Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-22
Nineteen Pittsburg Council
men Have Confessed Graft.
FIVE WERE NOT INDICTED
Immunity Baths, Ended at Noon,
Extended Another Day.
COUNCIL ALMOST WIPED OUT
designations Of Wrongdoers May
Leave It Without q Quorum.
Thirteen Have Told All.

PTTTSBURG, March 22-Nine former
members Of the city councils OF Pittsburx
came In out Of the rain today, to use
the expression of the district attorney,
and before noon confessed to the accept
ance Of bribes paid them for their votes
in street vacation and bank ordinances.
All were granted postponed sentences
by Judge Fraser. He then adjourned
his committing court until tomorrow.
With the adjournment Of the confess
sional court. the announcement was made
that the immunity promised those who
would confess their wrongdoing would
be extended another twenty-four hours.
The remarkable feature OF today's pro
ceedings was the appearance OF men who
pleaded no defense for charges of which
they had not been accused. Five men
given suspended sentences during the
morning had not even been indicted, but
appeared voluntarily and stated their own
cases to the assistant district attorney
and Judge Frazer.
No stories of large sums Of money were
related today. The men appearing con-
fessed to the acceptance of some $3.50 to
$3.50 for their votes.
More Indictments Today.
Nineteen men SO far have voluntarily
told of their connection with the scandal.
<hn dt0nngan
before the commitment court they were
taken before the grand jury.
Indictments are expected to issue In
additional cases late today. 1t Is heralded
by rumor that today's presentments will
involve the men higher up who. as
yet, have not been mentioned in graft
cases.
It is rumored that Joseph c. WATSON.
now In the western penitontiary serving
his term for connection with the council
manic irregularities Of 1903. may be
brought here to add his chapter to the
confession Of Capt" Klein, which has
caused the present upset in municipal
circles WATSON was a former member
Of the memorable big six" alleged to
have been In control of the city council.
Klein May Tell more.
That the graft investigation il but
started well on its way Is the prediction
Of these who profess to know. Repeated
rumors today have 1t that 1.-The men
higher up are to be given the full ad-
vantage OF the district attorneys plea
to come in out Of the rain before an
other twenty-four hours have rolled
around. Hsts. r4.
It il generally believed that little
Capt" Johnny Klein's confession has
telling will still further rip apart city
politics and politicians. :;
An embarrassing situation has devel-
oped in the city's councilmantc bodies
through the enforced resiEnations OF
number Of members. because . OF Their .ss
the bribery conspiracy. and others that
are expected to be demanded by reason
Of the indictments found against forty
present and former councilmen by the
grand Jury last night.
The councils meet next Monday night.
It il expected by that time that there
will not be enough virtuous councilmen
left to form a quorum.
Budget Out Of the Way.
It is considered fortunate in oficial cir
cles that the budget was passed before
the storm broke. There must have been
dimcuity in getting special meetings to
pass the bills which Had to become laws
before taxes could be collected.
Already 1t Ii figured out how these va
cancies will be filed. 1t Is expected the
mayor will be compelled to call special
elections In the wards whose delegations
have been decimated.
There Is a primary election in June It
is within his province to order the cleo
ton OF councilmen at that time. where
upon they could be seated Immediately
election must be held thirty days after
the mayor makes proclamation that an
election is to be held.
The penalty to which the guilty coun-
cilmen are liable under the law is a fine
not exceeding $4,000, imprisonment not
exceeding five years and to be forever de-
barred from holding any place of profit or
trust in the commonwealth
Klein Hides From Guard.
Capt Klein. who started the munic-
ipal uproar by his confession of Saturday,
is being cared for by the district attor-
ney. Guarded by. two detectives. the
former towboat captain is living at
downtown hotel. his meals are being
served in his rooms and his every want
administered to.
Late last night. 1t is reported, when he
was left alone a moment in his room he
crawled under his bed. Upon the return
of his guardian sleuths CONSERVATION
reigned. Immediate search was begun.
One detective slid and scrambled down
a fire escape. Another secured halls and
clothes lockers in the hotel. Finally Klein
was discovered by his ever-present laugh
and betrayed his hiding place.
Early today the little riverman was
brought to the district attorneys Office.
There he was in consultation with Assist
ant District Attorney Seymour.
Ten Confessions Yesterday.
Following his confession Of extraor-
binary corruption among prominent citi-
zens and councilmen, ten present of
former members Of council skunk terror
stricken and quaking into court yester-
day and added their confessions TO that
of Klein. TIE grand jury brought in at
10 o'clock last night indictments against
forty-one councilmen. past or present.
Despite the rumcr current for several
days that Klein would save himself from
prison. to which he had been sentenced
for three and one-half years. by giving
the names Of the bribers and the bribed.
the city Is astonished by yesterdays rev.