The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-17
.IT IS TURNED OVER
The Investigation Committees Report
in Mayor Stesle's Hands.
AS TO THOSE BIG BRIBES
Aldermen Edwards and Freeman
Swear That They Refused S2o,-
900 Offers From the Water
Company's Superintendent.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Jan. 16.-The report of the
committee appointed by Mayor Steele
to investigate the rumors of attempted
bribery of aldermen by the Helena
Consolidated Water company turned
over it's report to-day to Mayor Steele
and was made public tonight. The
report was without special findings.
but included practically all the test-
mony taken during the investigation
that was relevant to the matter In
hand. II included $4,000 words The
report was sensational in character.
All the testimony centered about that
of Alderman Frank ]. Edwards and
Alderman George o. Freeman. who
swore positively that they had been
approached by Frank ]. Stever. who.
until recently. was superintendent of
the water company, and were offered
money by him to work for the COM
pany's interest in the city council The
report is causing a vast amount Of
comment in the city tonight. Many
people are laughing at the testimony of
the aldermen who swear that they
were offered bribes. saying that the
whole thing is absurd. Others take the
matter seriously and express the opin-
ion that the water company might pay
or offer to pay $4,000 for the influence
of two aldermen.
Alderman Edwards swore that Su-
perintendent Stever last June offered
him $4,000 to work for the company's
interest. He said that Stever ap-
preached him in his store, and, show
ing him an envelope. said that 1t con-
tained 20 $1,000 bills and that all OF
them were his IL he would consent TO
work for the company Mr.. Edwards
says he refused the money, saying he
did not want that kind of money.
Stever. he says, renewed his offer aft
erwards and called on him about II.
Alderman Freeman says that Stever
offered him $4,000 IL he would work
for the company's interests. The first
offer of 5000. he said. was made in l.
Marks saloon, and that at the time.
he said. II was an awful temptation.
but he refused II. Later, he had sew
eral conversations with Stever, when
the offer was renewed. These were
chiefly in the Helena hotel. Freeman
also says that Stever once offered him
a salary of $500 a year to work for
the company's interests
Superintendent Stever denies having
ever made offers of money or other
considerations ITO Aldermen Edwards
and Freemen. or to any one else to
work to lend their influence in the
council or anywhere else for the In
terest of the water company. His tes-
timony is a fiat contradiction of the
two aldermen.
President w. A. Chessman. John p.
Claybe-g. II. c. Power and A. ]. Da-
wilson. directors of the water COM
pany, each swear that they never au-
thorized Stever to offer money 10 the
aldermen; that they knew of no such
offers, and that the matter had never
been considered or discussed by them
either as individuals or as a board.
The investigating committee recon-
mended that it's report be referred to
the authorities. Mayor Steele called
a special meeting of the council to-
night and submitted the report 10 II.
The council finally passed an order
''instructing" Judge Blake of the dis
trict court to call a grand jury TO in
vestigate more fully the charges of at
tempted bribery. The report will be
turned over 10 Judge Blake at once.