Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-30
PROBE OF LIQUOR
ACTIVITY URGED
MIR. Glenn, of Venango, Puts in a
Resolution Like That MIR. Nc
Kay Did Not Present
COMMITTEE IS GIVEN JOB
Wide Powers Conferred Upon the
Body Which Is to Go Into
Campaign Expenses
COMMITTEE is GIVEN JOB

A sweeping investigation of activi-
ties of liquor interests in the last leg
| islative election is demanded in reso-
luton introduced into the House last
night by Mir. Glenn. Venango. The
resolution is similar to that given out
week ago as to be introduced by Mr..
! Mckay, Crawford, who failed to put it
| before the House.
The Glenn resolution is as follows:
| Whereas, it has been alleged in the
public press and public discussion that
large sums of money were illegally
collected and expended by the liquor
interests in the political campaign and
the election in Pennsylvania in 1914
and
| Whereas, BY reason of this alleged
huge and illegal expenditure the COM
bined liquor interests now openly de-
clare that they control q 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 Asso-
citation of Pennsylvania, through its
responsible officers conducted a wide
spread and costly publicity campaign
| to the accomplish this purpose, and
Whereas, Governor Brumbaugh in
statement published in the press of
March 10, is quoted as having said:
| That after uiligent search he has fail
| ed to find i'll amy election expense ac-
count filed at Harrisburg any men
tion 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 inter-
ests, and
Whereas, Under the Corrupt Prac-
tices act now in force any organiza-
ton that collects or disburses money
for any political purpose must file a
full and complete accounting thereof,
and
Whereas. the open and fragrant
violation of the election laws by the
liquor interests, if permitted to pass
without challenge, creates q vicious
precedent and imperils the peoples
control of their own government.
Therefore, be it
Resolved Gf the Senate concur) That
a joint committee consisting of three
members of the Senate, none of whom
shall be of the minority party, and
four members of the House. one of
whom shall be of the minority party,
he appointed by the respective presid-
ing officers of each House, to- make a
full investigation of all the circum-
stances and transactions connected
with the alleged violation of the cleo
ton 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 peril
nent. The said joint committee is
hereby directed to organize forthwith
after the approval of this resolution
by the Governor, to hold public hear
ings as often as may be necessary, to
on tNf1A., Ntsff F.,,.
pose of this inquiry to issue subpenas,
administer oaths and compel the at
tendance OF witnesses and the pro-
duction of all books, bills, checks.
check books. papers, minutes, records
and contracts and such other written
or documentary evidence as may be
lpertinent to the inquiry and the said
joint committee shall have the largest
land most complete powers which the
| Attorney General can confer for the
accomplishment of these purposes.
And the said joint committee shall
have the assistance in conducting such
investigation of auditors, accountants
and counsel learned in the law who
shall be appointed by the Governor.
And the said joint committee shall
| have the power to employ stenog-
Iraphers, clerks and messengers neces-
sary for the proper prosecution of this
] Investigation. The sergeant-at-arms
| OF the senate is hereby directed to at
Itend said joint committee and serve
all subpenas issued by it, and general
| ly enforce all of the rules which said
! joint committee is hereby authorized
to make, and to incur all of the neces-
sary 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
session, and the members of the Gen
eral Assembly do hereby pledge them
selves to make the necessary appro-
! priations to defray the expenses of
such joint committee, and this investi-
cation.