New-York tribune., 1908-12-22
BRIBERY CHARGES
STIR PITTSBURG
CTTTC LEAGUE BACK OF
ALLEGATIONS.
Se~rn Counci7mep and President and
Cashier Of German Bank Ar
rested -HeaUY Bail Fired.
-Rv 7-lerraph - me Trlbuns- J

-.-.s.~,-r Dec. o1-Pittsburg was stirred to
-.-- r,- the arrest Of seven members Of the
e-s--e committee of Common and Select Coun-
s- end the president and cashier of a local
,-,~l m charges OF bribery and the alleged cor
-----s-- Of members Of Council in the passage
- ,-s-s-,ls kinds Of legislation during the last
-, Years The men were released on bonds
-s-es-r from $4,000 70 10000
---a Courc171en arrested are Joseph G. Was
- -- " Il AEeIaney. Jacob SofeL jr-, Captain
7,-- ?. Klein. T. O. Atkinson, William Brand
,-= rz.rh Ferguson. Brand IS president OF the
cannon Council
--= bankers arrested are u. " Ramsey pres
f-e~- and A. a vilsack, cashier. Of the German
----s--s- Bank o[ Plt-st1lrg L is alleged that
~ ---e Q 1905 they gave Sl7.5o0 10 the council
-~s- 70 induce them 70 continue the German
,-z-f--z- as 5er0sita-y Of city funds. Il Is said
--s- --re- banks VIII he attacked. Bail was fixed
g. s-= r70 in each case
--a 5-so--auons We're made by Tensard De
---,~z secretary of the civic League Of Ale
-.z-r county BE was until recently q news
PAPER reporter
TIE defendants VIII appear for hearings next
-z-z--eszzv morning At u o'clock before Nagts-
--z-e r T. Brady. At Central police station
The charges against wasson. Klein and Brand
----zs- TWO counts q the same charge Each
C-----t--a1 vas held under $4,000 bail on each
charge. s7 that these three had each 10 put UP
So --- bail
The attorneys Who ara back q the charges
e-z Patterson. Acheson & Ste-rirt; wills r
7-----z. HIuian B. Rodgers. Mayor George
q Guthrie and 4 Leo We'll They represent
--= civic League and VIII prosecute the cases.
MS alleged in the charges that the Council
--e- a-v5ckedly- co--upJly and unlawfully give
z-- offer 70 give money and other rewards and
--fA-z s- order - obtain and influence the vote
20 number q mem bers Of the Select and Com
mon councils of Pirrshurg 10 secure passage
nv che members Of the Select and Common
--,--rs If certain ordinances and resolutions
-s-Ss-E before councils. commonly called orol-
-s--=s and resolutions designating the dePos-
torres fer -he funds II the city Of Ptttsburg,
--f--= ordinances. bond ordinances for freeing
t-fzrzs ordinances for filter beds. Heberton
s--e-- railway ordinance. resolutions TO Ieve
=---1--- avenue with wood block and other ordi-
----=z and resolutions pending before coun-
els
The formation states that the Councilmen
have been accepting brides and attempting 10
H-zle ether Councflmen for the last two years
---z-- member against whom charges have
t.=- preferred has announced his candidacy
r-- reelection and the names viii 60 before
--r r-sr7a-ses fl February Captain Klein
when asked about the charges against him
said
II can only say that these are pretty hard
things n say against man Just before cleo
ton They are untrue, and we viii fight
cut
Following q series of yelled charges and in
--er50 IN reference 70 Councilmanic acts, the
Civic League several months ago employed de
rec-fres and the arrests are based upon the re
-~-rs made bv the detectives. Il Is said that
ne attorneys in the case have volunteered their
services ri-hpGr pay
with the exception OF the san Francisco
graft cases. said member Of the league to-
night There has never been in this country
such a sweeping and such an important pro
css5irz against municipal officers as is involved
n this case"
A L,eo We'll. president . the league. said to-
night eInfornations were also made against
ether parties whose names at this time l DO
rc- feel a. liberty TO give They were not
members of councils. but are charged with Civ
s-r f4--res and warrants have been issued for
--as- arrest