New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
HOLD II In LEASH
30 PTTTSBURG IMMUNITY.
p. r. r. and Street Rail5cays Re
7,orted Behind Graft Prosecution.
TBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune. ]

r,,,tetr,-s Dec aS-Seventeen additional Council
men ~ PittsburE informed officially to-day
that their continued presence desired in Pitts
burg by the graft investigation. and that any at
tempt TO leave the city would result in their i'm
mediate arrest officials of fhe Voters League
oeny that these men wanted merely as wit
nesses. but do not attempt 10 explain why they
are not placed under arrest at once.
The Voters League has been approached by al
legged representatives Of some OF the seven CoUn-
cilTnen already under arrest with the proposition
that they turn states evidence the coming trial
provided that they receive immunity from prose
cution. This has been fatty refused by the Voters
League. Leo We'll president OF the league. in a
public statement this afternoon. said that the
league did need the testimony Of ''sQuea lers'
that II had refused grant immunity TO any one
and that il had enough evidence only send
al those under arrest 10 the penitentiar1, but also
Ia arrest and convict scores Of others who have
not vet been placed under arrest
Pittsburg evening papers published q story to-
night IT. effect that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company and the Pittsburg Street Railways Com
pany behind the graft exposures. Il Is said
that both the railroad and The streetcar company
have been Systematically bled and blackmaied fer
years and that as many improvements were
planned lE both concerns in the coming year it
was thought cheaper 70 pay the cost Of the prose
C5tion than pay further Matchmaking in getting
matters through Councils
4 reported tonight mat Councilman John
Klein. said u be one Of the graft leaders, had
5u-a1ei irco the river. committing suicide. The
promised 70 shoot the man who had first started
the suicide story
II was learned to-day that the fashlght picture
taken Of Councilman in the alleged of accept
inE brEbe from Robert Wilson. Of the Scranton
Municipal League. turned out to be no good. hut
that second picture taken showing the Coun-
Gilman making hasty retreat down corridor u
local hotel.
The first meeting Of Councils since the disclosures
were made is scheduled for Monday night. None
o. the seven accused Councilnlen has expressed
himself 10 whether CT not he intends 10 he
present in mis- official capacity, but Clarence Bur
leigh counsel for Joseph g. Wasson Jacob Soffe
and T O Atkinson. said tonight that he would ad-
wise his clients 10 continue their Councimanic du-
tes II this advice is acted upon, the passage Of the
appropriation bills viii be expedited. as Nj Was
son is chairman Of the Finance Committee Al the
meeting il IS expected Inat a new ordinance in
creasing the number OF national bank depositaries
from six 10 twelve and providing interest rate
of not less than 2l2 per cent. viii be introduced
At present there are only six depositaries which
pay per cent. Notwithstanding the fact that other
banks offered to pay 21z Per cent
in a statemnt issued to-day T D. Harmon =
member of the executive committee Of the Voters
League said:
'PitJsburg's Counc!lnanic corrupterg. the rea
root OF the bribery evil here. viii suffer equally
with those who fell before their temptations The
Voters League Is not IN this thing for auv polit!-
cal reason, there is not member of The execI.
uve BODY who would accept public office II il
were given him. We intend 10 clean up the CITY
and this is the first Other sensations WI
follow and the men who attempting TO frighteu
by their threats OF counter suits soon viii learn
whether or not in earnest
Many rUnors in circulation. and a few in
teresting developments occurred to-day Among
the TurnOrs TO the effect that a number
OF national banks undergoing a thorough ex-
animation IN connection with the report that GER
tain financial institutions had paid $4,000 for the
privilege Of handling the city's funds but the
government officials refused either confirm or
deny the story Il also asserted that the ac-
cused Councmen knew they being investi-
gated. and were simply playing a game Of politics
for the purpose Of seeing how far the detectives
would deal with them This. II is said. will be
their defence when the cases tried in court