The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-03
Deeper Probing Into Legisla-
tive Scandal of Illinois
Makes 1t Worse.
PROSECUTOR ALLEGES
NEW, IMPORTANT EVIDENCE
Charges That Money Paid to
Defeat Fish Bill Failed to
Reach Jackpot

foI hlNDt lEED. LII. JUNO -1HdI
grand jury questioning concerning the
fish bill which failed to pass the forty
eighth general assembly will be pro
ductivc of more important results than
have developed since the legislative
inquiry began, is the expectation of
State S Attorney Burke Of Sangamou
county
information given the prosecutor to-
day, he said has completed n chain of
evidence from men who paid sums of
money to defeat the bill, to the man
who collected the amounts, and up
TO a legislator who is charged with
having Hheld out' the sum given him,
instead of having passed 1t along to the
jackpot"
States Attorney Burke said he has
the name of u fish dealer who IS al
legged to have said in the presence OF
witnesses 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 man inter
ested sent telegram to another inter
ested person, then out of the state, that
his share needed to insure the defeat of
the bill would be $500.
Provisions Of Bill.
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 IN
formed that one man figured that un
der the licensing bill he would be
obliged to pay 5000 to continue IN bust
ness, and, accordingly. contributed $500
TO avoid the payment of the larger sum.
The states attorney said that he
had been given the name of legislator
who was given between $4,000 and
$500 collected to defeat the bill, and
who failed to turn the money over to
the Jackpot which was Its designed
resting place
Mr.. Burke were Fish Commissioner
Cohen. Fish Warden Caldwell and Rep.
resentative 4. NJ. Foster, chairman of
the fish and game committee Twelve
or fifteen witnesses arc TO be sun,
poeuaed in connection with the hSh bill
inquiry Most of the additional facts
that came TO the state IS attorney today
were furnished by Fish Commissioners
Cohen and Fish Warden Caldwell:
Additional testimony that ttted into
parts of the fish inquiry came from
Representative Beckmeyer. If the hsn
witnesses reach Springfield tomorrow,
thev will be taken before the grand
Jury and more indictments may follow,
Will Go After Jackpot
The lnVeSugatlon OF tne nsh scduudL
is in line with the announced intention
of Mr.. Burke to go after the lack
pot' and of legislative accusations, and
ignore for the present the senatorial
bribery phase, which is holding the
attention Of the Cook county prosecutor
at Chicago.
senate bill No. 1l3. substituted for
similar house bill. The senate bill was
repeatedly before the committee, of
which Representative Foster was CHAIR
man. and finally was reported out TO the
house with a favorable recommends
tion. and passed to third reading, be
inc tabled in the final furry OF the
close Of the legislature without being
voted upon directly.
In addition to the expected develop
ments in the fish bill lnvestlgauon, thc
programme tomorrow includes the APP
pearanee OF Representative Beckmeyer
before the grand jury
Burke to Gov. Deneen was an under
standing that the prosecutor would nave
the hearty cooperation OF the governor
in any matter where the chler, eXecn'
tive could be Of service. particularly In
giving Mr.. Burke access 10 the once
records of complaints concerning legls-
lafion in the last general assembly.
Gov. Deneen will not be snbpoenacd De
fore the grand Jury.
Governors Statement.
The following statement was issued
bv Governor Deneen tonight;
estates Attorney Burke called upon
Governor Deneen at 3 clock this art
crnoon. Mr.. Burke discussed with the
governor the charges of legislative cor
ruption which are being investigated py
the Sangamon county grand Jnil' "
1.-The governor informed MN thaI
the various committees and depart
ments connected with the executive
branch of the state government would
cheerfully furnish him any information
in their possession which could be OF
service to him III the investigation AZ
ter the interview Governor Deheen salu'
50 1T is manifest from the lnforna-
tiou which has been published that leg
islative corruption has not been con
fined To the members who have so iar
confessed their connection with " Inc
very existence of the so-caned jack
pot presupposes an organization SUI
fcicntly strong numerically to get con
troll OF the course Of legislation and 10
collect and distribute combination
corruption fund TO control 1T.
Must Go Deeper.
n There are 1913 members IN the
house and fifty-one in the senate, ana
It is apparent that very extensive or
raniZation would be necessary success
fully to carry out such conspiracy
against the public interests as mas
been shown To exist bv the confessions
lrcadv made The character of this
and of its leadership is
indicated by the fact thai those who
confessed were not sure ms 10 the spe-
.iGc bills for which they received
Dribes. The investigation, therefore, =
must 90 back of these men To the mon
who traffcked in legislation and know