The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-12-31
BIZ IBE PR b
SAY $40 \


to investigate them fully wilma view
ito prosecuting possible perjury
One Of the most noted Ut hese IS
of Frank A. Smith. of Charleston; md
p. NJ. Grant, Of Morgantown! Smith
is secretary and treasurer 10 Edw ards
while Grant is one of the Bull Moose
leaders of the state especially in the
Second congression district where
he resides. In the long list 81 pol
cal expenditures filed With the CONE
mittee by Smith appears checks is
sued in January, 1913, to Grant, ag-
gregating $500, part at least of
which was for political purposes In
connection with the candidacy Of
William Seymour Edwards. Copies
OF the checks are filed and the orig
mails are In the hands Of the com
mittee. The report says that Grant
testified positively that he received
no money or other thing OF value, di-
rectly or indirectly, IN connection
with the William Seymour Edwards
Another discrepancy pointed out
by the reports is in the testimony Of
Charles w. Swisher and q. T. Jarrett,
of Charleston. "E, n. Jarrett testi-
fled" says the report, shat he was
not employed by Isaac 7. Mann, or by
any one for him, in his campaign for
the United States senatorship, while
G. w. Swisher testified that he ems
ployed Mr.. Jarrett, on behalf of Mr..
Mann, at the sum of 500 per month to
work in the interest Of Mr.. Mann,s
candidacy"
The report says William Shoemak-
er, Of Charleston, testified he was not
employed about the Edwards head
quarters and received no compensa-
ton for his service while there while
Smiths testimony shows that he is
sued check for. s35 to Shoemaker
and gave him small sums of money
besides.
The report states that the Com,
mtttee was handicapped to a very
great extent, as it believes, by an ap=
parent detection in the memory Of
many of the witnesses" No particu7
lar witness is cited.
AS to the expenses of candidates
for the United States senatorship the,
report says that the committee learned
that after the Legislature of 1913 con-;
vened, Davis Elkins, by himself, and
through his friends, expended the sum,
of S10,650 that Isaac II. Mann expend.
ed $15,696, and that william Seymour
Edwards expended $40, 944.12. Speak,
ing further along this line the report
says: 1t is not known by this COM
mittee, nor would its duties permit II
by the requirements Of the resolution
under which 1t is acting, to ascertain
the full amount of money expended
by the various didates, but in its
Judgment the amounts expended by
some of the ndidates. and their i'm.
mediate friends embraced large sums,
very much larger than could be law
fully expended, or Is legally contem-
plated
The record discloses. according to
the report, that the present corrupt
practices act OF this state is entirely
inadequate and should be materially
amended and changed, and that it is
not enforced even as we'll as 1t could
be; and that there should be a more
rigid enforcement by the officers of the
law, and especially the prosecuting at
torneys Of the various counties"
AS remedial legislation the commit
tee recommends to the legislature as
follows. Your committee believes
that stringent comprehensive cor
rupt practices act should be enacted
and that a fair, honest, equitable and
Just primary election law, by which
all elective officers would be required
to submit their candidacy to a vote
OF the people, should be enacted. And
that all of the safeguards possible
should be thrown around such primary
election through and by such corrupt
practices act. Your committee, there
fore, unhesitatingly recommends the
immediate enactment OF such Iegisla-
ton
Only two OF the accused legislators.
Delegates vanMeter and Smith, and
only one Of the candidates for United
States senator. Edwards, testified be-
fore the committee. They appeared
voluntarily.
The report closes with compll-
mentary- letter to.Attorney General A.
a. Lilly, who acted as counsel for the
committee in its Investigation.
The report will be presented at the
regular session Of the legislature
which will convene on the second
Wednesday in January, 1915. unless
an extraordinary session is called
sooner by Governor Hatfield. The
terms of office of the. members whose
expulsion is recommended will, expire
December l, 1914.