Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-06-04
BO0DLNG AND BOOD[ERS.
The S .Louis Grand Jury, Impaneled
in April, Makes Its Final /,
Report in Court. .
sooDuIHs AND BooDlERs ARE SCORED.
Vumerous Recommendations o
ing to the Minimizing of state
and Municipal CorruptfOn-Much
of Crime Laid at the Doors OF
Disorderly Resorts.

St. Louis, May 31.-The final report
Of the April grand jury, submitted to
Judge Ryan Friday afternoon, scored
boodlers and recommended many sug-
gestions to wipe out state and NUM-
cipal corruption. Much stress was
also laid on the existence of resorts
In the city.
Judge Ryan, in accepting the grand
jury's report, thanked the jurors for
their work, and told them that the
court would endeavor to bring about
the adoption of some of the sugges-
items made. \
He stated that while the number OF
indictments found and returned into
court was not an indication, he knew
that the grand jury had done much
rood work, and that it's labors had
been arduous.
Judge Walter B. Douglas sat on the
bench with Judge Ryan, and both read
the report carefully. The report is a
scathing arraignment of boodling and
boodlers. Following are some of it's
most salient sentences:
"The testimony we have heard has
shown a state of affairs most amsz-
ing.
"High state officials have confessed
to us of having accepted brides for
official influence and having acted ms
go-betweens in securing brides for
other legislators.
1--WE have listened to the confess
sions of state senator's, and were we
at liberty to make known all they
have told us the recital would appall
and astound the citizens of the state.
"Our Investigations have gone back
for IL years, and during that time the
evidence before us shows that corrup-
ton has been the usual and accepted
thing in state legislation, and that,
too, without interference or him
1rance.
Senators have been on the pay roll
of lobbyists and served special inter-
ests instead of public good. 1t is time
that the people should be awakened
to the awful condition of things in
me general uSSellUIy.
"We have found some indictments
for bribery, and there would be many
more were it not for the statute of
limitations, which bars indictments in
this state for this offense three years
after the commission of the ~offense.
at seems to us that this is entirely
too short a time, and that the stat
ute should be extended so as to per-
NIT an Indictment found within seven
years from the date of the crime.
The fact that some public officials
against whom indictments have been
returned, and even after conviction,
are permitted to exercise the func-
tions of their office to enact laws is
abhorrent to the minds and con-
science of hopest men.
"We believe that if adequate re.
Enumeration were provided, tempted
legislators would in many instances
successfully resist the Ubiquitous in
fuence of the professional lobbyist
and refuse the money of the would-be
briber.
"A large number of the felony cases
which we have considered are direct
ly traceable to the disorderly saloon
and its vicious influence. Fully SO per
cent. of the assaults and murders are
attributable to this source. Officers
of the law should give those places
their close attention. The proprietor
should be held to the strictest account
for the orderly conduct of his place,
and upon the second violation OF any
law regulating dramshops the license
should be revoked: The saloon SHOULD
not become the gathering place for
criminals and degenerates, neither
should policemen in uniform and on
duty be permitted to %patronize such
places"