Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-22

Boston, June o1-During a session.
marked at one time by disorder. the
Massachusetts House Of Representa-
tiVeS this afternoon voted to eXpel
Representative Frank J. GethrO of Bos-
ton, thus UNFOLDING the report of the
committee on rules, which, after a long
investigation Of charges of bribery
made in connection with the defeat OF
the anti-bucket shop bill, recommended
GcthrO's expulsion on the ground that
he had sought improperly to influence
legislation. The vote was 142 in favor
of expulsion and "a against.
An amendment offered by Represen-
tative Nlellen of Worcester to fix the
penalty at suspension for 80 days in
stead of expulsion had previously been
lost on 4 voice vote. The consideration
of the bribery report, which lasted
from 2.15 this afternoon until G.1o to-
night when the House adjourned, was
marked by the delivery of imprisoned
speeches by many members both in
support of and in remonstrance to the
report of the investigating committee.
Mr.. GethrO, the accused legislator,
himself took the floor in bis own de-
fence and urged that he either be ac-
Quilted or found guilty.
Representative Edwin +. Leonard Of
Springfield, one of the three legislators
on whose testimony Gethro was found
guilty liy the committee, made a formal
statement to the House in which he
declared his conviction that GetIlr0 was
guilty of attempting to bride his fellow
members.
The disorderly part of the proceedings
developed when Representative Martin
Lomasney of Boston. who figured Us the
persistent supporter of GethrO during
the entire session, criticised Representa-
tive Deonard for his conflicting state
ments in connection with the Gcthro
affair. He charged that the Springfield
member had been contradictory and
strongly urged that he was just as
much entitled to blame as Representa-
tive Simon Swig Of Taunton, whom the
investigating committee had recon-
mendcd be censured by the House
A motion to adjourn, offered by Rep
resentative Luce Of Somerville shortly
after o'clock. was shouted down by
the Gethro and Swig supporters amid
considerable confusion and to tho ac-
compartment of several cries of gag
iuit. subsequently lpNtNti siIitl lI'-
Taunton man had been defended in i'm
passioned language by Mr.. Lomas-
ney, the House voted to postpone fur
Their consideration of the censure of
Representative Swig until tomorrow.
The House galleries were crowded
with people and the entire proceedings
We're followed with extraordinary at
tention.
The basis of the committees recon-
mendation for the expulsion Of Gethro
was the testimony of Representative
Mock, Leonard and GO)dhue of Ipswich.
who charged in substance that Gethro
had attempted to bride them in behalf
of the defeat of the anti-bucket shop
bill.
Mr.. Walker of BrOokline. member
of the rules committee, characterized
the situation as one where the House
had stern duty to perform in order to
maintain the dignity and the purify Of
the General Court.
Mr.. Coyle of Boston read many eX-
tracts from the testimony of Mr.. Mock
before the committee and charged that
Mr.. Mock's statements were really
based upon Mocks belief in the
clldTStS WHICH, lHDllldS w 14INSo Hdu
made against the Legislature. He ac-
cused Mr. Mock of being "a Lawson
man. and endeavored to show that
Mock's testimony was inconsistent and
unreliable.
Something Of a sensation was created
in the chamber when Representative
William l.. Newton Of South Boston,
in concluding an earnest appeal for
clemency. beseeched his fellow members
not to expose the Legislature to criti-
cism and ended with the words:
Don't make a scapegoat. gentlemen
of Gethro. and let the big boys go: be-
cause if you do something is going to |
be done and something will be done"
After further debate Representative |
Gethro was given the floor He read |
a brief statement in which ne expressed |
a demand for justice from his fellow |
members.
IF any man has agreed to be brbed |
by me- he went on, The knows x and /
know it and I ask him to rise hero Il
now and denounce me-
An air of expectancy passed through II
the chamber as the representative who