.-For tho second time
the question Of the validity OF the election
NJ Senator Lorimcr was placed before the
Senate to-day in TIE form of two reports
from the committee which conducted the
Investigation. The majority report signed
nv fyc members. cVoncrated the Illinois
Sena tor. and tho minority report signed
by three members. declared that corrupt
methods and practices We're employed ~
his election.
Indications are that the Senate ircGnos
TO the view advanced 10y the minority re-
port and that Senator Lorimer will be GUST
ed from his seat. It is asserted that h
cannot count on more than forty Of his
colleagues to clear him of the charges
against him. Fifty Senator'S. ii Is said. are
opposed to confirming him, and several are
undecided.
This estimate is based on the assump-
ton that the plea that the case has been
decided once and cannot be reopened will
not prevail. Senators who cast their votes
against Senator Lorirher IN the last session
of Congress will do the same this session.
and OF the newcomers a large majority Is
opposed to him.
No attempt was made to-day 10 set
unne IOr NotlIS on tllt CdSt. an tiivit VIII
be made 10 do this i'm the next few days.
There is no indication that the debate VIII
be long.
Both Senator LOrmer and Edward Hines,
the Chicago umberman. are criticised in
the report Of the minority, in which is as
serted the belief of the three Senators that
the testimony of Clarence Funk and w. NJ,
Burgess. that a fund of 100000 was collect
report ADDS that at least ten votes were
purchased TO elect Lorimer and that the
record "reeks and teens with evidence Of
o general scheme Of corruption.
No New Evidence.
The majority took the position that, the
Senate having once "solemnly and delib-
erately' passed on the charges against SEN
ator Lorimer, he should be permitted to
retain his seat unless new and convincing
evidence had been produced establishing
corruption In his election. No new and
substantial evidence had been produced,
the majority said, and consequently they
declared that the rules of justice required
the former judgment OF the Senate, uphold
ing Mr.. Lorimer, to stand.
Expert accountants employed by the COM
evidence in the books Of Edward Hines or
Edward Tilden OF connection with Lori
rner election fund
The committee took up the testimony Of
William NJ Burgess, of Duluth, that c. =.
WIehe hrother-in-law OF Mr.. Hines. had
stated in a smoking room Of a sleeping car
out of Duluth last March that he had con-
tributed $1,000 to Lormer election fund,
and said;
With convincing array Of evidence in
denial of all the facts contained in Nj.
i}uTCeSs's testimony and in view OF the
lmpTObability that q man of Mr. Niehe
Intelligence and business experience IN a
public place and to all utter stranger would
have confessed to having part IN an ln-
famous proceeding, this committee cannot
90 otherwise than discard the testimony of
Mr.. Burgess as proof Of any facts alleged.
The committee considered the attempt TO
impeach the testimony Of Charles Nc
Gowan. q young Canadian. who testified in
Wiehe's behalf The committee related an
attempted reproduction of the condition an
der which the stenosraphc report Of Nc
Gowans conversation was made. and added
that the results were 80 disastrous TO the
claims made by the stenographer as so sat-
isfv the committee that no dependence
whatever could he placed on his testimony
Whites Story Rejected.
The sensational account by Charles 4
White. ex-State Representative. of receiv-
Ing Lorimer election money, was pro-
nounced "a pure fabrication 50 far as it re-
lates to the election Of Senator Lorimcr,"
and the committee added;
From a most exhaustive examination and
painstakng consideration Of al the testi-
mOny in the case the committee finds that
White was one OF the Nfty-tErec Demo
Gratis who felt justified in voting for Mr..
Ioriner i'm order to break the deadlock
which had existed in that body for So
many months, and that Whites attempt to
enrich himself at the expense OF his own
reputation was the result of an after
thought and Of purpose which he had
conceived at time when he had reached
The lowest depths OF degradation.
The committee advanced the theory that
Instead Of Senator Daniel w. lIolstlaw
having been paid 500 for voting for
Lorimer. IT might have been paid by
houor interests TO dcfIay his election OK
penses. although posing as dry"
Taken altogether, the committee said, the
testimony indicated TO it that Mr. Lorimor's
election Was the result of political couji-
tons and not attributable 10 the corrupt
use Of money. II dWclt on the statement
that not one witness had reflected on Sena-
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