The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-22


James j. Grier, of the Third ward, and
is a sample of all the informations,
with the exception of the dates:
BE It known that upon the 2lst day Of May,
1900, before me, an alderman in and for the SiN'
teenth ward Of the city Of Scranton, Lackawanna
county, Pa, and cx.oincio justice Of the peace,
personally appeared Edward B. Sturges, who be-
ing duly sworn according to law, says upon in.
formation and belief that on the 9th day OF May,
A. ID. 1900 and at divers other times within the
two years last past. at the city OF scranton and
county aforesaid, one James \. Grier, being then
a member Of the common council OF the city OF
Scranton, did solicit, demand and receive from
one John Doe and various persons to the dcponent
unknown, n certain sum oi men y for his vote and
official influence and for Withholding the same
and with an express understanding that this vote
and official action as such member OF the com
mon council should be Influenced thereby. con.
trary TO the form Of the statute, in such cases
made and provided, and against the peace and
dignity Of the commonwealth.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 2lst
day Of May, A. D. 1900
Frederick Fuller, Alderman.
(Signed) Edward b. Sturgts
THE DETECTIVE.
Harris is a dapper youth, with rather
hoyish face, rosy cheeks, auburn hair,
dresser. 1t appears he came here
about five months ago and put up
at the Rudolph, registering under the
name of Joseph Smith, of New York.
lie at once began to make himself a
l-fellow-well-mo and judging from
the way he was talked about last
evening when the news of his identity
and mission spread throughout the
-, laN L.. nA n l.
mirably. "I know that fellow. Pshaw,
yes. He was spending money like
prince down at - place one night.
And as l remember it, he was with
Councilmen So and SO and Such and
Such" That's fair sample of the eX-
pressions heard on every hand.
His first move, Il would seem, was
to secure a letter Of introduction from
n Philadelphia street car magnate set
ting forth that he was a professional
trolley company lobbyist. At his first
encounter with councilmen he repre-
sented that he was after Silliman AMI
his gang" but retrained from giving
any details as to what he expected to
do to lis victims when he overlook
them.
When he became we'll acquainted all
around and felt that he was on close
terms with the boys. he threw off his
pseudo mask, admitted that he was
Harris and not Smith and that IN
stead of being after "Silliman and his
gang" whoever they may be, his real
purpose was TO secure an amendment
to Mayor Moir's special license tax
ordinance then before councils, by
which the graduated tax of three,
four nd five per cent. on the gross
receipts of street car companies would
be reduced to some nominal figure, say
one per cent.
ORDINANCE WAS KILLED.
Either through his lobbying or some
other cause, the license ordinance was
killed. Probably it was little of both,
and the same other cause was feel
ing among the better element in coun-
ellis that the measure was defective.
Messrs. Chttenden and Roche We're
the ones who led the fight against it
on the night it was killed. 1t was then
| within a few nights of the last meeting
of the fiscal year and, they argued, its
defects could not be properly cured in
the limited time before the councils
would die. 1t was killed with the
understanding that a new ordinance
would be introduced in the next coun-
ellis Immediately after reorganization,
so that the whole year, If necessary,
could be given to its consideration.
Sure enough, it did come up again.
but it had many Objectionable features
and underwent q lot of tinkering in its
passage through common councilmen.
Among the amendments was one cut
| ting down the trolley car tax TO one
| per cent. 1t went over to select coun-
| ell, passed two readings in this form,
at the last meeting, and is now await
| ing third and final reading.
The amendment in common council,
| reducing the trolley company's taX,was
| reported favorably from the license
| committee, which is composed OF
Messrs. Reese, Harvey, Watkins, Gal
vim and Coleman.
amendment:
Ayes-Messrs. Reese, NJ " Morris, Grier, Grit
| fths Godshall, Ruane, Wenze, Watkins, Cole
man, T. f. Morris, Cusick Norton.
Nays-NIessrs. Keller, Tewkesbury, Calpin, Zizel
man, Nagcli, Phillips, Calvin.
Messrs. Keller, Tewkesbury and
vote against the measure on final pass
age.
The trap was all ready to be sprung
when the grand jury Lexow uneXpect
edly eventuated, and it was decided tC
hold back to await it's results. Its re
suits, or rather lack of results, deter
mined the league to proceed with theil
| crusade.
A representative of the league sait
to a Tribune man last night that more
arrests are to follow and from an
other and equally reliable source 1
was learned that councimen are no
the only ones who are to be included
among the defendants.
According to the story OF severa
councilmen they are prepared TO sprins
a counter sensation. They say the,
knew from the very first that Harris
was a detective and conducted them
selves accordingly EX-Selectman Fl
L. Fellows, 1t was asserted, accepted
a $50 bill from Harris and filed it will
his attorneys, O'Brien e. Kelly, in tn
presence of witnesses, placing Thereon
his own mark alongside a mark whicl
1t was discovered Harris had place.
on the bill. City Detective Mor wa
instructed to locate Harris and q war
rant was about to be issued for hi
arrest when the LeXow came and
A. on