New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-23
Three Members of Quebec
Legislature Mentioned
in Graft Scandal.
MONTREAL NEWSPAPER
MAKES ACCUSATIONS
President and Editor OF The
Daily Mali to Appear at Bar
of House on Summons.
rRy Telegraph 20 III. rrieun. !

B
| Montreal, Jan. 1.-THE whole Province
Of Quebec is profoundly stirred over thu
charges made by THE Montreal Daily
Mail" that Louis Philippe Berard, law
partner OF Sir Loner Gouin. Premier Of
the province. and Achills Bergey1n, both
members Of the Legislative Council With
J. o. Mousseau. member OF the Legis-
lative Assembly and chairman OF the Pri-
vate Bills Committee, have accepted
brides from private corporation 10 pro-
mote legislation in measure which
passed the Legislature on Friday last.
The promoters posed as contractors
Really they were Burns detectives, and
] the accusation is that the price set for the
passage Of the bill was $500 OF this
amount the promoters allege they paid
members Of the Legislature $3.50. the bal
ance becoming due on the day the bolt
fell from the blue In the shape OF the
revelations published in The Daily Mail.
which reports full details Of the trap into
which the legislators named are alleged TO
have fallen
Mr. Mousseau paid visit in November
to George g. Sampson. general manager
OF Martin & Co.. at the latter's office. NO.
50 Duluth Building, Montreal. There ne
met A. J. IAabelle and discussed the Mont
real fair bill. while in an adjoining room
a Burns operator and newspaper man
listened 10 the entire conversation over
the detecta phone. and faithful steno-
graphic record OF the same was made for
future use.
"The Daily Mali tells also how MI
Mousseau took the first bride to put
through the Montreal fair bill AS ne
tucked the first new $500 bill into his in
side pocket he said: This is very decent
very decent" He told Mr.. Sampson that
the bill would go through sure. Leave II
to me" he said 10 Sampson. Sampson
did.
The revelations came on the eve OF the
Propagation Of the Legislature. but this
event has been indefinitely postponed.
This evening the Assembly took up the
accusations and at Mr. Mousseau's de-
mand II was proposed by Sir Lomer
Gouin. Prime Minister, that an inquiry
be held.
The leaders Of the party politically OPP
posed 10 the government. however on
jected TO this procedure. They COM
planned that tn. honor of the whole House
had been attacked. and at their insist
| ence a motion was carried that NJ r.
| Nichols. president and manager of The
| Daily Mail" and p. A. MacNao' VICE
president and editor, be summoned to the
bar OF the House on Tuesday next 20
explain the articles which they have pub
lished in The Daily Mail.
The majority OF the newspapers or
Montreal especially the French papers
! (all three legislators accused are French
| Canadians. are taking up the agitation
and demanding full investigation into
| allegations OF graft. long standing ru-
mors being that noodle is rampant In the
LEGISLATURE. II was the rumors that led
70 the newspapers INVESTIGATION. and the
result. IL Il claimed. will reveal A state
/ OF affairs second 10 none which have pre-
viou.ly been uncovered by the Burns
Agency in several parts Of the United
/ States.
William J. Burns. head OF the Burns
Detective Agency. confirmed yesterday
| the Montreal report that his men nad
/ been collecting evidence" OF sraft among
! Canadian legislators. He said that the
! situation in the Legislature at Quebec
promised some sensational developments
transcending the bribery charges against
! certain legislators which had already
been made public as result OF the IN
vestigation Mr.. Burns declined TO dis
cu.s the Canadian case further. on the
ground that II might embarrass his oper-
atfves in the work they still had 10 do