Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-29
W|TT|G WILL QUIZ
SCHMIDT ON BR|BE
Councils Probers to Send Ser
geant-at-Arms to See
Chicagoan
TESTIMONY IN CONFLICT

In the hope of obtaining a state
nent from A. r. Schmidt regarding
the. sos, 900 councilmanic bribe scandal
Harry wittig, sergeant at arms of
Council, will go TO Chicago next week.
Decision to send wittig to Chicago
was made yesterday by Councils spe-
cial committee after hearing testimony
Of John W. Braun, special agent of
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.,
and others.
Mr.. Braun corroborated the tcs.
tirnony given by Thomas r. Mittcn.
president Of the company. Mr.:
Schmidt told me that Limeburner had
visited him in his room. testlhed Mr,
!, Braun. "and told him not to worry
about the boulevard ordinance, because
he would take care Of It. In addition
he also fold schmidt that the fellow who
had visited him the day before and
asked for the bribe was all right. Mr..
Schmidt told me that he thought Lime
burner was crude and a damn fool.
Braun Reticent
Az first Mr.. Braun seemed rather re,
Iuctant to testify. but he soon opened
M and told the committee all he knew
OF the affair.
"Mr: Schmidt came to see me, me many any
times" said Mr.. Braun. lie hrst
told me Of having been asked for the
bribe when I met him on the east plaza
Of City Hall
"Did Mr.. Schmidt mention any coun-
cilmen?" he was asked u.
"Ouite a few. He told me that Mr;
Iimeburner had called on him and tod
him that he would take care OF the
boulevard ordinance and that the teiiow
who had called on him was all rlgnt'
Mr.. Braun then explained now MT.
Schmidt had been brought back here to
accompany the councilmen on the trans.
nortation committee on an Inspection or
the proposed boulevard line.
The ordinance for the boulevard troll
lev line was first referred to subcom-
mittee of three.
"Tbe chairman Of the transportation
committee, Mr.. Montgomery the cnalr
man of the subcommittee, Mr. Cans
and Mr.. Limeburner spoke TO me Oh the
necessity of having Schmidt here to go
along with the councilmen when they
went on their inspection trip. Ihey
asked me to send him a telegram TO
come on. I sent it to Chicago and II
finally reached him in Baltimore. Cans,
I,imeburner and Montgomery asked me
several times if I had heard from nm
before he finally came here and aC,
companied the councilmen on the Trip
"Rodenblum' or "Rodenbach"
Mr.. Braun then detailed the name OF
the mystery briber as either 'Roden
hum or Rodenbach He then told Of
Mr.. Limeburner' interest in meeting
Mr.. Schmidt. -,
''Mr. Limcburner told me sevGra
times that he wanted to meet Mr.
Schmidt. He asked me what sort of q
fellow he was to talk to. and finally
he told me TO tell Mr.. Schmidt about
himself and said he intended meeting
Mr.. Schmidt. Tell him I'm boss arount
here"
Mr.. Braun said Mr.. Limeburncr hat
spoken to him on many occasions. ant
when asked what his purpose was
explained he wanted TO obtain posi-
tion for his son from Mr.. Schmidt.
Mr.. Braun said he had spent siXtecr
years around City Hall. and the boule
ward ordinance was the first he had seer
referred to n subcommittee by a body
empowered to dispose Of II.
Horn Contradlcted
The next witness was F. l.. Putney
manager of the Philadelphia Fclt Co
who contradictcd in part testimony
given by William Il. Horn. council
man from Frankford The latter testi
fed he learned that Mr. Limcburnpl
had mentioned the sum of $500 10 Put
ney in connection with the laying o
pipe for PutnPy's firm.
Mr.. Putnpy appeared very rcuctan
to testify, repeatedly asked the com
mittee to question him and said h.
would make no statement other than t
answer questions.
He denied Mr.. Limcburner had cvcI
made any improper advances to him il
connection with the pipe line and saiC
the only financial deal IN which he hat
been involved with Mr. LimPburnrr wa
in connection with advertising he haC
taken in the publication. Patriot,
Philadelphia, put out by the council
man.
He said he had taken SO advrr
tisement in the paper, but this year
when Mr.. LimeburnPr left him n sliI
for $50, he refused TO pay th" bill Mr.
Putney appeared with n copy Of III
testimony Of the previous meeting an,
told the committee. instead of Cnminj
10 the meeting. ho had sent an employ
to make report on the proceedings
He said Mr.. Horn s testimony had beer
lacking in many respects, and he coul
not support 1t.
Mr.. Horn. who was sitting in III
councilmauic chamber, was recalled an
asked if he wished to withdraw o
change his testimony. TIC replied th
testimony was accurate. and hN hcIicvo
n tn hc correct in cvCrv detail inCludin
the mention Of the 5000.
f. A. Van VaIkcphUrG was asked I
submit any information he had, Mr.
Van NaIkcnhurE is the publisher Of q
North American.