The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 28, 1899, Page 1

This Paper not to be taken from | | the Library.+*+* r The VOLUME XXV—-NO. 59. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, PRICE FIVE CENTS. HOWARD E. WRIGHT CONVICTED BY THE INVESTIGATING COMMIT TEE COMMITTEE REPORT WAS A VINDICATION BUT NOT FOR WRIGHT ; All the Efforts of Burng Gould Not Save the Speaker. The Energies of the Man From Mexico Now Exerted fo Save the Disgraced Assemblyman From the Effects of His Conviction, HEADQUARTERS, SACRA- -Yesterday afternoon Howard E. front of mbly in d exclaimed, ill get my vindication.” form of a.re- was a vindication, but not for s a vindication for those who of justice and de- embly purge itself that would follow the a member accused of an » far as the report of relates to the charge of the Asembly no grace | the campaign. it deals more or | In this | must take bers of the that they | favor and | justice in spite of the | een m by Sen- | whose toes were be- | 1 them down. | rt, whichis print- | olumn, sets forth | nts in the in-| ht. It also con- | arraignment of U. S. | Grant. Grant Jr.,, and his political manager, Milton J. Green, for the methods em- ployed by them incident to the use of | money to promote Grant's Senatorial | candidacy. D. M. Burns and William | F. Herrin are not forgotten, nor did | Assemblyman Jilson escape without | being mentioned in connection with the payment to him of $400 for use during | It was to Assemblyman Cosper that the whitewash brush was | applied in a manner that may not be | fully understood yfthout a relation of | the proceedings of the day that pre- | ceded the filing of the committee’s re- | port. | Early in the afternoon the sub-com- | mittee appointed for that purpose paid | a visit to the apartments of Milton J. | Green in the Golden Eagle Hotel for the | purpese of taking his depdsition. in re-t latien to the accusation that Assembly- man Cosper had, through Charles G. Lamberson, solicited a bribe of $6000 | from Green in return for his promise to vote for Grant for Senator. Green’s tes- | timony was to the effect that he had been visited by Lamberson soon after | the Legislature convened and that| Lamberson had suggested that if he would give Cosper $6000 the Assembly- | man might be induced to vote for| Lamberson added that Cosper{ had received a like offer from the Burns | people, but that he would prefer to cast his vote for the San Diegan, all | conditions being equal. For reply! Green sent his compliments to Cosper | with the statement that he was not in | the business of buying votes. Lamberson was put on the stand later in the afternoon and in reply to ques- tions told the committee that he had called on Green, who, by the way, had of justice. 9-0-0-000-0-0-00000000006000000000060600009 [ THE CALL’S POSITION ON WRIGHT VINDICATED ““That in view of the above findings of fact your committee recommends: “‘First—That the conduct of Howard E. Wright, Speaker of the Assem- bly, as above set forth, be held to be reprehensible in an extreme degree, and that no mere censure on the part of the Assembly can meet the requirements ¢ Without recommending what shall'be done in the premises, whether deposition from the speakership, or other adequate punishment, we leave the course to be pursued to:the judgment of the Assembly.” [Extract from the rcport of the Investigating Committee, ] | ° © 00 00000060000000000000000000000 : reimbursed him to the extent of $135, money spent in the campaign, and had suggested that Green use money to se- cure the votes of legislators for Grant. He then said, “jokingly,” that if Green wanted Cosper’s vote he had better pay him (Cosper) $5000 or $6000. In making out its report the com- | mittee made light of this evidence and completely exonerated Cosper. With rare presence of mind Chairman Cosper signed his name to the report, thus putting himself on record as a believer in his own innocence. It is not often that 2 man can be found in public life who has the strength of character to investigate himself and the courage to make public the result over his own signature. The report of the investigating com- mittee was read in the Assembly at 5:30 o’clock this afternoon, adiourn- ment having been postponed to allow the committee time in which to finish the preparation of the written result of its deliberations during the past ten days. As soon as the clerk had fin- ished reading, Johnson of Sacramento moved that the consideration of the report be postponed 'until te-morrow morning, and that it be made, special order for that time. There was no op- position to this proposition, and the motion was carried. This morning, when it was known that the committee would report this afternoon, and that tme report would handle Speaker Wright without gloves, the leaders in the Burns camp set about to find some way by which Wright could be saved. It soon be- came known that the Burns forces would make an attempt to delay the consideration of the report until such time as they could fix up a programme to their liking. To this end it was ar- ranged that Dibble of San Francisco should occupy the speaker’s chair when the report was presented, and that he would cut off debate. Johnson of Sac- ramento was selected to lead the fili- bustering on the floor in case the ma- jority of the members displayed an in- clination to discuss the report. In pursuance of this plan, Speaker Wright called Dibble to the chair im- mediately after the Assembly recon- | vened after the noon recess, and there | he stayed until the report was read at| 5:30 o’clock. The lateness of the hour prevented all members from desiring to discuss the report to-day, and so it was that Johnson encountered no opposition to his motion to postpone action. To-night Dibble and Johnson held a long conference with Burns, and plans were prepared for the fight that is to be made for Wright to-morrow. It is probakfe that they will seek to have the consideration of the report post- poned until Monday, hoping that over Sunday some scheme may be concocted or some combination effected that will | prove of advantage to themselves. As| this is the sort of politics that is most congenial to Burns, it is quite probable that he will outgeneral the opposition and finally succeed in carrying out the promise made by him to the disgraced Speaker. He has for his lieutenants on the floor of the Assembly such men as Johnson and Dibble, both of whom have long since served théir appren- ticeship in the art of obstructing ldgis- lation when stich a course {8 necessary to carry out a given purpose.. The Grant forces are as yet undectded as to the course they shall pursue rela- tive to the report of the committee. They held an informal caucus to-night and decided to postpone further discus- sion of their attitude in the matter un- til 9 o’clock to-morrow morning, when they will hold another .meeting and finally determine whether to stand by the report or consent to a postpone- ment until Monday. The followers of Senator Bulla also caucused to-night. They decided to stand by the report and vote for its ac- ceptance. The same course will proba- bly be pursued by the Barnes forces, the minority members and such other scattering members as are not in sym- pathy with Burns and his followers. There is also some talk to-night to the effect that Wright may resign as |SENATOR ASHE HAS | gallery of famous men. The Senate final- Speaker and thus put an end to all con- troversy. Such a course would probably | have the effect of anticipating any | action looking to his expulsion from the | Assembly. Very little credence is given these rumors, as it is considered prob- able that Wright will rely on Burns to save him by the practice of some sharp political trick. Neither Burns nor the Assembly can save Wright from the condemnation of | the committee, because that has al- ready been rendered and no amount of political juggling or sharp practice can set it aside. The committee not only | condemned him, but it also fixed his | sentence, which is deposition or expul- sion. PP PT DI I PP I PP WON HIS CONTEST CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA- MENTO, Jan. 27.—Senator Ashe of the Twenty-fourth Senatorial District of | San Francisco has won the contest brought against his seat by Leon Den- | nery. | The Senate Committee on Contested | Elections brought its consideration of | 4 ‘the case to a close this evening and decided unanimously that Ashe should | retain his séat in the Senate. The decision of the committee was | based solely upon the evidence and depositions laid before it. No recount | of the ballots cast was made nor were | they ordered brought to this city. Both contestant and contestee agreed to abide by the evidence and documents adduced when the case was heard in the Justice's court in San Francisco. Senator Stratton of Alameda has been delegated to prepare the findings and | wind up the case. — e Governor Budd’s Picture Bill Passed. CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA- MENTO, Jan. 1.—The Legislature is will- | ing that the State of California shall spend $300 to secure a plcture of ex-Gov- ernor J. H. Budd to place in the Capitol Iy passed the bill this morning. Original- ly the Assemblymen voted to spend $500 for this picture, but the Senate reduced it to $300, thinking that amount suffi- cient. The House will probably concur in the amendment and the bill will very shortly be in Governor Gage's hands. “1 THINK 'DEBATE ON THE BLACKLIST BILL. ASSEMBLYMAN RO THIS BILL SMOULD NOT PASS." L\ THMINK TRAT THMIS BILL 15 OPEN TO TRAT OBJECTION, MR.BELSMAW D" / /R Wabe "DOYOU A ) o NN ASSERBLY AN SANFORD SPOKE- IN TAVOR OF TME LABOR INTERESTS ¥ 1 1 = “MR DELSMAW.- | DONT TMNK TMERE 15 ANY QUESTION ABOUT-IT. MARNNADE " o "1 INTENDE! ABOUT THIS ! APy : \ ASSEMBLYMAN LARDNER NOT TO 5AY ANY THING PARTICULAR. b\LL,Bur.‘.’. \R..CLOUGM SORT O’LOST THE DRIFT-OF THINGES: \ EVERY CHARGE MADE BY THE CALL HAS BEEN FULLY PROVEN Report of Investigating Committee Condemns Wright, Enormity of the Speaker's Ofiense Set Forth in Terms That Permit of No Misunder- standing and Leave No Loophole, 23020+ R+RNE RSB 4N+ RN+ NRNRIU+ RN RIRN 4N+ R U RN NN RoN The special committee appointed to investigate into scandals connected with the election of the United States Senator finds that Howard E. Wright, Speaker of the Assembly, received from U. S. Grant Jr., through his political manager, Milton J. Green, $800 as a gift and $750 as a loan; that Wright prior to his election de- ceived John D. Spreckels and W. S. Leake to secure their sup- port for the peakership; that he also secured the support of Robert N. Bulla and Daniel M. Burns through deception. The committee finds further that U. S. Grant, through his manager, Green, spent large sums of money to secure the election of a Republican Legislature, the exact amount to the committee unknown. The committee recommends: First—That the conduct of How- ard E. Wright, Speaker of the Assembly, as above set forth, be held to be reprehensible in an extreme degree and that no.mere censure on the part of the Assembly can meet the requirements of justice. : Second—That the expenditure of large sums of money in aid % - of the candidacy of & United States Senator in the manner above %8 set forth is wrong and reprehensible. BeetieNeR e RNeBNs NeRoNeReReReReReRNIRI R4 RN+ N+ B+ RoRe R CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRAMENTO, Jan. Following is the report of the Committee of Investigation of the Assembly: @ 8 820520830 4 RNINIB R e R R e RefReReReR = /Mr. Speaker—Your.special committee on investigation beg leave to report that on the 16th day of January, 1839, the Assembly duly passed the follow- ing resolution: ‘Whereas, Direct charges have been made that improper means have been used to influence the action of Hon. Howard E. Wright, a member of and Speaker of the Assembly, in the election of a United States Senator by the Legislature; and Whereas, It has been charged that some persons have used and are ‘using illegal methods to influence the action of members of the As- sembly in the said election; and Whereas, It has been indirectly charged that members of the As- sembly have been improp:rly influenced in their votes for United States Senator; and Whereas, Such charges have been ‘given wide publicity and should be investigated to the end that if found to be true the guilty should be punisked, and if found tobe untrue the originators thereof should be punished; now therefore, be it Resolved, That a select committee of seven members of the Assem- bly be appointed by the Speaker pro tem. to immediately and fully, thor- oughly and carefully investigate each and all of said charges, whether direct or indirect, and also to investigate in like manner the methods used to influence members of the Assembly in their* votes for United States Senator, and that said committee have full power to send for per- sons, books, telegrams and papers and to employ a clerk and stenog- rapher, and that it have leave to sit during the sessions of the Assem- ply, and that said committee report, fully, as speedily as possible, with such recommendations as it may deem proper. That immediately upon thé adoption of the resolution we entered upon our duties in that behalf, and have diligently presecuted the inquiry to this time, holding our sittings daily and nightly. A great number of witnesses have been examined, and a wide range of inquiry has been instituted. entering even into the domain of rumor and conjecture that no hidden truth might escape us. ‘We herewith repo-t our findings: First—That the Hon. Howard E. Wright, Speaker of the Assembly of this the thirty-third session of the Legislature of the State of California, received trom Ulysses S.. Grant Jr., . through his duly accredited political manager, Milton J. Green, the sum of $900 as a contribution to assist him to se- cure his election to this Assembly, which sum of money, as testi- fied by said Wright, was expended by the said Wright in ad- vancing his nomination and election, prior to the primaries next preceding ‘the general election on November 8, 1898. Second—That the said Wright also received from the same sources the further sum of $750 after his nomination and pre- ceding his election, which sum was a loan to be repaid. Third—That the said Wright, prior to his election as Speaker of this Assembly, led ]o}rm‘ D. Spreckels and W. S. Leake, owner and manager, respectively, of the, San Francisco Call, to believe that he was wholly unpledged and under no ob- ligations relative to the election of United States Senator, and thereby secured to himself the supporting influence of the San Francisco Call in the furtherance of his candidacy for the Speak- ership. Fourth—That the said Howard E. Wright secured to him- self the influence of Robert N. Bulla and his friends in aid of his election to the Speakership by an expressed promise that, if elected, he would vote for the said Robert N. Bulla for United States Senator. [ Fifth—That the said Howard E. Wright, by the acceptance of said contribution of $90o in aid of his election, and in the acceptance of said loan of said sum of $750 from Ulysses S. Grant Jr., led the said Grant to believe that if the said Howard E. Wright were elected to the Assembly he would be friendly to