Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-07-05
CUT FOR THE STUFF
Illinois Legislators Likely to
Serve the State at
Joliet.

liliIlOlS HCSISIoIoI . AiN0Iy "
Serve the State at
Joliet.
KILLED BILLS FOR COIN
Chicago Herald Tells How
They "Played Both Ends
Against the Middle.''
CHICAGO, July 5.-The Herald says:
Certain me,nt,ers Of the legislature
from Cook ebunty are in imminent
danger of representing the county in
the Joliet penitentiary. A chain of
evidence sufficient to convict senator
from Chicago of bribery and of at
tempting to extort money for the pur-
pose of killing measure before the
general assembly is nearly completed.
Several other members are involved in
the infamous transaction. Some Of
them are from Cook county, while the
others represent rural constituencies.
Early in the session Game Warden
Blow introduced a bill for the preser-
walton of game. The measure, while
somewhat rigid, was unobjectionable
to dealers in game, but was not alto
Cether satisfactory to the sportsmen.
Here is where the boodler and the
wouldbe boodler legislators saw their
opportunity. In the vulgar parlance
OF the sports "they played both ends
against the middle
A member of the house, representing
a country district, went to the Illinois
Sportsmen's association and demanded
aud obtained $500 for substituting a
new section for one in the original bill
Tie new section removed the penalty
fsom sportsmen and placed it upon the
dealer who bought, exposed for sale or
sold game during certain periods, no
matter whether it was killed in Illinois
or Nebraska. Speaking OF the substi-
tute, a South Water street merchant
said:
Had it become law we could not
have sold feather"
The Commission Men "Approached."
Having loaded the bill down with
this $500 rider, the boodlers turned
their attention to the other end of the
game. The evidence of this part of
the affair is complete and can be sub
stantiated in court when the proper
time arrives. A senator from Cook
county attended to this part OF the job.
The South Water street merchant tells
the story as follows:
1.-The gang had got $500 from the
Sportsmen's association for inserting a
substitute which would have ruined
our business. We were satisfied with
the bill as introduced, but when it
came out of the committee we found
this. substitute had been inserted, ap-
parently without anybody's knowl-
edge. The commission men on the
street saw at once what it meant, and a
committee was appointed to go to
Springfield to have the measure re.
stored to its original shape. was a
member Of that committee. The gang
was evidently expecting us, for we had
not been at the hotel an hour until no
less than half a dozen legislators ap-
preached members of the committee
and offered to aid in killing the substl-
tute for a consideration. Their prices
varied. Some of them wanted $500 and
others demanded $1,000. We have all
their names. was approached by a
Cook county senator who proposed
to kill the measure for 81, 500.
Il necessary, am willing to GO
on the witness stand and tell every
thing know about the matter. The
other members of the committee will
do the sams thing. Some Of the most
prominent men in the senate and house
Were interested in the infamous Scneme.
Most Of the dirty work was me in
committee. -
Grand Jury investigation.
1t is reported that a special grand
jury will be impaneled in Sangamon
county to investigate these and other
serious charges Of legislative boodllng.
Governor Altgeld is in possession OF
the facts set forth, together with the
name Of every member Of the legisla.
ture implicated. The South Water
street committee which went to Spring
field upon the occasion referred to was
composed Of representative men whose
testimony cannot be impeached. They
have been persuaded to expose the
gang for the benefit of the state.
This exposure will, it is said be fol
lowed by others. Evidence has been
obtained establishing charges of bribery
in the passage Of the Miller and Low
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