The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-16
OVER MILLIONS
SAID TO HAVE BEEN PAID FOR
 VOTES.
Rich Pickings for solons-Bribery Rampant in Pennsylvania Legislature-$35, 900 for
 One Vote.
Harrisburg tpa.) telegram to chicago

Harrisburg (Pa.) telegram to Chicago
 Tribune.
 That over s1,ooo, 900 was distributed corruptly among number of the mem bers of the Pennsylvania Legislature during the session which closed last Thursday is charged openly. It was used to influence votes in the selection of the Speaker of the House and to secure ahe passage of the second class city "Ripper iBll," the Philadelphia fifth court bill, the Philadelphia Rpard of Revision of Taxes, 'Ripper(" and the Railway Franchise Bill.
 This amount does not include the comparatively small sums promised for votes against the Oleomargaine Bill, which have not yet been paid. the cash paid for votes of legislators against the Game Bill or the money patd for the passage or defeat of a number of other bills in amounts of less than $S0o vote Neither does it include thousands upon thousands of dollars appropriated to the hospitals and other institutions out of the State treasury in an efort to placate the constituents of Senators and members who might otherwise be disposed to wreak early vengeance upon the men who employed their posi- liOuc dS " ~.@s ~>~~-~ pockets with money.
 At least }500.000, 1t is claimed. was distributed among members of the Sem ate and House during the contest over the so-called Pittsburg "Ripper Bill. /" Of this amount not less than $200,000 was paid to members of the Senate, and half of this sum Is generally be- lieved to have gone into the pockeas of a half dozen men. Three of this num- Der. after negotiating for several days with advocates and opponents of the bill. voted aye when the roll was called on it's final passage. They had. the charge is, been offered s20,00o each to vote against the Ripper" Two of them are supposed to have received S35, 900 each for their votes. How much in excess of s2o,ooo the third received has been estimated at from $25,000 to $s0.o00.
 The price paid for votes on the Pitts burg Ripper Is believed to have ex- ceeded even the figures 1t Is said were dealt in when the struggle fop the election of a Speaker of the House was engaging the attention of those who realized that upon its outcome depend ed the result of the long contest over the election of United States Senator.
 The highest price promised for sim gle vote for Speaker of which any statement has been made by the bribe offered or the person who received the offer was $20.000. Speaker Marshall's election by one majority was brought about by the votes of five Democrats.
 Two days before the House was or ganized the men engaged in securing the votes needed 10 elect Marshall. it is said. were employing tteir greatest ef- forts to bring this result about without the aid of Democratic votes. The charge is made that offers ok- $10 900 were made to a dozen different insur- gent members of the House. and one of $60.000 for the votes of three members was made to one of the trio supposed to control the two others.
 None of the efforts wer successful, and the five Democrats finally were called into service to insure the cleo. ton of Mir. Marshall as Speaker. The price said to have been promised for the votes of those who were offered or demanded money for their votes for the railway franchise grab was from $1. 900 to $2.000. Few of those who con- tracted to sell their support at these figures were paid the money before the votes were cast. The understanding was that the money was to be paid after the bills were signed by the Gov ernor.