Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-18
CASH SPENT At LEGISLATURE
Three OF Four Thousand Dollars, Worrall
Says, Was Put Up,
USED TO DEFEAT CERTAIN BILLS
witness Says He DiSbursed the
Money In the Interest of Ne
braskn Grain Dealers
Association.

When the taking OF testimony in the
Grain trust suit was resumed Thursday
morning Attorney General Brown recalled
Thomas D. Worrall Witness was asked to
tell something more of the work done at
the meeting Of the Nebraska Grain Dealers
association following the session Of the
legislature of 1903
Well" said the witness, Il made a re
port as chairman of the committee on
legislation, touching our work to defeat any
and all legislation inimical to the interests
of the association"
who composed that committee?"
''NTr. Trumpen of Hickman Mr. Stein
myer of Latonia and myself"
Did you expend any money during that
session for the purpose you have indicated,
and if So how much?"
I'VE expended between 5000 and $4,000"
who furnished that money, and was It
in cash or by check?"
Different individuals put UP the money.
I got 1t in the form of checks, except 500,
which was handed to me by Mr.. Bewsher,
the secretary, who told me he had got it
from Floyd Campbell of the Nebraska
Iowa Elevator company"
80 far you can give the names of
the firms or persons who contributed to
that fund"
Names the Contributors.
THE Omahe Elevator company gave two
checks for 800 each, the Duff Grain COM
pany 500. Hayes -Eames company S1OO Cen
tral Granaries company $500, Nye-Schnel-
der Fowler Grain company 5000, Nebraska
Elevator company $500, (cashed by book
keeper and turned over to WorralD, West
brook Gibbons Grain company $1OO. Updike
Grain company 500, Transmississippi Grain
company 800 Jaquith company 800, Wells
Hold company 500, Holmquist company
800 Some other firms and individuals
Clipped in also, but l do not now recall
their names or the amount"
WAS any other money contributed to
your committee during that session."
Not directly during the session. but at
the close there was a deficiency to meet,
so the meeting assessed 50 an elevator on
the members of the association, and out of
this there was a small balance left, as 1
recall It."
Did you make any report to the asso-
citation of what had been done with this
money!"
"Only a verbal report as to the total
of the expenses, but gave no specifications
The work Of the legislative committee was
approved and we were given a vote Of
thanks The account was gone over with
others in consultation before the meeting
and the expenditure was approved"
How was this money spent?"
"Oh. entertaining members and lubri-
eating the machinery"
some of the Details.
Tell us what you mean by that"
well in buying theater tickets, for band
concerts dinners, luncheons and things of
that kind"
"On such occasions did you discuss with
members who were present pending legisla-
tion?"
yes sir, every time"
What was the purpose in spending this
money for the things you have mentioned?''
ITO defeat any and all legislation hostile
to the best interests of the Nebraska Grain
Dealers association"
The attorney general here turned Worrall
1 over TO Ed p. Smith for cross-examination.
Mr. Smiths hrst questions developed the
/ fact that there was no treasurer Of the
legislative committee; that the checks had
! all been cashed by Worrall at the First
! National bank of Lincoln and that the total
amount handled by witness as the chair
/ man of the committee was &,4l1. Stein
myer was in Lincoln only occasionally
! while Trompen, the other member, was a
! quite frequent visitor. Neither handled a
dollar of the money, witness said. He was
the only person who had anything to dc
with the expending of the actual cash.
All Records Are Burned.
In response to further questions by Mr.
Smith witness said he got the bulk of the
money the latter part of February, lSDS anc
that it had all been spent in a period o
something like forty days. Witness saic
that as soon as the matter was settled
agEOCia
ton, all the papers and memoranda relat
ing TO the work" done had been destroyed
burned up.
Sharp tits between the lawyer and thu
witness then occurred as to what tn,
money was spent for and who got 1t. Mr.
Worral could only remember one SPECIFIC
sum Of S25 that was paid to an employ,
of the legislature ITO keep us posted on tn
location of bills and TO bring us copies o
all bills introduced affecting the grain bus
mess"
what did you do with the remaining
N,875?"
1T went 10 purchase tickets for the
aters and band concerts and other amuse
ments."
what bills were introduced inimical t
the interests of the association
II recall now but three, the Ramsey bill
bills in the senate"
who dealt mostly with the legislature +
these matters"
Men Who Did the Feeling.
well | didn't know many members my
self, but l acted in touch with members O
the association, who kept me posted as t
the men to work on. Messrs. Updike, Peel
Fowler, Westbrook, Dun, Ferguson, Wrigh
and some other officers of the companie
did most of the visiting around and feelln
| out"
Did any OF these men or anyone els
expend any Of this money you had?"
mo, sir; not a cent"
well, tell us how it was spent. Did an
employees Of the legislature get any of +
and II so, who?'
Yes. some employees got money, but
have forgotten the names It was spent I
do legitimate work, so that we would b
posted on the bills we were opposed to-"
Witness said the largest bill he recalle
, for theater tickets was SIS. The ticket
, went to members, but ne could not nam
the men, because the tickets were not dis