The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-02
AND INTlMATED THAT
THERE WERE OTHERS

tconcluded from Page 81
charges openly made in the public
press of the city of Scranton that GER
tain members Of the councils of said
city had demanded and received from
persons interested In the passage or
defeat of the measure before said
councils. known as the Laokawanna
Telephone company ordinance, large
sums OF money as bribes to influence
their votes on said ordinance.
Third.-The further rumors ana
charges made that certain councilmen
OF the city of Scranton had demanded
and received from persons interested
in the passage, through the counchs
Of said city of Scranton, a measure
commonly known as THE Electric
Light Ordinance" large sums OF
money as brlbes to secure their votes
for said ordinance.
DISCUSSING THEIR WORK.
We respectfully report that we de-
voted ten days of the time that we
have been in session to the exclusive
consideration OF the above matters:
that during that time we worked ar
duously and inquired diligently into
the matters before us. We made con-
stant use OF the district attorneys Of
fee and particularly of the county de-
teCtlVe, whose WnOlc tlIlle NdS ''hSh
up In serving subpoenas for witnesses
called before us A large number OF
witnesses were also served with SUB
poenas by members of our own BODY.
Notwithstanding the activity on the
part of the county detective and mem
hers of the jury. during the latter part
of our session we were obliged to seek
the assistance of the sheriff, from
whose Office many subpoenas were
served. During the portion of the ses-
sion devoted to the above matters, we
examined over 100 witnesses. some OF
whom were recalled several times,
As a result of our investigation,
we deplore the necessity that compeIs
us to report that the rumors and
charges, which, in the opinion of the
honorable court and ourselves, made
necessary this investigation, are
based all too firmly on facts and
truth. We find that condition ex-
lists in this community which, to all
right minded citizens, must be ap-
palling. It's correction demands the
earnest and intelligent effort of all
public officials, whose duty it is TO
see that the laws are obeyed, and
who have not yet been contami-
mated by the seducing wiles of the
briber. The task is so great that in
it's performance the officers of the
law should receive the active CO.
operation of all public-spirited cit
liens who have the welfare of the
community at heart.
We take up the matters presented to
us seriatim:
A CONSPIRACY EXISTED.
The slot machines: This matter was
presented to us for our consideration
on account of the frequent and per-
sistent rumors and charges that were
made, that in this city there existed a
vast conspiracy in which were gath
cred publ officials their agents and
others. the object of which was to per-
NIT the operation of these gambling
devices in consideration of the pay
ment of the sum of $5 per week by
those so operating them to the mem
bers of the conspiracy. We find that
such a conspiracy did exist and had
existed for a long period prior to the
issuance of an order by the mayor of
the city some time in February last.
The evidence we heard in relation to
this matter would fill several large
sized volumes. Much of it was value
less. None of it enabled us to ascer-
tain with a degree of positiveness
necessary to bring indictments against
the real head or heads of the conspir-
acy-that is to say. who the persons
were who were in a position to offer
the protection" which, in the opinion
of the jury, the law-breakers so long
enjoyed. That this tribute of So per
week was pretty gc:erally paid and
that the agents of the conspiracy sue
ceeded remarkably well in inducing
their guilty victims to believe that the
protection" they offered was well
worth the tribute demanded and was
not mythical. but real, is easily in
ferred from the evidence. Significant
hi se fnn tI,aV s..
those witnesses who admitted they
paid the weekly tribute, there always
followed the further statement that
they understood that every one paid.
Moreover, whenever it was actually
found that if the tribute was not paid
the evidence of arrest and conisCa-
ton of the slot machine followed.
There was no lack of evidence that Of
icers and quasi-officers advised other
officials seemingly more Jealous than
themselves to cease interfering with
persons operating these slot machines
In some instances this advice assumed
the nature of a threat, and aldermen
and constables were told that dire ca
lamities would befall them; that valu-
able patronage would be lost; their
defeat at coming elections secured if
they did not cease issuing and serving
warrants on the owners and operators
of the slot machines. Even the men,
mune from these threats, and word
was conveyed to at least one of them
that position which he sought would
be refused him If he did not lessen his
efforts to secure the conviction of these
law-violators.
These were some of the obstacles
which confronted us, and the difficulty
in securing evidence in cases of this
nature is our only excuse for not Sc
curing greater results.
BRIBERY OF COUNCILMEN.
Second-The alleged bribery of coun.
cilmen in the matter of the passage
of the Lackawanna Telephone com
pany ordinances
These charges were made openly in
the public streets and printed in thf
press. In relation to these we sub
poenaed nearly every member of botf
branches of councils: also those whom
rumor charged with having any
knowledge whatever of the bribery
alleged. This included those persons
=, whom rumor said paid the brlbt
money, also those interested in the
enterprise seeking the franchise a:
we'll as those interested in the already
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