Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-26
HOUSE
Continued From rage One.)

appointed Messrs. Owens, Buck, Nor
helm, WARDROBE and Haraldson.
The resolution introduced by Mr..
Divet follows:
TO the House Of Representatives Of the
State Vt North Dakota and the. Honor.
able Speaker Thereof:
We, the undersigned, members in at
tendance upon the said House, do here
by lay before you information that on
the 22nd and 23rd days of February, 1913,
we We're by one Ben Ness solicited and
asked to lend our aid and support to the
movement for the defeat of Senate Bill
No. 9S commonly known and referred to
as the "Anti-Snuff Bill"
That the undersigned wv. NJ. BARLEY
was not offered any specific or definite
amount of money for his influence in
bringing about the defeate of the said
bill, but was assured by the said Ness
that if he would lend his influence to the
defeat thereof, he would be suitably COM
pensated in money.
That the undersigned L. L. Twicherl
and A. G. Divet were in direct terms
offered by the said ->ess the sum Of
thirty five hundred (s35.OO dollars for
their influence and effort in bringing
about the defeat of said bill in the House
of Representatives, which sum the said
Ness stated he would pay in cash or de-
post in the hands of a discreet third
person for delivery of the said Twitchell
and the said Devit if they would promise
their influence for the bringing about of
the defeat of the said bill.
That your informants ~conversed with
the said Ness at several diffe rent times
and occasions, with a view to fully de-
veloping his purpose and intention in re-
gard to the defeat of the said bill, and
in connection with the offer aforesaid the
said Ness did disclose information to the
effect that several other persons mt con"
nected with the Legislative Assembly
were associated with him in the effort
to corrupt the members Of the Legisla-
turc and bring about the defeat of the
said bill communicating to your inform
ants the names of the said persons.
That the said Ness also in the said
conversations and negotiations, disclosed
and stated the names of members, en-
Dloyees and officers Of the House of Rep
resentatives whom he claimed were con-
cerned in the said movement and effort
to defeat the said bill.
That your informants refrain from dis.
closing at this time the names of the
persons SO mentioned because they are
entirely without information other than
the statement of the said Ness as to tn
fact Of their connection with such effort.
Your informants lay this information
before this Honorable Body to the end
that it may a action thereupon and
cause its warrant to be isued by the
! Speaker Of this House for the ~apprehen-
sion of the. said Ness and his represent a.
ton before the bar OF the House for con-
tempt thereof. and in this behalf No
further respectfully represent AMI shcw
that the said Ness has been arrested un-
der a warrant duly issued by the Jrag,
OF the District court Of Burleigh Conntt;
North Dakota upon the charge Of at
tempted bribery and is now held indie
five thousand dollars bonds, which
bonds may be procured at an early mo.
ment and your informants believe that
this house should act promptly in the
Issuance Of its warrant to the end that
1t may be able to apprehend the said
Ness Immediately should he be released
from custody by the said District Court
by the procuring of such bonds.
Dated this 25th day of February, a.
p. 1913.
Respectfully submitted.
A. G. Divet.
Z I. Twitchell,