The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-05-18
Gov HUGHES ULNCOVERS
WORST CORRUPTION YET
sTREETcAR COMPANY BOUGHT
BOTH PARTIES, JUDGES, PO-
LiCEMEN, JURIES AND PLAIN
TIFFS' WITNESSES.
Specie, Correspondence to The Press

Specie; Correspondence to The Press
NEW YORK, May 1S.-How
graft and crookedness succeeds by
being bipartisan and non-partisan
while decent citizens are rendered
ineffective by being fettered with
party ties. has been shown in the
recent Metropolitan traction ex-
pose. Both parties and all candi-
dates seem to have been supported
for, election by the Met. so that
whoever won the traction company
wouldn't lose its accident damage
suits.
The revelations made by Gov
Hughes inquisitor chart several
hitherto unknown political current
and show how politics have been
corrupted and the well springs of
Justice poisoned. Men who are
loyal to party organization see how
their party has sold out in advance
and victims of street railway ac-
cident on the Met have had
their eyes opened as to the chance,
or lack f it, that they had to win
their cases. They were on an
equality with the company except
in the few particulars that the cor
poration tempered with their wit
nesses, bribed court clerks, bailiffs
and other officials and policemen,
contributed to the campaign funds
of judges and paid many thousands
of dollars to party bosses and
kept in touch" with subpoena
servers.
This startling condition Of affairs
has become known through dis
closures made to Richard l.. Hand
a commissioner appointed by Gov.
Hughes to conduct an investigation
here.
Detailed evidence of the action
of the company in smoothing the
way toward favorable verdicts was
secured in curious manner. In
spectors of the company were or
dered to burn a large number of
vouchers in a furnace. With an
eye to their future use they kept
enough of the vouchers to fill a
trunk, which was taken to a board
ing house by one of the inspectors.
The man moved, leaving an un-
paid bill and the trunk The land
lady recently turned the trunk and
papers over to the governors III
quisitors.
Following the clews afforded by
these papers it was shown that I'M.
der the Nets" system it was pos
sible that If you were run over by
a street car in New York you
might find your suit for damages
presided over by Judge who had
been nominated by political boss,
who had received $4,000 from the
Metropolitan, and one who had
been given $500 personally Tor
his campaign fund. In this same
court the clerk had just received a
loan" of $25, police witnesses s.
a day. nearly all the court attaches
got hats, cigars and lunch from the
Metropolitan, and one or more
members of the jury might be vet
eran friends Of the Metropolitan
placed on the jury at the request
of the corporation. All the giving
of money and presents indicated
above and hundreds of others were
proved by the vouchers.
While E. Julian, former investi
gator for the railroad. was on the
witness stand, District Attorney
jerome asked:
"As a matter of fact, were there
so far as you know, any corrupt dis
bursements by the Metropolitan? 2
only about sl,000,000 WORTH
during my time with the company,
was Julian's reply.
Among the vouchers were bills
from a hat manufactures ranging
from 5000 to $500 for hedgear pre-
sented to employees of the city
county and federal courts. There
were bills from a cigar dealer rang
ing from 800 to over $500. These
too, mad gone to court officials who
would have more or less to do witt
damage suits and jurymen. 1t was
shown that representatives of the