Evening journal., 1905-03-31
JERSEY S0LONS
ARE AGITATED
House Investigates Bribery
Charges in Morris Canal
Scandal
WOULD NOT GIVE NAMES

Trenton. n. J., March 81. Tho
louse Of assembly resolved itself into
committee of the whole TO invesi-
gate charges made in tho Trenton
True American that tho passage Of
the Morris canal abandonment bill
through the house had been attended
with bribery. The investigation result
ed in the failure 10 secure any casual
evidence, and after an opinion by At
torney General McCarter that the
committee had no power to attach
witnesses for contempt, the investiga-
tion was abandoned, with the recon-
mendation that the prosecutor Of Mer-
Ger county be asked to tako the mat
ter up
II. d. Conover, the writer of the
True American article, claimed that
the bribery charges were matter Of
common gossip. and he mentioned the
name of Fred Eye, another newspaper
man. as one whom he had heard
speaking on the subject. Mr. Eye
when called to the stand denied any
responsibility for the True American
article, but said that he also had heard
gossip of bribery. Eye on the advice
Of counsel refused to give any infor-
nation as to the sources Of his infor-
nation. This led TO an appeal TO the
attorney. general, with the result that
he advised that Ege could not be com
PEELED to answer.
Conover admitted writing an article,
which said that it was common rumor
that certain members had received
$500, with a promise of $500 more.
| Asked where he got his information,
he said it was common rumor about
the state house. Pressed as to the
name of his informant he refused to
answer. Then law was read to him
which made it a misdemeanor to fail
to answer, and he gave the name Of
Fred Eye, of the Hoboken Observer,
as the reporter who had given him
the information.
Eye when called before the commit
tee brought George F. Record, cor
poration attorney of Jersey City, as
his counsel Eye said that he had sim
ply told Conover what was common
rumor in the corridors of the state
house that from $500 to $500 each
had been oeffred for votes for the pas
sage of the Morris canal bill.
When pressed for the names of some
who had made the statement Eye de-
clined to answer and his counsel ar
gued that as he had not published a
statement rejecting on the character
of the members of the legislature and
had only repeated gossip he should
not be compelled to humiliate himself
by disclosing the names Of those
whose statement he had overheard.
The investigation has created one OF
the greatest sensations that has at
tended a legislative session here since
the attempt was made in 1892 to break
down the doors of the senate chamber
and oust the Democratic organization.
The "True American" is the leading
Democratic newspaper in the state
and has been bitter in its criticism OF
the Republican administration.
Early this morning the 1905 session
of the legislature came TO a final
close. The hour set for adjournment
was 9 o'clock yesterday afternoon, but
the bribery investigation and other
matters kept the two houses In session
until after the time fxod for adjourn
ment Just before the senate adjourn
ed, President Cross. who has been ap
pointed a United States district couri
judge. resigned the senate presidency
and Senator William ]. Bradley. oi
Camden, was unanimously elected a.
his successor, with the understanding
that he will be chosen next year.