The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-06
Members of the Municipal Assembly
Charged with Forming Combines
to 'BIeed" Corporations.
MOUND CITY FULL OF RASCALS
WHO DESERVE CONVICTs' GARB,
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.
PiIfering, Bribe Giving and Bribe
Taking the Occupation of Many
Persons In and Out OF ONCE.

ST LOUIS, April 5.-Most sensational
charges are made by the grand jury. which
has been investigating bribery and official
corruption in the municipal assembly, in
its final report to Judge O'Neil in the Grim
inal Court to-day. Indictments returned
to-day and made public were:
Bribery-Robert N. Snider.
Attempted bribery-Edwin Butler, John
II. Becker.
Perjury-George ]. Kobusch.
The grand jury report declares that the
people of St Louis have only a vague con-
ception of the extent to which corruption
and venality have for the past ten years
existed among the sworn officers and public
servants. II finds the true condition of
affairs almost too appalling for belief. A
tribute is paid TO Joseph w. Folk. the cir
cult attorney, under whose leadership the
investigation. is being made In part the
report reads as follows:
"A far-reaching and systematic scheme
of corruption has been carried on for years
by members of the municipal assembly.
These members form what is called COM
bines' for the special purpose of holding up
prospective legislation until their demands
in the way of money consideration are COM
piled with. Instead of discharging the duties
of the Office for the public good and in aC-
cordance with their oathS, they become or
ganized gangs for plumber using their office
to enrich themselves at the people S expense.
Our investigation, covering more less
fully period of ten years. shows that, with
few exceptions, no ordinance has been
passed wherein valuable privileges or fran
chises are granted, until those interested in
the passage thereof have paid the legis-
latOrs the money demanded for action in
the particular case. No municipal corpora
ton has ever had its most valuable fran
chises so recklessly and scandalously dis
posed of for consideration which found
the itching palms OF the public pilferers.
The persons against whom indictments for
bribe-giving and bribe-taking nave been
returned are but small percentage of
those whom inquiry convinceS us deserve
to wear the garb of convicts-
LOW ORDER or INTELLIGENCE.
1--WE 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
a number of these utterly illiterate and
lacking in ordinary intelligence, unable to
give a better reason for favoring or op-
posing a measure than desire to act with
the majority. In some no trace of men
tality or morality could be found; in 9TH
ers low order of training appeared, united
with base cunning, grOveling instincts and
sordid desires. Unquahned 70 respond TO
the ordinary requirements or life, they are
utterly incapable of comprehending the
significance of an ordinance, and are in
caDacitated both by nature and by train
inc TO be the makers of laws. The choos-
ing of such men to be legislators makes
q fravestv of justice. sets premium on in
competency and deliberately pOisons the
very source of law. These men, through
their corrupt agent. approach the executive
representatives of powerful combinations
or corporations competing for valuable
franchises. demand and receive of them
sums of money ranging from Sic0 TO $4,000
for their individual votes and influence.
..Frrom the evidence before us it appears
that an official of the city government
boasted of the fact that he had made $25 600
a wear out of his official position, which
naid a legitimate salary of but $500 a year.
knotI1er official. according TO evidence be-
fore MS agreed with one interest to do
an oficial act for S75C0o and afterward
accented from the opposing interest the
s,,rn Of 100000 for acting with them.
lone legislator received in cash at his
own residence the sum Of $4,000 for his vote
on a pending measure. This was retained
nv him for a few days. then returned, in
he hone of receiving a larger sum. The
measure was enacted, and the member,
after much delay, was finally compelled to
accent s5.e0 in full for his vote on the
Franchise bill. In many other cases IL was
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