The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
THE GRANDJURYS REPORT
No Measure Could be Passed Except
by Bribery.
THE OFFICIALS MEN OF LOW CUNNING
Valuable Franchises Sold and the EProceeds
Pocketed by the VenaI Gang That for
Ten Years Held The City by
tho Throat
The Throat.
(By the Associated Press.)

| St Louis. April 5.-Most sensational
| char ges are made by the grand jury
/ which has been investigating bribery
and official corruption in the municipal
assembly, in it's final report today to
Judge O'Nien Ryan in the criminal court.
/ The following indictments were also re-
/ turned today:
| Bribery-Robt. N. Snyder Attempted
, bribery-Edward Butler, John II. Beck
, er. Perjury-George Kebush.
The report declares that the people of
| St. Louis have but a vague conception
of the extent to which corruption and
venality have for the past ten years ex-
listed among the sworn officers and pub
lie servants. 1t finds the true condition
of affairs almost too appalling for be-
lief A tribute is paid to Joseph w.
Folk, the court attorney, under whose
leadership the investigation is being
| made.
TIE report says:
"A far-reaching and systematic state
! of corruption has been carried On for
years by members Of the municipal as
sembly. These members form what are
called combines" for the especial pur-
! pose of holding up prospective legisla-
ton until their demands in the way of
money consideration are complied with.
Instead of discharging the duties of the
office for the public good and in accord
anCe with their oath they become organ
lied gangs of plumber, using their office
to enrich themselves at the peoples ex-
pense. Our investigation, covering more
or less period of ten years, shows that
with few exceptions no ordinance mas
! been passed wherein valuable privileges
/ or franchises until those interested in
! the passage thereof, have paid the legis-
! lators the money demanded for action in
the particular case. No municipal cor
poratjon has ever held its most valuable
, franchises so reclllessly and scandalous-
| ly disposed of for consideration which
! found it's way, not to the city treasury,
but into the itching palms of the public
Z pilferers.
The persons against whom indict-
ments for bride giving and bride taking
have been returned are but a small per-
+ centage of those whom inquiry convinces
! US deserve to wear the garb Of con-
victs.''
I'VE have had before us many of those
! who have been, and most OF those who
are now, members of the House of Dele
gates. We regret to report that we
! found number of those utterly illit-
| crate and lacking in ordinary intelligence
unable to give a better reason for favor
! ing or opposing measure than desire
to act with the majority. In some no
/ trace of mentality or IN orality could be
: found; in others a low order of training
appeared united with base cunning,
grOvelling instincts and sordi1 desires.
: Unqualified to respond to the ordinary
requirements of life, they are utterly in
| capable of comprehending the signii-
canoe of an ordinance and arc incapaci-
tated, both by nature and by training,
to be the makers of laws. I he choosing
, of such men to be legislators makes a
traveSty of justice, sets a premium on
incompetency, and deliberately poisons
I the very source of law.
These men. through their corrupt
agent approach the Legislative Tepresen-
tative of powerful combinations or cor
pOrations competing for valuable fran
chises, demand and receive Of them
sums of money ranging from 500 to
100000 for their individual votes and in
fluence.
From the evidence before US. it APP
pears that an official of the city govern
ment boasted of the fact that he has
made $685. 900 a year out Of his official
position, which paid a legitimate salary
| of but $500 year. Another official, &C
| cording to evidence before uG, agreed
| with one interest, to do an official act for
| $4,000 and afterward from the opposing
! interests accepted the sum of 100000 for
doing the very opposite of that which he
| agreed to do for $751; 600. One legislator
| received in cash at his own residence
the sum of $4,000 for his vote on a
pending measure. This was retained ty
him for few days, then returned in the
hope of receiving a larger sum. The
measure was enacted and the member,
after much delay, was finally compelled
| to accept Sc, 900 in full for mis- vote on
the franchise bill. In many other cases
it was shown that members of the as
sembly, who prior to their election were
wholly without means, upon induction
into office were soon in affiuent circum-
stances and independent position tinan-
cially. and this, too, Notwithstanding the
fact that the salary of sucn office was
only $25 per month.
| convincing documentary evidence
was unearthed proving that the sum of
$1d5 900 was placed in a bank in this
city, to be paid to the members of the
municipal assembly of St. Lueis, upon
the passage of a valuable franchise or
dinance. This ordinance failed and q
second bill was introduced, upon the
passage of which the sum of about $780,
900 was distributed among those mem
bers. After the passage of this ordi-
nance the franchise was sold for S1,230,
Geo. The city realized nothing whatever
for this franchise. In these matters the
statute of limitations was a bar to the
finding of indictments against nearly all
CT the guilty PARTIES
In recent attempt of a street rail-
way company to secure a. franchise al
agreement was made between the legis-