Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-29

| hn arc plhnJ ht COubu WHICH WAS Out-
side the fire limits and therefore was not in
a position 10 be affected by the passage
| OF subway ordinance. He asked me
| what had been done and informed him that
| the local company that had been formed in
| Omaha was then represented in Chicago by
| Mr.. Kitchen. lie inquired into the capital
| ization of the company and when posted told
| me that he considered 1t good scheme, He
| further stated that he had been compelled to
| visit his family in the forenoon so that he
had missed the forenoon's investigation, but
that II did not matter, as several OF the coun-
| Gil IN his hearing had spoken favorably OF
| the Dorsett conduit Then IL was that he
said he thought he could influence the Omaha
pie in Omaha his efforts were
/ not confined to improving his
| physical condition. He pressed his
claims to be let in on the ground floor of the
| enterprise IN the face Of my assurance that
there was no ground floor to stand on in the
| absence Of the franchise made no ques-
tion that his services could be utilized by the
| subway company In the event of 1t securing
| franchise, as knew they he'd not retained
an electrician. Saturday morning Just after
the delegation had breakfasted and were
| preparing to return home he met me at the
same hotel and taking me aside said
that I had promised him the other
scheme, as he called IL, and wanted to know
| what he was to have out of 1t before pro-
ceeding further. 1 repeated my assurane OF
| Thursday and promised to speak to MIR
| Kitchen ABOUT him, but in the hurry Of the
| departure was unable to do so. He de-
| INJURED to the reference OF Kitchen and in
| sisted on an answer so strongly that in.
| ferrcd he wanted gift of stock and turned
| from him. IL was my opinion then, and is
| now, that he was trying to wedge himself
| into the deal on account of his alleged con-
| troll of two or three of the councilmen. That
| opinion is based on experience in obtaining
| franchises in other cities. The attitude as
ht,A nr1p IN
one.
al always considered Mr.. Lowry, as
| favorable to our system, as he has told me
| that he was acquainted with the workings of
| it, but l never offered Mr.. Lowry any stock
in any way, shape or form, and did not tell
him that our influence would be used in
helping him secure material to be used in
construction in case he was made contractor,
for there is nothing entering into the build
ing of the conduit that Is not manufactured
by us.
interest in the Omaha Subway company be-
yOnd royalty for patents and the contract
for placing the conduit here. And the
Omaha company is not bound to use our sys-
tenn il it can find n better one."
Councilman Davis stated that he had pre-
sented the letter of Shillinglaw to the coun-
Gil that the gentleman had made il conven-
lent to visit his home in Chicago and go on
the same train with the delegation; that he
thought the disposition of the Dorsett people
in Chicago had been to show their own sys-
tenn 10 the delegation to the exclusion of all
other methods of subway, and that he was
not Drejudiced against the Dorsett subway
but wanted to select the best method of sub
conveyance.
Mr.. Riall--In regard to the testimony of
Mr. Bechel. had conversation with that
gentleman q month or six weeks ago, in
which asked himif he was interested in the
Grant subway, and was told by that gentle
men that he was not. l then said that L
would like to explain the workings of the
Dorset method that 1 was sure he would be
satisfied of it's practicability and that it was
the more to be desired in that considerable
money could be realized out of it. Mr.. Bechel
said he would like to go over the matter
with me and we agreed to take up the sub
iect again. but that was the last talk 1 had
with him. did not offer to give MIR. Bochel
any of the stock of the company for his in
fluence over the council.
A NJ. Kitchen stated that he was director
in the Omaha subway company, ana that in
his efforts to secure franchise he had not
held out inducement to councilmen.
Mr.. Kaspar-"Were you ever approached
by any member of the council with request
that you give something for his vote?'
Mr.. Kitchen-'Yes, was by Tom Lowry
of the council L went to Mr.. Lowry and
asked his support and he turned his face up
to me and said:
"Kitchen, what is there in it if do"
with anything of that kind
"Some time afterwards met Mr.. Lowry
on the street and inquired if he would sup
port the franchise.
''Well," he says, 'you will have to come
around and see me. / am straight goOds.n
HE had told me after the examination in
Chicago that everything was all right, and
we were anxious to begin ordering material.
That is the reason pushed Mr.. Lowry. He
did not intimate what he wanted to see US
~ NJ ig m nrix n fpr.
briDe. did not tell him that the friends
of the subway would be taken care of. No
member of this council can say that 1 tried
to lead him in Chicago invited the council
on behalf of the Omaha subway company to
go to Chicago and investigate the conduit
system in that city. / have no reason to {.
think that any member of the subway COM
pany has made. any corrupt proposition to
secure this franchise"
A. Shilliugiaw denied having met Mr. Dor
sett in the Grand Pacific hotel Saturday
morning before the departure of the Omaha
councilmen, and argued that he could not
have had the conversation with Mr.. Dorsett
that that gentleman had detailed. He called
upon any councilman who had visited Chi
cago to say whether he had been at the
hotel.
MIR. Kaspar-"You spoke to me on the
sidewalk in front of the Grand Pavifc'
However ON taking the stand subsequently
Mr. Kaspar remembered that it was after the
departure of most of the councilmen for
Omaha and on his return to the hotel that he
had seen MIR. Shillinglaw.
Councilman Lowry was recalled.
Mr.. Ford-"You heard the statement of
Mr. KitdhenP
MIR. Lowry-"As far as my making de-
mand of him Is concerned, his statement is
untrue; l made no demand of him whatever
The proposition he made to me was that the
friends of the Dorsett system would be taken
care Of"
Mr. Kitchen here jumped up and excitedly
exclaimed that he had not stated that any de.
mand was made of Mr. Lowry, and that the
statement of the gentleman that he had
promised to take care of the friends of his
subway was false.
Mr. Lowry-"I might mention other facts
that will sustain my position, but / don't
want to ring in the name of gentleman who
would be injured by the disclosure"
Mr. Simeral-"If you feel at liberty to
state the gentleman's nameI wish you would
do so.n
Mr.. Lowry---"I withhold it because l
think 1t would be injurious TO him to men
tion IL; 1t was matter of confidence be-
tween him and me.n
Mr.. Ford-"Is he member of the coun.
cil."
Mr. Lowry-"No."
Mr. Ford--"I think you ara in daty bound
TO answer. Your integrity is impugned."