The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-04-30
Judge Pearson and the Riot Bill Bribers.
Judge Pearson in passing sentence on
Kemble and others in Harrisburg on Mon
day last said

Judge Pearson in passing sentence on
Kemble and others in Harrisburg on Mon
day last, said
Charles b. SaIter William H. Kemblc. jesse X.
Crawford William =. Rumberger and Emile J.
Petrof, yo1 have each been scverally indicted Tor
''corrupty soliciting members OF the General As
senbly In the performance OF the duties Of their
office. by inducing them under the promise OF
money. vote In favor OF particular bill then
pending before the Legislature Of Pennsylvania.
-Four OF you nave plead guilty ana one was con
vlcted on trial 1t is greatly TO be feared that for
many years II has been The practice ia this State
to procure the passage OF laws by corrupt ana I'm,
DrODer means. and 10 5uch extent has this evil
prevailed that instead OF examining into the pro
priety or imProplesy vI measures pressure Gu -
either house for enactment. the inquiry was much
more likely 70 he made as to the amount Of money
which those requesting the Legislation could aHord
to pay for the passage OF the law. II was charged
Pennsy Leg stature was oi 9aliy occurrence
and was always -'the Orderof the day" So crying
this evil that when the convention met 20
frame our present constitution there appeared 70
be a hXed determination TO break up the practice
by severe constitutional cnactments, requiring the
passage OF laws imposing heaNy penalties against
those who should directly indirectly give or offer
any money or thing Of value 70 any member OF the
Legislature Tor giving or Withholding ms vote ior
or against any measure, rs also against the mem
Der accepting or receiving the same. The penal
code of 1880 punished the member accepting the
bribe. with imprisonment in the penitenttary for
period not exceeding hvc years, and fine not ex-
cccding one thousand dollars, and the person Civ
ing or Offering the brbe could be punished by one
years Imprisonment and fine Of fye hundred
dollars. The fine and imprisonment against those
giving corruptly soliciting members to receive
brbes their votes has been greatly increased 20
which is superddded by the constitution the dis
qualification for holding any office or position Of
honor. trust or profit I'm this commonwealth. Even
the occupation or practice oi solicitation Oh mem
berS of the Legislature is made a criminal Oneuse
punishable by me and imprisonment. which is a
pretty fair warming to those VINO hover around the
halls of legislation under the denomination Of
''J0rcrs'
However uuimportant you NAV have considered
the Offense it is esteemed by this court. We
look upon il not only a high crime against the
laws Of the State, which have been long in force
and well known to all men. but one leading to the
most corrupt kind Of legislation, by which the pun
lie treasury has been frequently plundered. and
some individuals enriched and others greatly i'm
poverished. and it is much TO be feared that some
Of you arc 10y no means novices in the art and prac
ticc of legislative bribery. What adds to the enor
nifty Of the oense of two OF you is the fact that you
were at the time members Of the Legislature, and
acting ia violation of your official oaths and
delvoring to induce your fellow members % com
nit perjury on their part. As an individual feel
pity for your situation. As q Judge ! cannot sym
pathiEc with crime. When you come into this
court yOu must understand that the bcggtr in rags
and the millionaire in brOadcloth stand ON precise
j. the same footing: the one is TO be imprisoned
for stealing loaf ot bread. the other is not 10
cape who. by his criminal acts. may involve the
State iu the loss Of millions It is not the slightest
excuse urged by some that the pending bill WAS
highly meritortouS. II so, u should pass without
the aid of bribery.
You are unlike some men who are brought into
the Court Of Quarter Sessions Tucasur0bly cNcusa-
bic on the ground Of ignorance. You are all men
OF Intelligence and well know that your acts were
Illegal. You went into this criminal practice in
plain violation Of law, with your eyes open. y GU
well knew that many members Of the Legislature
were utterly corrupt and were ready 20 sell their
votes i'm the public market TO the highest bidder.
You were ready TO suborn them To commit perjury
by violating the oaths they took on their instaIl9-
tion into office.
For this otensc the sentence OF the Court is that
you each pay "a nEc Of one thousand dollars 10 the
Commonwealth that you each pay the costs of
prosecution in the indictments against You Te-
spectively and that you each be imprisoned in the
Penitentiary for the Eastern District Of Peunsyl-
vaniU at Philadelphia. 10y separate and solitary
confinement at labor for the period ei year
there 20 be kept. led aad treated as required by
law. and you are in the custody Of the sheriff to
have this sentence carried into effect.