The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-09-30
Charges of Dishonesty Made
Against Hamilton County,
Ohio. Officials.
An Alarming Condition Of Affairs
Revealed by a Suit Brought
by On Ex-Alderman.
Organized Gang Of Boodlers Who
Systematically Took Bribes---
General News.

oTscxsxAxa. o., Sept. - This city ii
greatly agi1atcd over the startling expoSafa
VI rottenness In the municipal government.
The alarming condition Of affairs was re-
veaIed by the suit OF ex- Councilman Moon
erf, Of the Twenty second ward. who Sat
urdAy brought suit against w. III. Forbes.
sx-presidens OF tho council. 70 recover al
GOO as his share Of the ssswAgs for voting 10
put through IN ordinance giving special
privileges 20 the Houston Thonapson Elec-
trio Light company. II now transpires that
there was en- organized gang OF bood1ers who
systematically took brIbes fron corpora
fi0ns and individuals for favorable legisla-
sion. The boodlers werc composed OF
both parties Their headquarters
were located 1t the saloon Of
John Legner. q republican ex-eouncilman
from the Ninth ward. The ofice was la
small roopa on the second floor. Their os-
sensibie business was dealing hi contractors
supplies. Ii n said that the b00dlers re-
ceived their money In envelopes In thls
room. IL n said that an ex-county clerk, d
democrat. was an agent. The exposure.
until IL can be hashod up by a liberal ex-
penditnTe Of money, win involve many
prominent men OF both parties The COM
nittse which purified the city several years
ago with take hand Ia the matter. and the
whole nefarions business will be brought 60
the attention Of the grand jury. The al
legged loader In the taking Of brFtes II =
member Of the county board OF control IL
= now claimed that he h acting lllegaliy In
serving. aa bis fasnlly reside nc Monticello,
ILL.,. and he spends much Of his time there
Right on the heels nf this Doodle business
cnnses another b0mhshoil Involving the two
L. Z
improvements and decenniai of equallxA-
tiou. Ever since their appointment Nv
Gov. Campbell last spring the members of
this board. composed of four democrats and
one republican, have been fghting among
themselves. Their conduct has beea puD-
iic scandal. Tho majority have freely
charged fraud and corruption, and several
alsercations have nearly resulted In hlo0d-
shed. This IL the most Important board III
Hamiltan countg, having more patronage
than ail the other branches OF tho city
governments combined. Gov. Campbell
has noen worried almost 90 death
BY the squabble I'm this board. but
knew that any interference on ais part
would incur the enmity OF tho ring which
secured hts nomination. Matters reached a
crisis Saturday. when che governor sent
letter 20 enc OF tha members demanding his
resignation. n N said he will make tho
same demand OF two others. The only
power under the law creating the board
uhich can investigate them h the probate
court and the request for tho rsignation II |
not obligatory upon them. They viii all |
refuse 10 resign. preferring 70 rest under tho |
dizgrace brought upon them by the gov
erncf's action. Some startling develop |
menss may ba expected when the investsva- |
tion h begun IN the probate court
Another cause OF trouble among the !
democrats b the decennial board Of equal
iEation, who reapprlsed all the property Ia |
the city Tor tom years. They were APP |
pointed BY the democratic comptroller Ed- |
win Stevens. and. with ono exception. are
men who have no standing In the commn-
nifty.
The opportunities for blackmailing prop /
erty holders are very great. Tho members /
OF ths board ten years ago are said TO have /
made from eio.o0o to 3o.ee0 although the
legitimate salary Was osly o. per aay. Mr..
stevens appointees are koing closely /
watched and already some shady transae- /
IiCns are said 90 have been discovered
Attention is being directed 90 several |
other boards. which are nov asmly believed /
IN hza esgxsf,lfaA