The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-02-09
Legislature to be Re-
quested to Pass an
Act Compelling Wit
nesses to Answer.
Antitrust Violations.
Democratic Senators See
!. no Signs of Success
in, the Cox Probe.
House Passes Two
Gent Fare Bill.

Columbus, o., Feb. 6.-The legisla-
ture is to be asked to at once lend
assistance in the efforts to break up
the bridge trust and other trusts now
violating the antitrust laws of Ohio.
Atty. Gen. Ellis. Pros. Atty Ste
vens, of Lorain county, and Atty. Thos.
H. Hogsett. Of Cleveland, will make
the appeal. Their decision was reach
ed after a former member of the
bridge pool had told the story of how
the taxpayers OF Ohio have been rob-
bed Of hundreds of thousands if not
millions of dollars by the bridge trust,
and then had refused to give certain
particular details on the ground that
to do so would tend to incriminate
himself.
John j. Dunn, of Columbus, in 1S9,
an agent for one of the companies
in the pool, was examined Tuesday
for deposition in bridge case.
He told how the various bridge
companies had pooling agreement
and how they would add from so to
100 per cent to the price at which
the bridge could be constructed at a
reasonable profit and how the COM
panies If the pool would divide ex-
cess money.
But Dunn refused to tell the story
Of how the Lorain bridge deal was
made whereby 1t was, alleged that
the taxpayers paid about $4,000 in
excess of what it should have been
built for. He also refused to go into
detail as to certain, other contracts.
In all of his refusals to answer, he said
it was because it might tend to in
criminate him.
1t is proposed to ask the legislature
to speedily pass a law granting i'm
munity to such witnesses against GRIM
inal prosecution for any statement they
might make With this promise of
immunity they are to be compelled
to answer all questions or go to Jail
to stay until they are ready for an
sweT.
The proposed state investigation of
George B. Cox and his methods in
Cincinnati is in bad shape. The SEN
ate Democrats today killed the house
resolution for joint investigation
committee. 1t was cQQtended by Sena-
tor Lamb, Independent, who held the
balance of power, that no thorough
investigation could be hoped for since
the Republican speaker of the house,
Thompson, refused to indicate whom
he would appoint. The Republican
senators were willing to support the
resolution if all members of the COM
mittee were appointed by the Repub-
lican presiding officers of the two
houses.
The Democratic senators have in
troduced a resolution for an inves-
tigation by the senate alone but the
Republicans will oppose this on the
ground that no appropriation could
legally be made. The committee would
consist of Lamb, two Republicans and
two Democrats.
The Freiner two cent railroad fare
bill passed the house today by vote
of 104 to 1, all amendments being
hauled down. The senate having pass
ed a similar law unanimously 1T only
remains for the two houses to agree
on one of the bills, which will prob
ably be done the last of this week.
The temperance workers got a
hard jolt when the bill to increase
the state saloon tax from $500 to
$1,000 favorably reported, was voted
back into committee. The bill to pre-
vent prison labor from competing with
free labor and to restrict prison la
Dor to work for the public highways.
was passed by the house and is now
with the senate.