The independent., 1907-02-07
SEES SLUSH FUND
SENATOR PATRICK SAYS BREWERS
RAISED MONEY.
SAYS $4,000 TO $1,000 PAID FOR
VOTES TWO YEARS AGO.

Charges Of corruption against the
brewers and the Nebraska retail liquor
dealers association were made public
ly yesterday afternoon by Senator Pa
trick, fusonist, Of Sarpy. He said 1t
members of the legislature were cred
tied by from $4,000 to $4,000 for their
votes against the county option bill
and similar bills and that within the
been raised in Omaha to defeat the
Gibson bill, to prevent brewers from
having an interest In saloon licenses
and similar bills Senator Patrick has
vides that signcrs of a petition for a
saloon shall be equally liable for dam
ages with the saloonkeeper and his
bondsmen.
OF corruption was made by Senator Pa
trick. He spoke earnestly in favor OF
the Gibson bill and arraigned the
brewers and the liquor dealers associ-
alton with corrupt practices He said
the report had gone out at the begin
ming of this session that this legisla-
ture was hopeless from a brewers
standpoint.
But within two weeks he said,
"the word has been passed along the
line that something can be done, and
as result the modest subscription OF
100000 was raised in Omaha to defeat
the Gibson bill and similar measures.
| desire to say that If the Gibson bill
Is pass ed it will do more good than
any other bill that has been intro
duced. | predict that the time Is at
hand when either the brewers will have
to stand from under and keep out Of
politics, or they will have to go out of
business In the state Of Nebraska.
They attempt to dictate TO the people
of this state whom they shah elect.
Their business has become a monopoly.
| know from my own practice that the
brewers send their wagons around
daily to some of these slaves to collect
the revenue due them. At every turn
the slaves are ground down. They get
short measure They get five quart
bottles for a gallon. TO the best OF
their henchmen who run such dives
they send around a collector weekly.
The business may be compared with
that of the most unspeakable business
known"
Senator Patrick read from a report
Of the president of the retail liquor
dealers association which said that
while vast sums had been spent for
various purposes including Legislative
work" the results might not be re-
garded as good as the result formerly
attained He said the report showed
that bills had been killed In the legis-
lature two years ago.
The brewers were represented by
Attorney Fries Of Omaha, who argued
that many features of the Gibson bill
were unconstitutional. He said there
was no reason why man could not
borrow money from a brewer to start
n saloon Az well as from banker,
and they pay his just obligations. He
argued that the provisions to limit the
number OF saloons I'm Omaha and
south Omaha 20 one for each 1000 In
habltnnts was bad, because some OF
The most reputable saloon men might
ha shut out and some of the worst ad-
mlttcd. lie asserted that two years ago
he represented the brewers and that he
barely had enough Co pay his decent
expenses, that no corruption was used
by hts clients. He said he could not
speak for the retail dealers AS he did
not consult them or work with them.
"uut for the shortslghtedneas Of the
retail dealers" he RnId, ~ would not be
here today"
Some laughter followed when Al
torney Fries read IA list nf towns hny-
Ing saloons. including Topeka and