Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-12-31

Springfield will be u warm town In
January right after the organization Of
the lower house. The resolution for an
investigation as to how. and why. the
Warehouse and Gas Trust legislation
was placed on our statute books will
make things hum for a while at least
A prominent member of the Icgisla-
ture said Wednesday: This resolution
for an investigation, coming as 1t does
now. when the atmosphere Is surcharg-
cd with the rumors of bribery ana boo
die, will carry some Of the boys back
to the days of the session of the Thirty
ninth General Assembly. as then It was
that brave Jonathan Merriam rose up
like the stalwart oak OF the forest ana
introduced a like resolution for an in
vestigation. Certain members for rca-
sons possibly best known to them.
selvcs) quailed In their seats. others
lodged the resolution Ike rats leaving
n sinking ship. and we'll they might.
for Jonathan Merriam stood his ground
like the Spartans of o!den time. lie
never flinchcd. ana no man lived who
could swervc him one hairs breadth
from what he considered was his duty.
He demanded roll-call and got 1t. The
resolution was defeated this time. but
he called 1t up again two weeks later.
when 1t nearly passed. being defeated
by only eight votes. The best descrip-
ton of the fellows who lodged Merri-
ans resolution was given In the 70.
markablc page article In the Times.
Herald, from the able pen of Mr.. +. l..
Dunno. after he had spent but Onc.half
day In the lower house at Springfield.
This article caused CONSERVATION In the
ranks of certain legislators. ana also
proved that Mr.. Dunno was u remark
able judge of human nature. as his dc.
scrlptlon of the characteristics ana
ways of certain members could not
have been more accurately portrayed
had he been among the members for
six months instead of hut One-half day.
Yes, let the resolution for an lnvestiga-
ton come. 1t will also he well to define
what bribery means to certain people;
also the penalties attached"
AS Judge Waterman says, no man IL
too big for the law to take hold Of him.
How about the elevator men who Oper-
ated ut Springfield in 1897? Are they
going to escape?
&6A
Fifteen members Of the last Illinois
Legislature have made affidavit 20 the
fact that they know of their own
knowledge OF the use of money by
Chicago corporation lawyers and their
agents to pass the infamous Gas Con
solldatiOn and frontage bill ana the
equally Infamous Warehouse and Ele-
vator bill.
That there will be an official investi.
CATION by the Legislature goes without
saying.
The people of Chicago are In arms
against the Gas Trust. which Is rob
bling them right and left by virtue Of
the Infamous law giving II a monopoly,
which was passed by the most bare
faced bribery.
The farmers and grain dealers of the
State are In arms against the Infamous
warehouse and elevator law. which
was passed through the most bare.
faced bribery.
So that the chances for an investl-
CATION are good.
And an investigation will send sew
cral learned gentlemen 10 the States
prison.
Among the witnesses who can be
secured ana who will testify are some
who will directly correct the legal
brlbers and their gO-betweens with the
members of the General Assembly.
1t takes three years to outlaw a
felony, and the three years which
would outlaw these Gas Trust ana
Elevator Trust felonlcs will NOT he up
before 1900.
So that there Is plenty of time for
the committee To meet and bring In its
report and for the grand jury TO indict
the legal and other brlbers and 10 start
them for Joliet before two of the three
years are over with.
%SA
Why is not the antitrust law Of the
State enforced against the Gas Trust:
%6
Think Of corporation robbing every
householder of Chicago and using the
public streets without a franchise!
40
A resolution for an Investigation at
Springfield next January will enable
the honest members Of the Legislature
to "trAce back" through many past SEES.