The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-22
P|TTSBURG TORN
BY GRAFT CHARGE
Seven CounCiImen and Two
Bankers Have Been
Arrested.
PROMINENT MEN INVOLVED
CIVIC LEAGUE BARES SCANDAL
CONNECTED WITH DEPOSiTOR-
les, PAVING, BRIDGE, TRACTION
AND OTHER DEALS.

Pittsburg. Pa, Dec 22-Pittsburg
was torn wide open last night by the
arrest of seven councilmen, including 6
the president of the common council
and one national bank president and
his cashier, on charges of bribery.
holding up of legislation, and corrupt
solicitation.
The charges against the councilmen,
in short, are that they held up all leg
islation and every bank and corpora
tion possible. The hearing for all of
the accused was set for Wednesday,
One of the direct charges is that the
finance committee of the council &C
cepted bribes to hold up the purchas-
ing of bridges which connect the north
side, formerly Allegheny, with Pitts.
burg.
Officials of the Civic league, at
whose instance the bomb was thrown,
are said to have sworn out warrants to
the number of fifty, which attach to
councilmen and other bankers of the
city. Tensard DewoIf. secretary of
the league. said last night arrests were
only starters.
Wanted to Favor Certain Banks?
Allegheny was joined to Pittsburg
last spring and Mayor Guthrie set
about buying bridges to make them
free. Every move he, made was OBJ,
structed in the finance committee un-
| til the prices for the bridges was said
to have been raised beyond all reason
hn a,I &c
ready to shove an ordinance through
to buy the bridges.
An attempt also was made to pass
an ordinance to build bridge at Elev.
enth street, Pittsburg, to connect with
the north side. This the mayor We
! toed.
In recent years Pittsburg has con.
gheny river to filter the drinking wa
ter for Pittsburg proper. 1t was al
legged that the beds were inadequate
| and ordinances were passed to vote for
a bond issue for additional filter beds
| These ordinances were voted on at the
! November election and passed. 1t is
charged that the finance committee
| for a consideration, was in favor OF
selling the bonds to certain banks.
The Herberton stree, railway fran.
| chise is said to have been purchased
| by its promoters from members of the
council who voted in favor of the or
dinance.
Charge Graft in Paving Deal.
There is said to be big snake ir
the franchise which was gotten up tc
whip the Pittsburg Street railway com
pany into line.
No streets in Pittsburg are pavet
with blocks of wood. and when thu
council decided by resolution to pave
Fourth avenue with wood it raised sus
picion. 1t is said that the paving O.
the street with wood was to be an ex
pertinent to stop the noise of traffic
1t is alleged that members of the coun.
Gil received considerations for the con
, tract
I So great stir was caused by ths
arrests that the directors of a number
of banks were called into extra ses
| sions tonight. 1t is alleged that Ger
/! tain banks are TO be charged witt
!! bribing the finance committee for tn.
purpose of having certain banks Sc
lected as repositories. This is one O
| the charges which will create tn,
greatest excitement. because the bank.
in each case will be dragged into th.
| trials The arrest of other bankers i:
expected tomorrow.