Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-26
-1N TIE ROTuNDA.

| Tom Cook OF Lincoln was seen al the
! Millard yesterday He said that just bcfor
leaving home Saturday he gave instruction.
to have the legislative rooms cleaned up ant
put in order Immediately for the forthcoming
special session of the legislature,
Alderman NJ. II. King Of Dcs Moines who
has the distinction of being one of the several
city councilmcn Of 1owa's capital who have
just been Indicted for misconduct and boodlcr.
ism was found at the Hotel Casey last even.
ing He is a wealthy railroad contractor, an
old acquaintance of Mayor Gushing and
very genial, well posted gentleman of somd
two score and ten years.
"Yes,n said he, "Tm one of the chaps who
have been indicted, though they havut
caught nee yet, and the remark was supple.
mcnted with a smile of very ample proper.
tions
"You see" continued Mr.. King, "that
was in Chicago when the indictments wcro
returned and have been so busy that |
couldn't go home to Des Moincs
and give myself up AS soon, however,
as l saw in the papers that had been in-
dicted l telegraphed my attorney in Dcs
Mones TO arrange my bond. Whether or not
he has done so cannot say One thing is
sure, though, have important business in
Omaha that will postpone my returning to
Des Moines for several days longer When
can, | certainly shall go there and face tho
music, though | don't think the band Will
play very uncomfortably loud for me-
/ think the majority of the peo-
pie in Des Moines are with us
unfortunates in this thing and won't insist
that we be pressed too hard.
''rhere is no doubt, I guess but that so far
as the law is concerned some Of those who are
in this boat with me have acted outside of
the prescribed course. What should have
been and that too, "A long time ago-was for
the members of our council TO have gotten to-
gether and signed paper to the effect
that they couldn't live on the paltry
sum paid to councilmen. Had they
done this / don't think there would have
been any doubt at all but that the people
would have paid us much more, or whatever
was reasonable
when l got the money | did | took pains
to ask the city auditor if he was sure that
was entitled to it, and he replied emphatically
in the Affirmative. After that most any man
would have done just as did-go ahead and
take it.
II have been connected with the Drs
Moines council for about twenty years and it
is the first tltnc that anybody has taken Oc-
casion to say anything like this against me.
AS member of the board of public works at
Des Mones l have handled and disposed of
hundreds of thousands of dollars and have
never got so much as the price of cigar out
of it.n
Mr.. King was then asked how the recent
decision of the United States supreme court
regarding liquor in packages would affect the
chances for a repeal of the prohibitory amend
ment in Iowa.
81 think, said he, ''that it will result in
keeping the amendment in force-indecd
don't think there's much If any doubt about
it at all"
II will also tell you,'' said the councilman,
''that if the Iowa republicans go back on pro-
hibition at their forthcoming state convcn-
tion there's going to be a third party in tho
field this fall, and in my opinion it is mighty
hard to foresee which Of the old parties will
suffer most in that event.