The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-02
A BONUS FOR
INFORMERS
ST. LOUIS GRAND JURY RECON-
MENDS THAT SUCH A PLAN
BE ADOPTED
MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION RIFF
Directors of Suburban Street Rail-
way and Ex-City COunciImen In
dicted for Bribery and
for Perjury
STILL MORE RoTTENNEss

ST. LOUIS, Feb 1.-The grand i1Irv
which has been investigating the facts
in connection with the attempt to pass
bill through the municipal assembly
granting certain franchises to the Sub
urban Street Railway company by the
alleged use of corruption fund Of s135.-
600, this evening returned its final report
and adjourned.
Two hours before the report of the
grand jury was submitted a bench war
rant was issued for Henry Nicolaus, a
director of the Suburban Street Railway
company, ordered by the retiring body,
which returned an Indictment against
Nlcolaus charging him with bribery in
connection with the Suburban case. Up
to late hour Mr.. Nicoiaus had not been
arrested.
The other indictments which resulted
from the Suburban investigation were
against ex-Delegate John K. MurreI, ex-
Councilmen Charles Kratz and Emil A.
Meysenburg, and Ellis Wainwright, di-
rector of the Suburban company, for brib-
cry, and ex-Delegate julius Lehman and
Delegate Harry Faulkner, for perjury.
The grand jury's report is brief, consid-
er1ng the Importance of the subject treat
ed. Referring to the subject of munici-
pal corruption, the report says:
Municipal Corruption General.
Investigation which we have made into
the corrupt methods by which franchises
have been obtained from the city, and
which have resulted in a number of In
dictments, have proved to us that this
form of corruption is much more general
than has been supposed, although the
resort to such practices with more or less
frequency has been known. 1t has been
1nnOSSjhIn fO 11yo 1otn
animation of this kind Of offenses within
the time appointed by law for our serv-
ice. and the work which we have begun
must be taken up by tire grand jury which
will Immediately succeed US.
I'VE believe that all franchises for the
use of the city's streets should be sold
to the highest and best bidder after due
public notice has been given, and that the
plundering of the city of it's property
under the name of granting franchises, ,
should cease; yet, if the present system Is
TO be continued, much can be done to
improve conditions.
Bonus for InfOrmers.
GAS the first object of all criminal laws
is the prevention of crime, rather than
vengeance upon the criminal, and as it
seems that crime of this character can
not be eradicated until the conditions
which make it profitable are removed, we
suggest that laws be enacted which Will
provide that where a municipal Iegisla-
tor is bribed by the party or parties seek
ing the franchises, to aid in the grant
of the franchise, upon his or anyone else
turning informant and securing the con-
viction of the person who has bribed
him, the ordinance granting the fran
chise shall be forfeited and the same
franchise, including all property used with
it and owned by the corporation owning
the franchise, shall be sold at public
auction upon due Amusement the inform
ant to receive 25 per cent Of the pro-
ceeds, the remainder to be paid into
the city treasury.
"Under such a law, to obtain a fran
chise by corruption would render it prac-
tically valueless, and would be attended
by so much danger that few would en-
gage in this sort Of corruption, and none
without great risk Of punishment and
loss of property