The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-05
THE BOOM BILL.

The House of Representatives has hnaliy
concluded to again send the bill reducing
the boomage charges of the Susquehanna
Boom Co. to the Senate. They have con.
cluded that not to do so would be a triumph
for Herdic and the monopoly, and that the
bill ia Just and proper in itself.
As TO the evidence before the committee
our readers are mainly concerned in that of
its own Representatives. The death of Mr..
Ryan prevented the committee from taking
his testimony, but in no way is his name
dsgracefully connected with the subject.
In justice to Mr. McHenry, we give his
testimony in full below:
@. Are you member of the present
House of Representatives of Pennsylvania
A. am, yes, sir.
@. From what county? A. Columbia
O. DO you know of money or other cor
rupt or improper means being used, or pro-
posed to be used, to secure or prevent the
passage of Senate bill No. q, entitled "An
act to regulate the amount of toll and other
charges to be laid and collected by boom
companies within this Commonwealth ?" A.
Well, was approached during the passage
of this bill | cannot say | was offered mon
ey particularly; he as much as inferred that
if i would change my views would be re-
compensed for it,
@. Tell us what was said and what was
done? A. IL was in the House and | was
in my seat, and the gentleman approached
me and asked me to change my views on that
question told him did not feel like do
ing so and gave my reasons, and he insisted
very strongly and he then said--if remem-
Der his language-that if | would agree to
change my views could be recompensed for
doing so.
@. At what time was it that he came to
you? A. 1t was previous to the passage on
second reading-I think the morning that it
passed second reading.
@. He came to you at your own desk !?
A. Yes.
@ Wanted you to vote against the bill :?
A. Yes.
Q. Did he say how you would be recon-
pensed? A. No, sir; think that was his
language. | told him there was no use in
talking any longer; he laughed.
Q. Who was Il? A. J. G. zimmerman,
the former member-the gentleman who was
former member.
@. In 1874? "A. Yes, sir
Q. How long had you known him? A.
Well, do not know as | could answer that
question; probably six or eight years at
least.
Q Did he tell in what manner you would
be recompensed? A. No. sir; think not
@. Did he tell you how much you would
get? No, sir; not to my recollection.
@. Did he say who would recompense
you? A. No, sir do not think he did.
@. Did he say when you would get it
A. No, sir; not that l remember.
@. Did he propose anything about dodg-
ing? A. No; think his question was to
vote.
@. Did he say anything to you about an
amendment to the bill? A. Yes, he did /;
ing the boomage to one dollar and twelve
cents and half; he said he would like to
get such an amendment, and wanted me to
support that
Q. Did he say anything about fighting fire
with fire? A. No, sir; l think not
q. Did he say anything about lumbermen
using any money to secure the passage of the
bill? A. l think not; not that l recollect
of no, sir.
@. Did you have any more than this con-
versation with him in regard to this bill :?
A. Yes; he was to me previous to that
cannot remember what the conversation was
then, though.
@. What was it about? A. There was
conversation took place between us with re-
gard to the bill it strikes me it was before
it passed on first reading; it was early in
the session; there was nothing of this kind (;
no money mentioned then, but he was anx-
ious for me to oppose the bill at that time.
@. Do you know of any money or other
valuable thing, having been offered given or
promised to any member of the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, to induce him to vote for,
against, or to withhold his vote on said bill.
If so, what? By whom? A. Nothing fur
ther than what | have related, sir.
@. Can you give this committee any fur.
ther information upon the matter they are
now investigating? A. No, sir, think not.
Q. Have any of the lumbermen ever
spoken to you about the bill? A. Oh, yes,
sir.
@. Who? A. Why Colonel Embick and
these other gentlemen-Beck and Brown.
Q. Where did you see Mr.. Beck? A.
Mr. Beck, saw him in the House.
Q. This year? A. think so, yes,sir,
Q. Did he speak to you about it in the
House? A. Now, l cannot say positively
that he did, we talked about it frequently.
@. Did you ever talk with him about it
down to the State Capital Hotel? A. No,
sir; think not.
@. Did any of the boom men have any
talk to you about the bill? A. Not 10 the
best of my recollection.
Q. Did Herdic ever have any talk with
you about it? A. am not very well ac-
quainted with Mr.. Herdic know him and
that is about all.