The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-08-23
So ChOrUSed Four of the Council
men When They Faced the In
VeSHgating Committee
Last Night

talked to me a great deal, but never
made any offers The opposition
never offered anything.
Councilman Richards know Mr..
Mortimer. Had several conversations
with him. Never offered me any in
ducements: was favorable to the
franchise before | met him. The
other side never offered any induce
ments.
Councilman Read was not offer
ed any consideration by Mr.. Mortimer
or anyone else.
Councilman Usher~-No offers of
any kind were made to me by either
side.
Whitman Throws "A Bomb.
Councilman Whitman created a
stir when, in answer to Chairman
Bellingham's question, he said that
he had been offered consideration
for his vote by Mortimer. He said;
"Mr. Mortimer came to my Office
and told him how stood He said
he would like to have my vote, but
! told him l could not vote for the
franchise because | did not think 1t
was what the city ought to have. He
then said that his attorney Mr. Rid
dell. had been given a large amount
of stock TO secure votes. and that |
could go to him and get mine Did
not say how much or what IL was
worth. Showed me paper showing
the value of the Los Angeles Home
Telephone company stock and led
IBe to believe this would be worth
as much Told him | couldn't con-
slider it. He said the stock would
be issued in the attorneys name. He
never made any definite offer.
never received any offer from the
Sunset company"
Roice Was Unruly.
Councilman Roice said that the
stock propositions were simply ru-
mors as far as he was concerned
did anybody representing Morti-
mer ever approach You in any way
with any kind of an offer?"
Il can't say that they represented
Mortimer | talked with a man who
said that the Sunset was using money
and that Mortimer would not be far
behind them"
Councilman Salmson asked for the
name of the man who had made the
statement.
81 would rather not give it," re-
piled Mr.. Roice.
Mr.. Salmson If man has made
statement Of any kind In connec-
ton with this matter, we ought to
hear from him. We are here for the
purpose of investigation. 1t is essen
tial that we have this mans name
and think Mr.. Roiee should give
it. In fact, think we should de-
mand this statement from Mr..
Roice.
Keeps His Secret
Mr.. Roice-I object to submitting
the name. IT would do no good and
might do a great deal of harm.
think he was talking just as a great
many other people did No one else
was present when the statement was
made.
Councilman Salmson insisted that
the information should be given. but
Mr. Roice was firm in his refusal and
Chairman Bellingham did not de-
mand It,
e. r. Short, city editor of The
Times, was sworn and asked to give
statement OF MS knowledge or the
bribery charges as they had been
published in this paper
Told What Conrad Said.
He told how Conrad had come to
The Times Office and said that Nor
timer had offered him 1900 shares
Of telephone stock, valued at $44 a
share, and gave the names of Coun-
cilmen Hoenig and Wright as having
been approached with offers of a con
sideration for their votes. He said
that Conrad had offered to make a
statement for publication if the other
men would do the same. For the
purpose Of securing these statements
witness called on both Hoenig and
Wright. The former denied the state
ment absolutely and the latter would
make no statement of any kind. On