New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-08
BRIBERY AT HARRISBURG.
TWO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
SAY MONEY WAS OFFERED.
EVIDENCE BROUGHT OUT AT INvEsTGGA-
TION IN REGARD TO EFFORTS TO
RECONSIDER MCARRELL
JURY BILL.
Try TELEGRAPH To TIE rR1BuxE.l

Harrisburg Penn. March THE damaging
fact was brought out tonight before Legis-
latve committee that money was offered TO
members Of the Legislature to vote for the re-
consideration Of the vote by which action the
McCarrell Jury bill postponed until March
q. Two members voluntarily went on the stand
and swore that money had been offered to them.
The House Investigating Committee having
been increased by the addition Of two more
Democrats and two anti-Quay men, standing
five to four against Quay. met tonight. and at
once proceeded 10 undo what the committee did
at It's previous sitting-abolish the rules. Chair
man Kreps refused to serve as inquisitor' ana
his place was filled by Mr. Fow's election, ana
the committee at got to work
The investigation was heard on charges made
in The Philadelphia Press" and George Nox
Mccain and John p. Dwyer, staff correspondents
of THE Press" were first called as witnesses
They told how they had discovered that SlOoo
had been offered to Representative Christy OK
Columbia. by ex-R x-Representative Moyles, OF Lu-
zerne to vote to reconsider the vote which post
poned the McCarrell bill. and how $500 had been
offered to Representative Engler. Of Lycoming
by ex-senator Coyle and $1,000 by Michael j.
Costello, to favor the McCarrell bill. These facts
had been published
Representatives Christy and Engler were both
called and went into all the details Of the at
tempted bribery. Engler said the name Of Arch
bishop Ryan, OF Philadelphia, had been dragged
in to influence him, and that the would-be
bribers followed him to his home in the blizzard
Of two weeks ago. driving seventeen miles in the
country to see him None Of the witnesses could
be shaken in their evidence although cross
questioned and pinned down TO the minutest de-
tails.
Their evidence showed plainly that organ
ized gang of brbers was here and II Is said that
there are others who will be caught in the net
before the Investigation is over 1t is intimated
that among the prospective victims some
members of the Legislature.
Previous TO the meeting Of the Investigating
Committee. the "rump' house that created the
small riot last Friday met with Mr. Bliss I'm the
chair. and decided tnat IN view Of the apparent
harmony that now prevails. they would not pro-
ceed against Speaker Farr, and action post
poned on resolutions for that purpose.
The fact that senator quay started for
Florida to-day is not to be construed that he is
running away because he thinks his cause is
lost. He sent word to his friends here that h.
Will keep in touch with them. and that ne will
return in time for his trial i'm April
The ballot to-day was barren, and resulted as
follows: Quay Rep). l0l; jerks Dem), -;
Dalzell Gtep2. Il. Stewart Rep) 5; Irwin
Rep), 6. Hun Rep), :: Stone CRep), 4; Rice
OopD. >: Tubbs RepD, !; Widener Nep) g.
Ritter Gtep), >; Grow ORep), |; Markle RepJ. |;
total. 231; necessary TO choice. 1l6 paired or not
voting, %: no election.
one Of the stanchcst friends Of Senator Quay
IS Senator Grady, Of Philadelphia. chairman Of
the Republican legislative caucus. Senator
Grady says that Senator Quay will certainly he
elected but not In the present session Of the
Legislature.
"The election Of n United States Senator IS
not In sight in the course of the present session
Of the Legislature" said Senator Grady to-day
"and I mean by that that will ballot until
the close Of the session. and then be far
away from an election as ever. OF course, there
may be two drop away from this or that
candidate, but there will be no change IN the
general result in the present session