Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-09
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
Common Council Breaks Sweat Over the
Charges of Bribery Made Against Some
of Its Members-Mr. Bigham Says Its
All Fudge.


All Fudge.
Shortly after Common Council had settled
down to business the bribery question was
brought up by Mr.. Taggart, who declared
that something must be done in answer to
the accusations made against Councilman
Rea in the switch case.
Mr.. O'Donnell-There is nothing before
the house.
Mr.. Taggart-I will then move to suspend
the rules to take up the question.
The Chair-What question? If the gentle
man will designate what paper is wanted the
Chair will put the motion. -
Mr. ODonnell-The Rea switch ordinance
was never before Common Council, and any
charges made do not concern this branch.
Mr.. Donley moved that committee De
appointed to investigate the whole matter.
The Chair ruled them all out of order, saving
that he would consider any resolution prop
ter was then dropped and other business
taken up. In the meantime MIR. MacEl.
downey was getting resolution ready ana
presented it half an hour later. 1t read:
newspapers Of this city during the past few days days
sundry interviews purported to have been heid
with Henry. Rea. Henry D. Rea and Others, In
various members OF this Council L was specinealiy
charged that certain members Of this BODY had oe-
manded compensation for their votes in favor of
certain measures before this Council, therefore
be Ii
fun fair and impartial Investigation of any and all
charges that may be preferred against lts menpers'
Resolved That the Chairman appoint commit
tee af five to investigate any and all charges tnat
may be preferred against any member or members,
or TO assist the District Attorney IN securing
thorough investigation.
Tired of Hearing Such Charges.
MIR. MacEldowney-I am getting sick and
oil, tl,ar of what G0nncllmen
get and don't get. If remember right
voted for the Rea ordinance. While think
the proposition and the charges are ridiculous
it is nothing but fair to this Council that they
be investigated.
Mr.. Donley-I am member of the commit
tee that had this ordinance to consider. L
desire full investigation for vindication.
1 was opposed to the switch and am ready 10
tell about the inducements held out for It.
l wouldn't be for that switch for $l0O, GOO.
Mr.. Taggart-One member of this Council
in an interview has libeled other members.
l don't believe that anyone here would ac-
cept bribe, but it has become common
street talk that as soon as man gets into
Councils the question Is what money does
he get out of 1t?
Mr., ODonnell-We have all had some ex-
perience in past Investigations. There
ought to be an investigation OF this case,
but the manner of going about 1t appears to
be TO prepare for a whitewash. The ordin-
ance has been in the Select branch for two
years. 1t has been referred to committees
and both adverse and favorable reports
have been made on 1t. The ordinance has
passed in Select Council but has not been
acted on here. Now, before this branch has
dealt with the ordinance, when the charges
do not concern US, this Investigation is pro
posed If you will make that joint resolu-
ton and send it to the Select Council it will
have some effect.
President Holliday-The Chair agrees with
Mr. O'Donnell; it should be joint resolu-
tion.
Mr. Taggart-The ordinance is before this
Council Here is where the suspicion is
directed.
MI. Mac cEldowney-A member of this Coun-
ell is quoted as saying the District Attorney
is the proper person to carry on this investi-
CATION. We are only Offering to help him.
Mr.. Bigham-My attention has been called
to n printed interview with me, in which
am made to prefer grave charges against
two, perhaps three members of this Council,
/ am made to saw that knew two members
of Council who would not object to accept
cash for favors granted and suspected
third member That is total misrepresen-
tation to what said. l said nothing about
Common Council; referred to Select Coun-
ell. What did say was that 1 had been In
Council about 10 years and that to the best
of my knowledge in both branches, there
were not more tnan two, or at the outside
three members which could be approached.
Little Stock Taken in Investigations.
"These men," continued Mr.. Bigham, 81
said, did not control Councils, and their in
fluence was of little value. / haven't the
slightest idea that Mr.. Rea paid money to
anyone. That is all fudge. do not care to
take part in any investigation. 1 have been
in two or three, and we never found any
thing. If Mr.. Rea or Mr.. Haney, or anybody
else makes direct charges they should be
called before the grand jury and required to
tell what they know. That switch has been
before us long time. Mr.. Rea wants it, and
he is opposed by the Pittsburg Gas Company,
LLOYD, Sons & Co. and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, who are also interested. The
grand jury room is the place for an investi-
CATION"
Mr.. Bigham-Yes. Councils can ask wit
nesses here, but have no power to compel
them to talk.
Mr.. O'DonneIl-I would ask the mover of
the resolution to amend it to include Select
Council.
Mr.. MacEldowney-This resolution offers
the support of Common Council to the Dis
trict Attorney in any investigation he may
make. Let Select Council take care of itself.
This resolution says certain members of this
Council are charged with grave offenses.
Who charges them? Who are charged? Let
the men who want to vote for this resolu-
tion stand out, and name the members who
are so charged. don't want to investigate
u DallOOn OF ldndSllue Ii any ludu WdnUS
an investigation let him go out and make n
Information Then you cannot keep it from
the grand jury; then these men who know
these things must talk and must tell what
they know. Have an investigation here,
and you can compel men to come. But what
will they say? They will say 1--WE know all
about it, but we won't tell.
Everybody Reads the Newspapers.
Mr.. Taggart-That resolution says these
charges are made through the newspapers.
The newspapers are the medium through
which the people get their information of
what is done in these Councils. All the peo-
pie can't come here to attend these meet
ings; unfortunately, many of them do not
know who their Representatives here are.
But they all read the papers:
Mr.. MacEldowney-If we drop this matter
on the ground that Mr.. Magee cites, we drop
it on technicality. This investigation is
about it that the District Attorney may sum-
mon them and make them tell what they do
know.
Mr.. Donley-As said, was on that COM
mittee. Mr.. Rea is as competent to approach
q man as any business man know. Because
men could not be approached these charges
are brought.
Mr.. O'Donnell-DoI understand the gentle
man to say that Mr.. Rea could be ap-
preached? Does that mean that he was ap-
preached?
The Chair ruled such discussion out of
order. On motion of Mr.. O'Donnell the reso-
luton was amended to make the committee
consist of two members from Select and
three from Common. and as amended it was
passed unanimously. Select Council had ad-
journed by this time and cannot act on the
- A.