102 



Mr. Hebsbeeg. — Our clients feel that out of respect to the memory 

 of their secretary — 



Chairman Ryan (interrupting) — When we say we will excuse them 

 we do not mean that we will exclude them. 



Mr. Cameron.— They will not be obliged to go away this evening. 



Mr. Hessbekg. — They will not be obliged to go, it is a question of 

 feeling and sentiment. We submit and bow to the decision of the 

 committee. We simply present it to your fairness and to your judg- 

 ment of mind whether, under these circumntance, you insist we shall 

 proceed. If you say so, we say amen to it. 



Chairman Ryan. — We do not insist, counselor, you shall proceed; 

 we are trying to get some knowledge from these men whom we have 

 asked to come from a distant part of the State here to this investiga- 

 tion. The committee do not know that they have any relation what- 

 ever, or that their testimony will have any relation whatever to the 

 commission in any way. We think something is due to them as well 

 as to other parties. 



Mr. Hessbekg. — Their testimony must necessarily refer to the acts 

 of the commission, or facts in which the commissioners are interested, 

 otherwise their testimony would be entirely immaterial, would not be 

 admissible here. 



Mr- Bush. — I suggest the relation the counsel maintain to this 

 committee is becoming somewhat obscured. This committee is taking 

 the testimony of certain individuals with reference to the administra- 

 tion of the laws relating to forest preserves. Counsel are permitted 

 to be present by courtesy and have been permitted to cross-examine 

 the witnesses, if they Bee fit. If the committee decide to go on and 

 examine certain' witnesses, I do not see what right the counsel or 

 anyone else has to object. He can be present if he chooses, and all 

 the commissioners may be absent if they see fit. This is not an action 

 at law where the rights of any particular individual, or the rights of 

 counsel or his clients are being put in jeopardy. 



Mr. Hessbeeg. — We are not objecting, we have not objected, we 

 have simply made a statement of facts, and upon that we say we 

 think an adjournment should be granted. If the committee say other- 

 wise, we are prepared to proceed. We do not desire to be misunder- 

 stood in relation to this statement of fact It is not an application for 

 adjournment whatsoever, we are not asking for adjournment, we think, 

 under all the circumstances, our clients should be present during this 

 investigation, and under the circumstances we do not feel they should 

 be asked to remain here to-night; if the committee decide, otherwise, 

 we submit. 



