Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-10-03
DEMANDS
INVESTIGATION
Alderman Says City Marshal Burke
Stated to Him That Some One
Had Made Bribery Charge
COMMITTEE FINALLY NAMED
Small Sensation is Sprung at Last
Nights Meeting Of the
City Council.


ed last night. sensational incident
occurred in which Alderman John
Laux and City Marshal Marion l. Burke
were the chief actors.
When the routine business had been
disposed of, and the aldermen were
congratulating themselves on their
chance of being home by midnight,
Mr.. Laux arose and said he wished
to make a statement in regard to the
construction of the new bridge on
Main street, near the Judith Basin
mill, which had been put in under his
supervision as agent of the city. The
bridge would cost, all told, without
the arch, which could be turned any
time, from $3.50 to $575, which includ-
ed the filling in of the old channel.
Mr.. LauX then reviewed at some
length all the steps taken by the coun-
Gil prior to ordering the work done,
and bringing out the fact that when
the council advertised for bids, the
only one received for building a new
bridge was for $1,000, and the only
one for repairing the old bridge was
$500.
D. J. kane's Criticism.
The speaker had informed the coun-
Gil that the bid of $1,000 was too high,
and he had been instructed by the
unanimous vote of the council to pro-
ceed with the work as the city's agent.
After waiting until he thought it was
too late for the city to change its
action. D. J. Kane. former street COM
missioner, had commenced criticising
Mr.. Laux, and charging the alderman
with involving the city in an unneces-
sary expense of $1,5O0. The statement
was false from beginning to end. and
although Mr.. Kane had stated up and
down the streets that he would repair
the old bridge for 800, and give a
bond on the job. vet when he was
brought before the council, and Of
fered the contract, he backed down
on it all. "And | want to say" con.
tinued Mr.. LauX with great heat
that If the former street commission.
er had done his duty when he put IN
the old bridge this new one would be
unnecessary today. Mr.. Kane is still
going around the streets saying | had
the contract to build this bridge for
$1,500 That is lie."
Talk Of Bribery.
Alderman LauX then addressed him
self to another phase Of the matter
and laboring under apparent excite
ment,, said it had been stated by the
city marshal that some one had said
he had been bribed to put in the bridge
for the Judith Basin Milling company
II shall demand the name of the
man who said that" added Mr.. Laux
"and If it is false, the man who made
the charge should be sent over the
road. If it is true. should be sen,
over the road. l demand an investi
CATION"
laux is Thanked.
The aldermen were manifestly sur
prised at the turn affairs had taken
and Alderman Smith at once moved
that special vote of thanks be ten
dered Mr.. Laux for his efficient ant
faithful work in behalf Of the city
which had resulted in saving the mu
nicipality considerable sum, and hat
given the city splendid bridge. Mr.
Smith highly complimented Alderman
Laux for the interest he had taken il
the matter, saying he had placed the
The resolution was adopted unani
mously, and it was supposed the mat
ter would end there, but Mr.. Lau,
was not through.
Goes After the Marshal.
THE city marshal" he resumed
"has picked up words on the stree
and thrown them in my face, saying 4
has been said / was bribed. l now
a oil H~n1 j.
state who it was that made such {
charge
Marshal Marion l. Burke, who hat
been sitting in the chamber through
out the session, here took the floor
and his brief statement brought ou
the fact that the whole incident wa,
the result OF a previous collision be
tween himself and Alderman Lau,
some evenings ago. On that occasion
1t seems, the alderman took occasion
to criticise the marshal for arrestinf
some man who came in from the
country and became intoxicated, ant
for his alleged treatment Of the pris
oner. 1t was in reply to this thai
Marshal Burke said that, as the al
derman was SO free in his criticism
he would let him know what people
said about him. And I told you,,
concluded the marshal, that it wal
sa.. you stood in with the mill out
fit. That is all said, and the alder
men who are now here were presen
and will bear me out" Alderman
Smith said that was correct. Nothin,
was said about any bribery.
Alderman Laux, however, was de
termined. and in reply said: Il viii
now make this statement. Unless
learn the name of the man who sait
| was bribed, l shall resign at tn,
next meeting of the council. l de
mand an investigation of this charge.
WELL" remarked Alderman Smith
Il see nothing to investigate. but i
you insist, l move that the mayor an
point a committee to make such in
vestigation.'
The motion carried and Mayo
Pinkley named Aldermen Smith
Bradbury and Tubb as the committee
Il should like" put in Marsha
Burke" to see the committee investl
gate the case of this honest oil,
rancher Mr.. Laux referred to at tn
same time, and Sc If his statemen
that run him in when 1t was NO
necessary is true"
De kaib Takes . Hand.
] City Attorney De Kalb adrdesse