The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-06

Il
retained by him for few days and 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 S., 900 in full for his
vote on the franchise bill.
''In many other cases it was shown
that members Of the assembly who, prior
to their election, were wholly without
means, upon induction into Office were
soon in aff1uent circumstances and indie
pendent positions financially, and this,
too Notwithstanding the fact that the
salary of such are only $25 a month.
Convincing documentary evidence was
Unearthed proving that the sum of $3.50
was placed in escrow in bank in this
city to be paid to the members of the
municipal council of ST. Louis upon the
passage of a valuable franchise ordi-
nance This ordinance failed, and sec
ond bill was introduced upon the passage
of which the sum Of about $250,OOO was
distributed amcng those members. After
the passage of the ordinance the fran
chise was sold for s1,25O,0OO The city
realized nothing whatever for this fran
chise. In these matters the statute Of
limitation was a bar to the finding of in
dictments against nearly all Of the guilty
parties.
1.-THE more recent attempt Of a street
railway company to secure franchise
has been conspicuously brought to public
notice through proceedings in the criminal
courts. In this case an agreement was
made between the legislative agent of the
company and the representatives of the
combines in both branches Of the mu-
nicipal assembly by the terms of which
SIS 900 was to be paid to certain members
Of the house of delegates and $4,000 to
certain members of the council in con-
sideration of such members voting for the
proposed measure. The first named
amount was deposited in cash in a. safe
deposit box in trust company and the
900 was likewise deposited in another
trust company.
1.-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 members of the municipal
assembly. Through the action Of the
courts the passage of the ordinance was
prevented.
Legislators Should Be SaIaried.
"The f135, 0o0, 600 corruption fund was de-
mand Ad by the legislators under the claim
that they had done their duty, all they
had agreed to do, but the company re-
fused to honor their claim. The investiga-
ton Of this has led to number of in
dictments connected with the attempted
purchase Of this franchise under one Of
which the defendant has, after a fair trial
been convicted and sentenced to three
years in the penitentiary, and another
has become a fugitive from justice, thus
confessing his guilt in the nefarious trans
action.
''This evidence shows us that there are
in this city men Of seeming great re-
spectability, directors in large corpora
tons, and prominent in business and So
cial circles, 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 ignoniny attaching to their
infamous conduct by reason of the fact
that evidence, though satisfying our mind,
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 de-
bauchery. Some of these are as guilty as
those against whom indictments have
been returned, the only difference being
that they have been more successful IN
covering their tracks
No names are mentioned in connection
with these charges of fraud. AS rem
edy for the present conditions in the mu-
nicipal assembly, the grand jury suggests
that the method of selecting members OF
the house of delegates should be changed
so that they may be chosen by the city
at large. The payment Of liberal salaries
to these officials is advocated in order
that honest men can afford to serve the
city In the capacity of legislators"