The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-06
ON PAGE

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3. col 81
shown that members of the Assembly who,
prior to their elections, were wholly with
out means, upon induction into office were
soon in affiuent circumstances and indie
pendent positions financially, and this, too.
Notwithstanding the fact that the salary Of
such officials was only SIS per month.
Convincing documentary evidence was
unearthed proving that the sum of $145,OOO
was placed in escrow in a bank in this city
to be paid to the members of the Municipal
Assembly of st. Louis on the passage of a
valuable franchise ordinance. This ordi-
nance failed, and a second bill was intro
duced. upon the passage of which the sum
of about S250,O00 was distributed among
these members. After the passage of this
ordinance the franchise was sold for $1,00l,-
$50. The city realized nothing whatever
for this franchise. In these matters the
statute of limitation was a bar to the find
ing of indictments against nearly all of the
guilty parties.
STREET RAILWAY CASE.
THE more recent attempt of a street
railway company TO secure a franchise had
been cOnspicuously brought to public no
tice through proceedings in the criminal
courts. In this case an agreement was
made between the legislative agent of the
company and the representative of the COM
bines in both branches of the Municipal AS
sembly, by the terms of which $4,000 was
to be paid to certain members of the House
of Delegates and SEC, 600 to certain members
of the Council in consideration of such
members voting for the proposed measure.
The first named amount was deposited in
cash in a safe deposit box in a trust COM
pany and the $50. OO0 was likewise deposited
in another trust company. Two keys to
each box were issued, the one being held
by the legislative agent OF the company,
the other by the corrupt agent of the MEM
bers of the Municipal Assembly. Through
the action of the courts the passage OF the
ordinance was prevented. The $l35 900 cor
ruptiOn fund was demanded by the legisla-
tors under the claim that they had done
their duty, all they had agreed TO do, but
the company refused to honor their claim.
The investigation of this has led to a num-
Der OF indictments connected with the at
tempted purchase of this franchise, under
one of which the defendant has after o fair
trial been convicted and sentenced to three
years in the Denitentiary and another has
become a fugitive from justice, thus con-
Tossing his guilt in the nefariOus tranSac-
ton.
'The evidence shows us that there are in
this city men of seeming great respecta-
bility who are directors in large corpora
tiOns, and prominent in business and social
circles. but who have not hesitated TO put
up money for the purpose of bribing
through the assembly measures in which
they were interested. When called before
our body some have added to the offense
of bribery the crime of perjury, and only
escaped the ignOminy attaching to their in
famous conduct by reason of the fact that
the evidence. though satisfying our minds,
would not be admissible in the trial courts.
While legal evidence may be lacking TO
bring upon them the penalty for their acts,
yet they are morally convicted and damned
by their connection with such debauchery.
Some of these are as guilty as those against
whom indictments have been returned, the
only difference being that they nave been
more successful in covering their tracks.
No names are mentioned in connection with
these charges of fraud.
''As a remedy for the present conditions
in the municipal assembly, the grand jury
suggests that the method of selecting mem
bers of the House of Delegates should be
changed so that they may be chosen by the
city at large. The payment of liberal sal
aries TO the officials is advocated in order
that honest men can afford to serve the
city in the capacity of legislators