Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-03-25
BRIBERY CHARGES
SHAKE THE HOUSE
SCANDAL IN CONNECTION WITH
TELEPHONE MERGER BILL
GROWS RAPIDLY.
MONEY OFFER is DISCLOSED
Members Aroused and Demand Most
Searching nvestigation-other
State Capitol
News.

Columbus, O.-The entire history of
the Elson telephone merger bill and
the transactions attending its pass
age in the house of representatives
are to be probed to the bottom.
State house graft and the looting
of the public treasury by dishonest
state officials temporarily has been
pushed to the background by the sue
cession of alleged bribery develop.
ments in connection with the tele-
phone bill. Ohio apparently is to wit
ness legislative expose equal to that
in the New York assembly at Albany.
Excitement grew as different mem
bers began to talk. Information is
to be handed the investigating COM
mittee, the creation of which cannot
now be avoided, that the big tele-
phone lobby used every trick known
to the professional lobbyist to jam the
bill through the house. Personal, bus
mess and political pressure first was
exerted. Members are now prepared
to go before the committee and tell
just how this pressure was applied.
When these methods did not bring out
the required number Of votes men,
bers are now saying in authorized
statements that bribery was attempt
ed and that direct and specific offers
of money were made.
Representative Elson, it is under
stood, will be subpenaed and asked
to tell all about the drafting of the
bill, whether or not he was assisted
in drafting it and if so by whom. In
the light of the latest developments
members, including many who voted
for as well as those who voted against
the measure, say the bill in the exact
form in which it was introduced was
an insult to the house. They have taken
up the staement of Judge Bowersox
of Williams county, who informed FL
son that the author of the bill was
directly responsible to the assembly
for it's morality or immortality
Among the sensational develop
ments is statement that two repre-
sentatives threatened to resign from
the house following the refusal of
that body to reconsider it's action on
the telephone bill. These members, it
is stated, became convinced that brib-
cry had been attempted in connection
with the bill. They were enraged
over the successful work of the lobby
lists in heading off reconsideration. 1t
was one day recently that the lobby
lists invaded the smoking room of the
house, and by the use of the boldest
kind of tactics held the situation in
hand until after all chance for consid-
Grafton was gone.
Representative Bense with other
members, including Grinnell of Port
age and Phillips of Geauga agreed
that the investigation resolution must
be one with the broadest kind of pow
egs
"The resolution must not be drawn
SO that information can be concealed
through legal technicalities," says
Bense. Every member must be given
the widest latitude to tell all he
knows about this scandal. What this
house now demands Is information.
The exact legal facts later can be
established in the courtroons"
The disposition Of the house is to
disregard what is now characterized
as the worthless Bowersox resolution
calling on Gov. Harmon for informa-
ton. The governor, 1t is pointed out
called attention to the operations OF
the professional lobby as they were
we'll known to every person about the
statehouse From among its own
membership the house now has plenty
of material on which to begin an
investigation.
Representative H. w. Pears of AL
len county in an authorized state
ment said that he personally was
offered money to vote for the Elsor
bill. He declares his eagerness to &C
before the investigating committee
and tell all about the offer and to give
the name of the would-be briber.
Assembly men who hitherto have
been reluctant to start an investiga
ton suddenly have changed front
Older members of the assembly who
have been conspicuous for their in
tegrity said that instead of being as
tonished they were shocked. two
other members in addition to Pears
1t is said, have made direct state
ments that they were offered none!
to vote for the bill, one of them
very large amount The names o
these representatives have not beel
mentioned as yet 1t is understood
they are withholding any statemen
until the investigating committee act
ualIy is created and begins the takini
of testimony
Would Label All Bread.
ha