The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-03
States Attorney Burke Gath
els Facts Regarding the
Death Of Fish Bill
STATEMENT IS ISSUED
BY GOVERNOR DENEEN
Eovcrnor Appeals to Every Citizen of
the state Who Has Any Knowledge
of the Bribery Cases to Aid
i'm the Prosecution

Springfield, H., June 2.That grand
Jury questioning concerning the Fish bill
which failed to pass the Forty-sixth gen.
eral assembly will be productive of more
important results than have developed
since the legislative inquiry began is the
expectation of States Attorney Burke of
Eangamon county.
Information given the prosecutor today
he said has supplemented fragments
known by him before and has completed
q chain of evidence from men who paid
sums of money to defeat the bill to the
man who is charged with having held
out the sum given him instead of having
passed 1t along to the Jackpot
States Attorney Burke said he has the
name of a certain fish dealer who is de-
clared to have said in the presence of wit
nesses that he gave $500 to the fund to
Kill the bill, naming the man to whom he
paid it. That man is to be subpoenaed.
Other information in the hands of Mr..
Burke is that a certain man interested
sent a telegram to another interested
person who was then out of the state
that his share needed to insure the defeat
of the bill would be $780,
The bill provided for licensing fisher
men, the amount of license depending
upon the number and character of the
nets used. Mr.. Burke has been informed
that one man figured that under the
licensing bill he would be obliged to pay
$500 to continue his business, and accord
ing contributed $500 to avoid the payment
of the larger sum If the bill passed.
Failed to Pay Over Money
The states attorney said he had been
given the name of a legislator who was
given between $1,000 and s35o0 collected to
defeat the bill and who failed to turn
the money over to the jackpot fund,
which was its designated resting place.
The witnesses examined today by Mr..
Burke parts of whose testimonies fitted
into the chain of information of the
strayed fund were Fish Commissioner Nat
Cohen Fish Warden Elmer Caldwell and
Representative A. M. Foster, chairman of
the fish and game commission. In addi-
tion to the expected developments in the
fish bill investigation the programme to-
morrow includes the appearance of Rep
Jury. The net result of the visit of Mr.
Burke to Governor Deneen Nas an under
standing that the prosecutor would have
the hearty cooperation of the governor in
any matter where the chief executive
could be of service, it is stated, particu-
larly In giving Mr.. Burke access to the
office records or complaints concerning
legislation or legislative matters in the
last general assembly
Representative Beckmeyer is reported
to have declared today that he will send
his resignation from the legislature to
Governor Deneen before he leaves Spring
field.
Deneen's Statement
The following statement was issued by
Governor Deneen tonight:
States Attorney Burke called upon
Governor Deneen at 8 O'Clock this after
noon. Mr.. Burke discussed with the gov
ernor the charges of legislative corrup-
tlon which are being Investigated by the
6anganon grand Jury. After the inter
view Governor Deneen believes it is man
1fest that the legislative corruption ha S
not been confined to the members who
have so far confessed their connection
with It, The very existence of the So
called Jackpot fund preshpposes an or
ganization sufficiently strong numerically
to collect and distribute common cor
ruption fund to control it.
There are 1853 members in the house
and 81 In the senate and it is apparent
that a very extensive organization would
be necessary successfully to carry out
such a conspiracy against the public in
terests as has been shown to exist by the
confessions already made.
THE character of this organization and
of its leadership Is indicated by the fact
that those who confessed were not sure
as to the specific bills for which they re-
ceived bribes.
THE Investigation therefore must go
back of these men to the men who traf-
hcked in legislation and knew the partic-
ular measures for which the bribes were
furnished, and the sources from which
the bribe money was derived
THE taint of guilt should be traced
from the members who received the
bribes to the persons or corporations who
gave them. The whole nefarious plot
should be exposed and all connected with
II prosecuted and all who are innocent
relieved from the burden of unjust sus-
picion.
THE crime of bribery is one of the most
insiduous and dangerous of crimes
against the state. 1t makes a farce of
party contests and elections. Our general
assembly should not become a place
where political highwaymen exact tribute
from defenseless citizens, or market
place where laws are huckstered to high
est bidder
"Every citizen who has any knowl-
edge Of commission of crime in our
general assembly should furnish evil
dence to the authorities who are en-
gagged in this Investigation and aid In
the prosecution"
veniremen Are Summoned
Chicago. June 2.--One hundred sum
monses Were served by deputy sher-
ins here today on men who Will COM
pose the special jury panel ordered by
Judge McSurley for the alleged bribery
trial of Lee O'Neal Browne of Ottawa,
ILL.,, each man served with papers be-
ing ordered to appear at the criminal
court building at 10 o'clock Monday
morning when the trial Of Browne will
begin.
state Senator John Brodetick re-
turned to Chicago from Springfield to-