The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-18
Charges Against Members Of the Chicago
City Government.
VOTES PURCHASED BY CORPORATIONS.
Facts in Possession Of the Grand Jary-COmpleie
Chain Of Evidence Forged Around
the be0dlerS.
Special 10 The MORNING CALI

CHICAGO. March 17-As a sequel to the
recent passage by the City Council of an
ordinance granting permission to the Chi
cago Power Supply and Compressed Air
Company TO use the streets and alleys of
the city in about any manner it sees fit. the
indictment of a number of Aldermen by
the Grand Jury for alleged bOodling is
promised.
The City Press Association tonight says:
Bribery of the most fragrant kind will be
shown; corruption and TottennesS beyond
the ideas of the most cynical citizen Will be
disclosed, and facts which make a position
in Chicago's Council one worth hundreds Of
dollars of preliminary expenditure will be
shown up. Tomorrow evidence will be
presented to the Grand Jury showing be-
yond doubt that certain Aldermen have
been paid literally for their votes. The
jury will listen to a tale of rottenneSs and
corruption to which the boOdIng of the
Cook County Commissioners was nothing.
Evidence has been in preparation for
some time and a mesh now incloSes
some Of the city fathers, from which there
is little hope of escape. 1t includes con-
fesslons of several guilty parties, which are
said 10 be very sensational. The men who
have been working up these cases spared
no expense and made sure Of every step.
They have witnesses who have seen large
sums OF money paid by representatives, Of
corporations to individual Aldermen, and
who have heard Aldermen promise to cast
their vote on q certain measure In a certain
way. Some received money at their homes,
some were paid in precincts of the City
Hall, and two are said to have sold their
votes in the lobby Of tie council chamber.
The investigation. it is said, viii end
Ix-r al of m no
of the council are wearing stripes in Joliet.
State Attorney LenGeDecker said this even
Ing that he expects to show that the cOu-
pressed air, Northern Pacific and economic
gas ordinances, three of the most important
measures which have passed the council for
a long time, we're gotten through by the
purchase Of votes for hard cash. Il don't
mind SAYING" said he. 'that there VIII be
the biggest upneaval ever seen in this city
when all the facts are finally made public" D."
Mr.. Longenecker added that he will be
aided ia the matter by three Of the most
prominent attorneys in the city, they having
been employed by local newspapers, who
had men assisting to make out the case
against the bo0dlers.
The States attorney also said that several
Aldermen would assist in the inquiry. In
addition to those who have confessed that
their votes were purchased, several will
testify to having been approached; Others
Will tell OF coliea CUES who openly bOasted
OF receiving money. One Alderman openly
stated that be was certain that almost
every Alderman favorably connected with
the three ordinances named above was
guilty OF receiving money for his vote. Thi,
Alderman said it is generally admitted that
it requires money TO get an ordinance
through the Council, and many members
make no secret of the fact that they viii
not vote for any ordinance unless rewarded
for so doing. In some cases the reward is
IL the shape of trade ln votes supporting
some Improvement in an AideTmau's ward,
bnt in by far the greater number ef case:
the consideration is hard cash.
The gentlemen who are behind the prose
cutiOn issued an official statement tonight
which says in part, that the proof acquired
relates largely TO various Doodle ordinance;
and eutangles four or five Aldermen IN wha
il will be very easy TO show was con
spir2cy.
We will have no difficulty. say
the statement, in indicting and con
victing several well known Aldermen
1t is not our desire TO convict only
Alderman, however. We desire also TO pun
ish those guilty of bribing the Councilmen
and we will not stop this investigation unit
they are brought 10 justice, no matter t
whose door the discriminating evidence
may lead"
General Lieh. foreman of the Grand Jury
said tonight that they will begin an invests
cation tomorrow; that they have a com
plete chain of evidence forged around tn
hood ers and any who 90 not tell the " hol
truth Immediately will be arrested for pei
jury, as we'll as boOdlng. He added tha
some of the men who Will undoubtedly b
indicted have heretofore been supposed t
be above such practices.