Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-30
RESOLUTION TOPROBE
STATE "SLUSH" FUND
OFFERED in HOUSE
Representative Glenn, of
Venango, Moves for In
vestigation of Liquor
Contributions in Legisla-
tive Elections.
lrpnm A sr.rr connnsroNnENr. |

HARRISBURG, March 9O.-The liquor
s.psh" fund that was expended during
,he campaign last year toward electing
,he present Legislature and Senator Boes
pAnrosc would be divulged in detail If
,.so,ution introduced in the House last
nieht by Representative Glenn. of We
ooneo, is passed. Glenn is a Democrat
N the reorganizers' faction.
Joint commission of the House and
eenate is empowered to demand all doc
.,nentary evidence of the "slush" fund,
including checkbooks and minutes of the
direetoIs meetings of breweries and dis
,illeries and to hold public hearings under
tbe provisions of the resolution. The res
button follows:
THE RESOLUTION.
"whereas, It has been alleged in the
siblic press and public dicussion that
large sums of money were illegally coll
Iected and expended by the liquor inter-
,sts in the political campaign and the
election in Pennsylvania in 1914 and
"Whereas, BY reason OF this alleged
huge and illegal expenditure the combined
liquor interests now openly declare that
tbey control a sufficient number of votes
Of representatives of the people to defeat
any legislation imperiling the interests of
the liquor dealers; and
"whereas, 1t is common knowledge that
the Retail Liquor Dealers Association of
Pennsylvania, through its responsible Of
ficers, conducted a widespread and costly
publicity campaign to accomplish this
purpose; and
whereas, Governor Brumbaugh, in n
statement published in the press OF
March 10. is quoted as having said that
after dlligent search he has failed to
find in any election expense account filed
at Harrisburg any mention of money
contributed for election purposes by a
representative of the liquor interests, nor
any accounting of any money spent by
an individual or organization representing
liquor interests; and
whereas, Under the corrupt practices
act, now in force, any organization that
collects or disburses money for any po-
litical purpose must file full and COM
plete accounting thereof; and
Whereas, The open and fragrant viola
tion of the election laws by the liquor
interests, IL permitted to pass without
challenge, creates a vicious precedent and
: lmperils the peoples control of their own
government; therefore, be it
Resolved Qf the Senate concur) That
joint committee consisting of three
members of the Senate, one of whom
shall be of the minority party, and four
members of the House. one of whom
snail be of the minority party, be an
pointed by the respective presiding Of
fcers of each House to make a full in
yestigation of all the circumstances and
transactions connected with the alleged
violation of the election laws of this
commonwealth by the liquor interests,
including all moneys expended and the
manner of eXpending such moneys, and
such other matters pertaining to the
alleged violation of the election laws
as may to said joint committee seem
pertinent.
"The said joint committee is hereby di-
rected to organize forthwith after the
approval of this resolution by the Gov
( ernor, to hold public hearings as often as
may be necessary, to summon witnesses.
and for the purpose OF this inquiry to
Issue subpoenas. administer oaths and
compel the attendance of witnesses and
the production of all books, bills, checks.
check books, papers, minutes, records and
contracts and such other written or docu-
mentary evidence as may be pertinent to
the inquiry, and the said joint committee
shall have the largest and most complete
powers which the Attorney General can
confer for the accomplishment of these
purposes, And the said yoint committee
shall have the assistance in conducting
such investigation of auditors, account
ants and counsel learned in the law who
shall be appointed by the Governor. And
the said joint committee shall have the
power to employ stenographers, clerks
and messengers necessary for the proper
prosecution of this investigation.
The sergeant-at-arms of the Senate is
hereby directed to attend said joint COM
"a and serve all subpoenas issued by
generally enforce all of the orders
said joint committee is hereby
sli fized to make. and to incur all of
the necessary expenses to discharge these
duties and that the said joint committee
shall make reports to the two Houses of
the General Assembly at the present ses-
sion. and the members of the General AS
semoly do hereby pledge themselves to
make the necessary appropriations to de-
nay the expenses of such joint commit
lee and thia Inv