The Monticellonian., 1917-03-08
EXPELS
ACCUSED SENATORS
VOTE 25 TO FOR EXPULSION
ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING AND
SOLICITING BRIBES-A
SAYS SENATORS CONFESSED
Action of Senate in ExpeIIIng the
Members Is the First Time in the
States History That it Has
Used This Power.
Little Rock

Little Rock
Allegations that Senator Samuel C.
Sims ard Ivison c. Burgess, indicted
on charges of having solicited and ac-
cepted brides, made full confessions
of the alleged transactions in the office
of Prosecuting Attorney NJ. e. Dun
away after their arrest were contained
in testimony before the Senate inves-
tigating committee, read at a special
session of the Senate TO consider the
carges and the report of the commit
tee.
Another allegation brought out in
the transcript of the testimony taken
by the committee was that the ac-
cused senators had offered to "kill''
The trading stamp bill by Burgess and
other legislation of this kind for $500
more than the $1,000 each they are
alleged to have received.
The committee made no recommen-
dations, but Immediately after the
reading of the report and transcript
of the evidence, Senator Bush offered
a resolution that the charges be sus-
tanned and that Senators Burgess and
Sims be expelled from the Senate.
Says Senators Confessed.
The men We're told, he said, that
McGarvey had confessed and that
they might as well come cle1n," al
though no immunity was offered them,
nor threats made against them. He
said that Senator Burgess at first de-
MED everything, but later confessed.
and that Senator Sims asked McGar-
vey to tell the story. McGarvey told
of the affair, he said, and at the close
Senator Sims agreed that his state
ment was correct.
Senate Votes to Expe.
The Senate voted 25 to s. one more
than the required two-thirds major
ity, to expel Senators Burgess and
Sims, following dramatic trial.
The Vote.
For adoption of resolution for ex-
pulsion-Adamson Brown, Bush. Cab
aniss, Caldwell, Carter, Carruth. Col
Inns, Emory, Garrett, Goodwin. Great
house, Hester, Jones, Kendall. Mon
Grief, Ponder, Slaughter, Smead,
Smith. Utley. Vann, Ward. Whitaker.
President Davenport. Total. 25.
Against adoption of resolution for
Observation-Disclosures, Duty, Edmond
son, Johnston, King, Owens, Rogers,
Ruff. Total, 8.
Not voting-Burgess and Sims.
First Case in State.
The action of the Senate in expell-
Ing the members is the first in the i'm
stance of the States history where
the upper house of the legislature has
taken advantage of its power as a
court to sit in judgment upon the
acts of its own members, and it is
the first instance in the States his
tory where expulsion from office was
the verdict
Both Senators Present.
Both Senators Burgess and Sims,
together with their attorneys, were in
/ the Senate chamber throughout the
discussion Of the resolution and the
action the Senate was about to take.
Although appealed to by< several
fellow members to make statement,
attorneys insisted that they say moth
ing Instead, Attorneys Robert L.
Rogers and E. L. McHaney were given
courtesy of the floor to make brief
statements in behalf of their clients,
the accused men. Both appealed to
the Senate to withhold action until
Senators Burgess and Sims have
OK Of nv court
Based on Probe Report.
Action of the Senate was based, al
most in its entirety, upon testimony
submitted by an investigation commit
tee. Senator Adamson introduced the
resolution for the investigation, and,
with Senators Kendall and Garrett,
was named on the investigation com.
mittee. Hearings were held and tes-
timony OF witnesses taken. This was
submitted in transcript form and read
publicly before the Senate, and it was
upon this report that the Senate act.
ed. The report in itself made no rec.
concentrations nor suggestions.