New-York tribune., 1908-12-25
% MORE WARRANTS
ARRESTS HALTED UNTIL
4FTER CHRISTMAS.
Pittsburg Foters' League. Hearing
Detcctires Hare Been approached,
VIII Supplant Entire Staff.
IRr Telegraph % The rribuns.

Pittsburg, Dec. 24.-From the Police Depart
merit this evening comes the announcement that
at least twenty-five more warrants have been
issued in the graft cases None of the warrants
will be served. however. until after Christmas.
In the mean time the persons suspected will be
kept under surveillance and will be arrested at
once should they attempt TO leave town.
Two Of the warrants issued late to-day are
for persons accused of trying 10 bribe detec-
tives employed by the Voters League. it is
asserted that large amounts Of money have been
offered for data which have been obtained So
alarmed is the Voters League over this that
It has been decided to discharge all the present
detectives and get new and unknown men TO
finish the work
It was announced by the Voters League and
by the police this afternoon that Counci man
Joseph wasson is the man who was caught by
the f1ashlight in the Fort Pitt Hotel in the al
legged act of receiving bribe money. Wasson, it
is alleged, offered resistance at that time. but
was overpowered and arrested by the other de-
tectives who had been seCreted in the room.
Pittsburg was amused dav when it learned
that Mayor Guthrie had lost his temper so
badly that he used bad word Told that Coun-
Gilman John Klein had testified in effect that
the Mayor had vetoed a certain ordinance
because the Mayors bank not favored,
Mayor Guthrie, who was never known TO swear
IN MS llIe De1OTe, Jumped TO MS IeeL ShOULlng-
oh. hell"
That at least one hundred and seventy-six
thousand dollars was paid Councimen for the
selection Of certain banks as repositories for
the city's funds has been almost positively
estab blished through evidence submitted and
statements furnished by the Voters League and
the Scranton detectives Whether ali Of the
banks selected as repositories contributed to
this fund has not been established. Officers of
only one bank have so far been arrested. and
they are charged with the payment Of only
s17.500. That other bankers are to be arrasted
is almost positively stated by those back Of the
inquiry.
Mayor Guthrie who refused to make contracts
with the banks as authorized by councils, on the
ground that they were Illegal said tonight that
the selection OF the repositories was void when
secured by bribery and fraud, and that councils
set them aside without the formaIity of
court proceedings The period for which the de-
postories were selected expires early in Feb
ruary.
The Voters League has been assured of all the
financial backing needed, il was stated by Vice
President H. B. " English tonight. The
league depends wholly upon voluntary con-
tributions. but Mr.. English said any sum up TO
100000 can be secured any time it is needed
without effort, profers having been made by
leading wealthy men of the city.
Already plans are foot 10 give the nine de-
PENDANTS a court trial as soon as possible. II
is believed that District Attorney Blakeley who
has taken charge of the cases. will present
them 10 the grand jury early next month BY
the latter part of February il IS expected the
court trials will be under way. II is probabls
there viii not be Councimanic investig ton
of the scandal According to a leading inde-
pendent member Of Councils, such an investfga-
tion would give substantial results and the
consensus of opinion is that Councils as body.
should do nothing in the matter but allow the
affair to take its course in the courts.
It is recognized the scandal viii have potent
effect on the coming city election next February.
Every faction of politics is stirred to the utmost
and food of denials are being made by pro
spective candidates that they were implicated
directly or indirectly in the corruption.