The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-05-20
BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
Startling Disclosures Before a Com
mittee of the Pennsylvania Legis-

Disclosures Before a Com
mittee of the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature.
HARRISBURG, Pa May Is The in
terest in the Riot bill bribery investiga-
lion is unabated, and the hall of the
house was thronged tonight. Repre-
sentative Z.rn, of Carbon, testified. to
having been approached by Alexander
L isering, pr sident Of the First Ma.
tional Bank OF Mauch Chunk, who Of
fered to divide certain expected profits
wit, him AID bis colleagues if they voted
for t e Riot bill, Leiseling having stalled
that he anticipated rise in Pcnnsylva-
MIA railroad stocks if the measure passed.
This evidence is conflrmatory of that
given by Representative Cassidy, OF Car
bon county. Zern also testified that Dr..
Shoemaker. of Harrisburg, told him
there We're $500 in the bill and subse-
quently increased the amount to 81 900
5 ,oemaker promised to take him to par
ties who would see that the money was
paid him Neither Of these propositions
was accepted.
MORE ATTEMPTS AT BRIBERY.
representative Smith, of Belks, being
sworn, said that Charles B. Salter, ex.
member OF the House, told him that
there we're l,500 in six or seven bills
on the calendar, one OF which was the
r OF bill, for voting for which witness
could get $500; subsequently Salter in
formed witness that it had been agreed
to raise the price TO 81 500 before the
final vote and $500 after the passage ot
the bill !; he refused all offers
Representative McCochran, OF Cum
berland, testified that E McCune, for
mer President OF Shippenshurg hank,
promised to place in his hands $4,000
worth OF border raid claims certificates.
pays in thirty days after the passage
Of the Riot bill, provided he voted for
| it; McCune said it was necessary that
'he members from the counties immedi-
ately interested in the passage Of the
the Raid bill should stand solidly to-
gether for the Riot act; McCune also
said that he would see that the mouths
of all the Cumberland county papers
should he closed il witness supported
the Riot bill; McCochran Indignantly re-
jected the proposition, and steadily vo-
ted against The measure
Benjamin Bordner, of Dauphin, swore
that fifteen minutes before the final vote
was taken on the Riot bill Chris Long
offered him 81 900 il he voted for the
measure; the same man had previously
said he would get him $500 to vote fol
the bill Longs principal business Is
to prevent rsilroad accident cases from
getting into the courts-in other words
settling with the sufferers. Witness vo.
ted against the hill.
| AN EDITORS TESTIMONY.
Representative Woodruff. editor OF the
Johnstown Democrat, testified that Jesse
r. Crawford, Assistant Superintendent,
Of Public Grounds, had FIRST offered him
$500 to publish two articles in favor o
the Riot bill and afterward offered to 80
cure him 81 900 for the publication il
his paper; witness thought the frs
amount exceedingly large; he refused tc
have anything to do with the proposi
lion
Representative FAbel, OF Monroe, tes
titled that he had been approached by
young man three times with corruptiv,
consideration; witness was offered from
$500 TO 1000, but he could not Civ,
the committee the name OF the man.
Representative Foust, Of Huntingdon
testified that after the amendment redu
cling the amount from S400, 900 to $500.
1 900 had been defeated, Jesse R. Craw
ford informed him that il he voted fo
the bill he would get $1,000 as pres
ent, the parties who had lost goods b.
the destruction of property at Plttsburs
having raised fund for that purpose
witness replied that no amount Of mon
ey could purchase his vote.
DIVISION AND SILENCE.
Representative Dewoody, Of Venangt
county, testified that an effort was mad
to get his vote in support OF the Rio
bill by stating that ex State Treasure
Kemble would convince him that no Ia,
would be imposed on oil il tue act wert
passed; witness replied:
What in hell has Kemble to do will
putting on tax2"
A wHITEwAsHING COMMITTEE
About twenty members testified to
night Chris Magee, who was to hav'
produced checks showing the amount o
money expended to purchase newspape
support for the bill, failed to appear
The maj ,ri,y Of the committee did al
they could tonight to hamper the inves
tigation. 1t is becoming apparent, a.
the inquiry progresses, that the commit
tee vas appointed to conceal rather lha,
expose the corrupt means used to pas
the bill, which vas voted for by thre,
and opposed by two members The in
vestigation will be continued during th,
week.