The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-28
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DEMANDED.


q Slot machines ............. Is 90 in 1913 .
e Road law for St Louis .
. County Observation-Disclosures. 5.3ro IN 1893 .
o Excise Commissioner 900. 80 in 1899 .
o Whisky distiiiers ......... 1000 in 1871 =
L . . e = . . . 8 Q . 90 9 . . z
Since the Doodle investigation IN State
legislation has been in progress by Circuit
Attorney Folk in ST. Louis, 1t has been
found that the extent to which the corpor-
ate and private interests Of Missouri have
been hsl5 Up by the ''saDd-bagger,' eH-
ceeds any estimate that has been given.
circuit Attorney FOLK Sas been at work
Tor about three months on the problem. Re
has not uncovered a tenth Cf the corrup-
ton. If political wisdom Is worth anything.
and the fact that he viii continue his work
until next fan shows that more Will De
brought TO light. The table given above de-
tails the sums which have been paid, and
those demanded. all of which have been re-
vealed through the local investigation.
At first blush, the assertion that the fire
insurance companies had paid $ah,e9
defeat legislation in jefferson City would
seem incredible. Yet this is the statement
made by man in touch with the compa-
MES during that time,
The experience OF the fire insurance COM
Ianics. Is. perhaps. indicative OF other cor
porate interests. When the companies be-
gan paying money for favoTs the news
naturally spread 10 succeeding legislators.
II any interest ever pays money TO bood-
Ter he can count on being touched reg
ularly until he decides 10 throw off the
yoke. Reelection usually place those in
possession IF the hooilinE where they can
blaCkmail larger and larger amounts At
succeeding sessions
VALUED POLICY LAW COSTLY,
Four years ago the fire insurance COM
panies were asked TO put UP $1,000 TO pre-
vent the passage of the valued policy law.
They refused The bill was passed. Two
J.,, Cd n one Al
the law. The companies tried moral sua-
sion and failed. AT this session, accord
ing 10 this insurance authority. $4,000 was
again demanded TO repeal the law. The
business men ef the large cities took up
the matter. Like the. companies them
selves, they failed.
Il IS difficult TO tell just what was paid
70 pass the street railway consolidation
bill affecting ST. Louis. One witness has
said that a certain well-kngwn lobbyist took
$4,000 in cash to jefferson City Another
story is that $4,000 was carried there in a
Va!ise.
Perhaps both tales are true, though It is
not believed that such n sum was re-
quired Many officials and legislators took
their pay In a manner which cannot be fig
Tired accurately, owing to the fluctuations
Of the stock market. They became par tners
money which they refused to take othes-
wise
When the transit bill was pending. 500
and $50 bills were the common thing in
saloons at jefferson City. while the red-iign;
district Of St. Louis was the scene of much
TeHsry. legislators with good regulations
in the country coming down to the city
to have the time OF their lives.
RAILROADS BLEED LITERALLY
OF course. the railroads have been tled as
literally as any half dozen other interests.
The organized lobby which they maintained
in jefferson City every TWO years and the
influence which they exert IN State politics
cost them an amount which cannot be
rsckonrd, even by themselves The Gistri-
! button Of passes Is an Item which cuts Sc
T!Ously into the avenues of the railroads,
I but which they must continue as long as
they secure favors.
Colonel John O'Day grew rich az lob.
hylst. Colonel William Il. Phelps Is rated
as I millionaire. Colonel John II. Carroll Is
regarded as the most liberal spendc- an.Cng
eli railroad attorneys, and has great deal
Of property. They draw fat salaries from
their companies and tribute from others.
In every session. certain legislators pose
as opponents Of the railroads and in:roduce
what are known as "sandbagginc t!-ls. a
2-ceut passenger fare bill. which was
urgently pushed IT a recent session, was
prepared by a well-knOwn loaavist. The
IN the neiEhborhood Of sl5.otQ TO beat II.
The member who introduced the measure
received less than thousand dollars for
the front which he made.
Excluding passes il IS estimated that the
railroads contribute nbout 5000 IT every
session. 10 guide legislation. y very small
81 coz which Senator Farris acknowledged
having received from Phelps at the close o,
the present session being the h'gh-water
mark. 50 far as known. Former Senator
/ Rusche testified that he received ONLY 500
a year for PROTECTING PHELPS in all the in
te-eSts which he represented
CAR COMPANIES HELD up
The sleeping car companies are usually
held up in true legislative fashion. Most
OF the Senators in the combine ride on Pull
man passes. and two or three each session
are popularity supposed 10 be well taken care
/ Of In other lines This. however. is merely
a side line in general railroad legislation.
President Morse Of the Kansas City Stock
Yards has testified that his company paid
Colonel John II. Carroll S3ro1 a year as
attorneys fees for representing it in Jeffer-
son City at the biennial session. The men
interested in the stock Yards invariably
ferson City. involving much expense. Rep
utahle business men made the pleas before
. the committees. "hi' som" OF the senators
complained that Carroll gave the hill re-
ducing charges absent treatment" Never.
theless the bill was not defeated.
Until four years ago, ii Is said, the brew
! for favorable consideration in jefferson
City. For segeral years the so-cdiled
''Ryde-' bill, imposing inspection fees. haG
been mysteriously killed In 1893 the brew.
ers refused to be bled and the measure was
passed. imposing a tax Of about $4,000 q
year on the industry
Two years ago, after the law was SuS-
tanned by the Supreme Court. the brewers
offered To compromise. A new law wa:
passed cutting the fees in half The admin.
tstration worked for the bill A small lobby
OF brewers appeared and. according 10 in,
formation in the hands OF Circuit Attorney
/ Folk, sle,e9 was spent though II is sait
! that very little OF it reached the legislators
+ II is not thought that this interest wa:
} touched" ut the last session.
/ CANDY BILL PRIVATE SNAP"
! There are invariably small bills intro
! duced at every session which are regarded
! as private snaps" The candy bill prohibit
} Ing the use Of certain ingredients. is Away!
/ introduced early in the session, and regard
/ ed as personal property. The candy manu-
/ facturers Of St Louis contributed s.. 800 L
defeat it
Installment- houses are usually held up b,
| bill compelling them to record their chat
| tel mortgages, instead OF fling them, as al
! present. This bill has not passed. but Sen
! ator Farris wrote -. 500 on a slip of papel
when he was asked where he stood on thu
/ measure.
There was fund of $4,000 on hand Z,
| pass the bill making the operation Of so
machines a misdemeanor instead OF