Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-04-05
Bribery in the New Jersey
LEGISLATURE.

For some time past some railroa d
companies have been trying to get
possession of the river front at Jersey
city, N. j. A bill was passed by both
Houses Of the New Jersey Legislature,
some days ago, making the companies
present of it, but this was vetoed by
the Governor. The State Senate pass
ed the bill over the Governors veto,
and during the discussion of the bill in
the House of Representatives, last
Wednesday, the following affidavit,
which explains itself, was read to the
House
Ne,c Jersey, Mercer County, ss.-Joseph H.
Shinn, being duly sworn on his oath, saith that
he is a member of the General Assembly of
this State from the county of Atlantic; that
during Monday night, 9th inst, he was called
upon by man well known to him, who said
that he had come to talk about Senate bill No.
167, and during the conversation he offered
this deponent $500 to vote fore Senate bill No.
167 over the Governors veto that this depo-
nent refused, and he was then asked to call at
certain room on Tuesday morning, 2Sth inst,
at half.past egh o'clock, but did not do so, and
later he was met by the same party, who COM
planned because this deponent did not call at
the room as agreed upon; that this deponent
then stated that he would vote to sustain the
Governor that in the meantime this deponent
had called upon William McAdoo, from the
county of Hudson, and after informing him of
the facts above stated it was agreed that if any
more offers of money were made to this depo-
nent for his vote on Senate bill No. 167 that the
money should be accepted and the whole affair
exposed in the House Of Assembly, that while
this deponent was in his seat he was told that a
|xxnov toI 20 md NJ inf a
lobby, where he found the party first referred
to in this affidavit who said that he had a
mathematical problem to submit to this depo-
nent, which was as follows Your vote is to
167 as $500 is to your answer. That this depO-
nent stated that double the amount might make
him answer, at which the party who submitted
the'problem stated that the other members whe
were voting for the bill only received $500, ex-
cept those who were engaged attorneys for
the bill, but that he would see me again that
this deponent then went to his seat and remain
ed short time when he was again called out
by q messenger, who informed him that party
wanted to see him; that this depoi.ent then
went out and found the party there who had
submitted the mathematical problem, and he
submitted it again in the following shape =
AS your vote is to 167 so is ST. 900 to your
answer. That this deponent answered all
right, if the money Is left in my room at din
ner time. That after this deponent returned to
uiS Scub again ne was IOlu uc was Wdutcu
again, and on going out was told that he
would get $500 in his room at dinner time and
$500 after the bill was passed; that he would
get it all now but that the party who furnished
1t had used more among others than he had ex-
pected. This deponent said 'All right, and on
going to his room in his hotel after the adjourn
ment he sat down, when a man came there
with package, saying ne was instructed to
give it to Mr.. Shinn. That this deponont then
opened the envelope and found that it contain
ed five $l00 bills, which this deponent still h rs
in his possession. JOSEPH III. SHINN,
Sworn and subscribed before me this 29th
day Of March.
D' ALLEN L. McDERMOTT,
Master in Chancery, New Jersey.
The reading ofthis created great ex-
citement in the House, an investiga-
tion was ordered, and the discussion of
of the bill postponed. 1t is not likely
that it will now pass the House and
become law, over the veto.