The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-20

Matthew A. Daly was a member of the State Senate in the 1885 ses- sion of the General Assembly rep resenting the eighth district. The stock book of the Electric Steam Sterilizing Company shows, that the certificate for two hundred shares was issued in his name, still stands in his name and has never been transferred. In view of this record, the Grand Jury has reason to be- lieve that the Senator in fact re- ceived these shares of stock from Daniel J. Leary and that they were intended as a gratuity for the Sena- tors efforts in promoting the pas sage of this bill.
 Williamson's Services
 During the 1935 session of the General Assembly, Leary in further ance of his efforts to obtain favor able action and the passage of the so-called Steam Sterilizer bill solic- tied the services of Charles E. Will Hanson, attorney, of Darien, to lobby in behalf of the bill. Shortly after the close of the session, Leary delivered to Williamson two thou sand shares of the stock of the Elec- trim Steam Sterilizing Company for which Williamson paid nothing. During September, 1885. Williamson sold the two thousand shares of stock through a Hartford broker for approximately $4,000. Out of this sum of $4,000, Williamson paid $2000 to Harry E. Mackenzie, of Bethel, for his efforts in securing the pas sage of this bill.
 The gift of these shares of stock, with the apparent intention of thereby rewarding the recipients for their efforts in securing passage of legislation in the General Assembly indicates the extension of the cor rupting influence of Lieutenant Governor Hayes and Comptroller Leary from the City of Waterbury into the halls of the State Capitol in Hartford.
 Fair Trade Bill
 The disclosures in connection with the corrupt activities of Lieutenant Governor Hayes and Comptroller Leary in connection with the so- called Steam Sterilizer bill naturally led the Grand Jury into a broader and more general inquiry respecting the activities of paid lobbyists in the General Assembly. In the 1887 Ses- sion, among the bills in which Comptroller Leary had personally, more than ordinary interest, was the so-called Fair Trade Bill. He gave active support to this bill. presum- ably because of his private business interests such as the Waterbury Brewing Company, the Diamond Ginger Ale Company, and his pur- ported chain store interests. From the evidence presented to this Grand Jury, it is reasonable to believe that the large sums of money paid to Charles F. Williamson and Harry E. Mackenzie by the City of Waterbury in 1897 were in part. at least, de- signed by Comptroller Leary to se- cure the influence and support of these political leaders in effecting the passage of this bill.
 This Fair Trade Bill had also as particular sponsor the Retail Drug gists' Association. This association, through solicitations from its mem bers, collected 8 fund of approxi- mately $l3,000, practically all of which was spent in the 1887 session in securing the passage of the Fair Trade Act. Of this sum, approxi- mately $6,000 was paid to Charles E. Williamson who divided 1t equally with Harry E. Mackenzie. The bal ance of the fund was paid to various other lobbyists and attorneys in smaller amounts for the purpose of their influence and irsur- ing passage of the bill.
 Lobbyists On Increase
 As the investigation into the gen. eral lobbying situation developed, 1t became apparent that with each convocation of the General Assem- bly,, in recent years, there has been 8 simultaneous convocation of lob byists, increasing in number and power as the years have passed, and demanding and receiving exorbitant