The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-20
THE CHICAGO BOODLERS.


CHICAGO, March I9-The Tribune this
morning, in Its articls on tue alleged
boodling propeusities of certain members
of the city council, says: Fifty ST. 900
bills were drawn from the Illinois Trust
and Savings bank by a manufacturing
concern n few days after the passage of
the compressed air ordinance \ man in
terested In the street railway franchise
says-and the Tribune is authorized TO
give his name to the grand jury-that he
went to see Il certain alderman, (whose
name the Tribune has) TO make a legtii-
mate offer of large sum to the city for
the franchise. The alderman saidzthat he
had talked it oyer with the boys and that
it would cost the company SO, ,000 but
that the money must go TO the aldermen
and not to the city. In the presence of
witnesses (vhose names the Tribune has
the alderman demanded $1,000 US the
price of getting the ordinance out of COM
mittee There is said to be from $780, 900
to $50, 001 in certain hands 10 be paid GER
tain alderman provided the mayor signs
tue Nerkes omnibus ordinance The sum
of $l7 500 offered as bribe, on the advice
of counsel, has been turned over TO news
paper by Alderman Roth to be used as
evidence"
"It costs good deal of money some
times to buy the city council" said an at
torney who Is closely connected with the
states attorney. The Northern Pacific
had all the worst of it in the last three big
deals the aldermen have made. The fig
ures for these three sales OF city franchises
are just these: Northern Pacific, $50 600:
Economic Gas, Sl50,000; Compressed Air,
Sl30, 900. a lawyer of this city, when IN
his cups, coufided 10 al acquaintance that
he had paid eleven ST. 900 bills to as many
aldermen in connection with the Northern
Pacific ordinance An alderman said in a
committee meeting that an offer OF $50, 900
To the city for a franchise was 'perpetrat-
ing blackmail upon the aldermen.
Today the investigation of the Chicago
aldermen 5 Doodle methods was begun By
the grand jury in earnest States Attorney
LongenecAer and Foreman Iieb held a
conference, which resulted in a determiua-
tlon 10 drop everything else aud push the
investigation as rapidly as possible Sub
poanaS were issued and baililfS sent sour
rying around Tor witnesses and suspects
As the Investigation proceeds its scope
broadenS. Another ordinance has been
added 10 the list Of those TO be inquired
into. 1t is the jefferson and Urban electric
franchise, which, II Is said, was sand
bagged' for $4,000.
Before adjoutuiug for the day the Jury
decided 10 take Up, among other things.
the aldermanic sale Of positions TO would
5e employees Of the city government Il is
far Is 10 have printed blanks prepared bv
which applicants bound themselves % paw
aldermen promptly out OF The salary Of
the coveted place when secured sums
ranging from s. 10 sic.
States Attorney Loagenecker denied
the statement that the witnesses were dis.
appointing TO the state lie said: I'VE
goI all we expected 10 get, and even more.
All we have done yet has been only a
ieeler. We are suing slow in the matter
and Will make sure Of every step. We
have got them where they cannot get
away, and there IS no special hurry "
Bai!iffs were out ali day looking for Pos.
mer and Sonle OF the Suburban company,
but they were unable to fad tGem. State :
Attorney i.oUgeuecker sas1 that Z look Ell
a. though ho~ner and Souie kai weas-
ened. pom being QUESTIONED ghe state :
attorney sad tLat two Indictments would
De returned on Monday, bar 4e declined ,o
particu arize