Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-08
BRIBERY SCANDAL.
Somssstat Mixed Affair in the
Illinois Legislature.
THIS NAN HAMILTON SAYS

Rather Informal Introduction Followed
By N 0asr OF Money for Vote for the
Humphrey Bills, In which the wrons
Han Was Introduced to Nobody. The In
troducsr Dolng Il ~sa tAe Fly" - It
Were-Extraordinarys ituafion.
Springfield. Ills, May "a sensation
developed yesterday In Connection with
the Humphrey bills by a reported at
tempt to bride committee clerk. mis-
taken for Q member of the house. A. l.
Hamilton. publisher Of the West Chica-
90 Journal. and clerk Of the committee
ON live stock and dairying. stated to rep
resentatives Of the press that he had
been mistaken for Representative Elan
nigan by q lobbyist for the Humphrey
bills ana offered 1000 to vote for them.
The Humphrey bills extend the fran
chises Of all street railways In Illinois
fifty year, ard give the control Of exist
ing roads and new franchises to special
ly appointed commissions instead Of to
the boards Of aldermen Of the various
cities. The bills have been bitterly op-
rcsed, particularly by the civic reform
organizations in Chicago. The alleged
lobbyist referred to II r. C. Garrard.
secretary Of the state beard Of agricul-
ture.
Statement Made by Hamilton.
This is what Hamilton tells: Shortly
after the house met this morning I was
talking to Representative Bailey. who
was sitting in his seat. Senator Landri-
gan, at the same time. was talking to
Representative Flanagan, who occu-
pies a seat next to Bailey. When Land
rigan walked out I also went out with
him. When we got into the corridor
Landrigan turned to me and said:
Mr.. Flanagan, I want to make
you acquainted with Mr. Garrard?
shook hands with Mr.. Garrard and
then he said: Mr.. Flanagan, we want
few more votes in the Humphrey bills.
We have n, but want few more to
make things sure. II you will vote for
the bills will make you a present of
5000 after they are passed He also
spoke of some other bill" Hamilton fur
Their states that he walked away with
out replying.
Grows More and Moro Mixed.
Now I-andrigan is an opponent Of the
Humphrey bills, so it Is hard to tell
why he should have brought about the
meeting described by Hamilton Lam
drigan. when interviewed. said that he
aid not know whether Hamilton was the
man he introduced to Garrard or not,
and that he had never seen him before.
Il was talking to Representative Flan-
nigan this morning at his desk" said he,
in regard to a bill relating to the re-
moval of a dam in his district, and also
Incidentally mentioned the agricultural
board appropriation bill. am a menu
her of the state board Of agriculture,
When was about to leave Mt Flannis21
got up from his chair and Issaid: T Witt
you to meet our secretary. Garrard.'
He replied: Certainly I said: He'll
be around here soon.' and LEFT the house
end was followed some three or four feet
behind, as I thought. by Mr. Flanagan.
Very Informal Introduction.
"Mr. Garrard was leaning over the
rail In the rotunda just outside the
house, and as I passed him I said: Mr..
0arard. shake hands with Mr.. Flanni-
gan I did not look around, nor did !
stop to see what followed. I win make
US. and 1t Is possible that he did not see
them shake hands. Mr.. Garrard was
leaning over the rail. with his back to
Us. an dit IL possible that he did not see
or hear me. I do not know this man
Hamilton and cannot say that he IL the
man who followed me out of the house
ana whom / supposed was Mr.. Flanni-
gan"