The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-11-24
IN T||NAT|ONS OF BRIBERY IN 4
RESOLUTION PRESENTED IN HOUSE
COMMITTEE NAMED TO
PROBE THE CHARGES
Stories Afloat That Interests
Opposed to the Governor
Offer Big Sums
TO SWING VOTES
AGAINST PROGRAM
Democrats Say 1t Is Plan to
Whip Recalcitrant Legls-
lators Into Line.

CHARLESTON. ". Va. Nov. %
Stories heard in hotel lobbies and
about the state house that large
sums OF money had been brought TO
Charleston for the purpose Of defeat
ing the legislation proposed oy Gov
ernor Hatfield to the special session
OF the Legislature, found their sequel
in the House OF Delegates late today
when Delegate J. L. Molf OF jackson.
introduced resolution calling tor
their investigation. The resolution
was quickly passed, and Mr.; "olI
made chairman Of the committee OF
the FIVE named by Speaker Vernon
E. Johnson, 70 conduct the Inquiry.
He immediately called the committee
to meet at niue o'clock touorro"
morning.
Democrats listened 10 the reading
of the resolution without protest. oQt
when the session adjourned as II ulu
after the COMMITTEES had been named,
expressed their belief that the move
was nothing more than a part or the
campaign TO prevent Republican mem
berS from voting against the adntn-
istration'S Legislative program. the
principal part OF which Will be up lof
final passage in the House tomorrow.
In other quarters. however lne
sideration, although those persons
who discussed it most would not con-
meet any particular name with the
stories that have been auoat Tor Gays.
In fact, the opinion WAS expressed
that none OF the Democratic tegfSla-
tive leaders knew anything that would
in any way cast suspicion upon thehl.
the inference being that the alleged
attempts at bribery had been made
by persons outside.
Members Approached.
One Of the stories which has at
tracted wide alteration related 10 Il
number OF Republican members or tn''
House being approached by INTERESTS
opposed 10 Governed Hatfield FOR the
DurDose of having them vote with the
minority on the bill which provides
for the removal from Office OF odlcerS
appointed by the governor. MS oIl,
will come up in the House Tor nnal
passage tomorrow. having passed the
Senate Wednesday:
It was generally considered the
most important part OF the governor 5
program since il covered, the best ap-
nointiye officers, such as tax com
missioner and members OF the Puolic
Service Commission. but by the use
of the word agent" was declared 10
include some 1000 other appointees
of various kinds.
Delegate Wolf said he had nothing
70 say other than what he had lncIud-
ed in the resolution except tnat the
investigation would cover every polrL
he had brought up. The first mee:-
ing Of the committee, which III auut,
ton 10 the chairman, is made up 81
Republican Leader Duty, and ". w.
Wertz, also Republican, or ChaTleS-
ION, Ira Atkins. Democrat. OF tair-
mont. aud James R. Noreland, Deup-
crat. of Norgantown, will be- behind
closed doors. Mr.. Wolf would not say
what procedure would be after that
meeting.
Attention was directed TO that part
Of the resolution which clothes the
committee with authority TO issue Sunl-
mons for and compel the attendance
Of any and all witnesses wnoul II IS
desirable 10 examine. SubpoenaeS lor
a number Of witnesses, it was report
ed. were prepared tonight.
II was expected the investigation
would be hurried through in order that
the committee might report at the
earliest possible moment.
The Resolution
Following is the text Of the resoiu-
ton:
WHEREAS. it has been currently
reported and is being freely discussed
by the lobby which infests this leGis-
lature that certain members Of this
House have been offered or promised
large sums of money and certain
places of employment in connection
with the incoming administration for
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