Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-12-24
Governor Altgeld Could Have Had
100000 for Signing the
Law In 1895.
But He Vetoed the Ubiquitous Measure
the Last General Assembly
Passed for Coin.

ply.
The two pieces of tobbery referred
TO are commonly known as the Ware.
house Bill and the Gas BILL
One of the bills gave to a gang of ele.
vator owners permission to form an
elevator trust with which to squeeze
the life out of the farmers and the grain
dealers of Illinois.
The other bill. the infamous Gas Con-
solidation Bill. gave up the streets of
Chicago forever to the offensive Trust
which now has our citizens by the
throat. and it forever prohibited any
competition on the part of new
company with the Gas Trust
The men who contributed the money
to buy the Legislature for the purpose
Of these bills are known.
The men who handled the money are
known.
The men who went to Springfield and
acted as go.betweens and arrangcrs of
this awful niquity are known.
Some of them are corporation law
yers.
Some of them are business men.
All of them are going TO be shown up.
Some of them are sure to be "sent
down."
For number of ex.mcmbers of
the last General Assembly have
"squealed."
And they are not the only ones who
have "squealed."
There are others.
One of the bright young members
from Cook County. who Is going to In
troduce the resolution in the House,
calling for an investigation, has kindly
furnished a copy Of 1t TO The Eagle,
with the sole request that his name be
not given out at present. for obvious
reasons.
Following Is the resolution which
the gentleman will introduce, and
which will pass the House. or the peo'
pie will know the reason why:
Whereas. Public rumor attaches to
the passage Of the Warehouse Bill and
also Of the Gas Frontage and COnsOli.
dation Bill by the last General Assem-
bly, the stigma of bribery: and.
Whereas, The names of several mem
bers Of the present General Assembly
are repeatedly mentioned with having
received bribes in connection with the
passage Of these measures; and.
Whereas, Certain public officials. cor.
poratlon lawyers and other citizens are
implicated as having been engaged In
the nefariOus work Of bribing the men,
bers Of the General Assembly to pass
these laws; and,
Whereas, All respect for government
will disappear from the minds and
hearts Of the people II the law.making
power Of the State Is suffered to lose
prestige in their eyes; and.
Whereas. The charges relating to the
passage of the Warehouse and Gas
Bills are so notorious and so freely
talked Of that this General Assembly
cannot retain its self.respect without
paying attention TO the matter, there
fore be 1t
Resolved. By the House OF Represeh'
tatiyes. that committee OF nine mem
bers be appointed to investigate fu,i!
nil charges made with reference 10 the
massage of the Warehouse and Gas
Bills, the names of all members Oh the
present General Assembly in any way
implicated. and the names OF the per
son or persons who brlbcd the members
or who directly or Indirectly took pai''
I'm procuring said bribery; and,
Resolved. That this committee whei
onpolnted shall have full power to seh''
for all persons and papers necessary ~
the conduct of the investigation
%S
Springfield will be Il warm 'oWh ~
January right after the organization VI
tho lower house. The resolution ior W
investigation as 10 how, ana why ih'
warehouse and Gas Trust legisia'io,
was placed on our statute pooks WIZ
make things hum for while AT least
A nromlnent member Of the Lesis"
mr.. said Wednesday: This resolution
for an Investigation, coming rs II "oe'
nav. when the atmosphere Is surc''arS
od yith the rumors of bribery ana ooo'
die, viii. carry some of the poss oa.N
to the DAYS Of the session of the ih'F's'
ninth General Assembly, n then II Wh'
,hat brave Jonathan Merriam rose vi
like fine sralwart oak Of the forest ana
Introduced a like resolution for ah III
vasticatlon. Certain members 'tor re"
cons pnsslbly best known 10 theh'
selves quailed In their seats "'he'
aoanad the resolution Ike rats leaving
sinking ship, and we'll they might
for Jonathan Merriam stood his grouii''
IKE the Spartans of o!den time, if
never hlnched, and no man llVeh WI,
couId swerve him one hairs breahtll
from what he considered was his dnt!
n. demanded roll-cali ana got H. IL
ra.oIntlon was defeated this time pn'
he called II up again two weeks later
when IL nearly passed, being defeated
hv only eight votes. The best dcsrFlp'
10, M the fellows who dodgeh MeFr!'
ar,'s resolution was given in the re-
nnrkabIr page article in the l,nr,'
Uorald. from the able pen of MI j. !,
u,,nne. after he had spent but ohr-hhI'
dar m the lower house ~ SprinGheih
Tbis article caused CONSERVATION III ,h'
ranks Of certain legislators ana "l'o
proved that Mr. Dunno was II Friilalh'
abla iudge Of human nature as MS ae,
Scrlptlon of the characteristics ana