CHICAGO BRIBERY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 78, 14 March 1934, Page 9

CHICAGO BRIBERY

Junk Dealer’s Confession PROFITS WENT TO POLITICIANS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. CHICAGO, March 12. Newspapers here publish a sensational exposure to-day of the alleged bribery of local Democratic politicians by utility corporations to gain favourable legislation. The allegations are In the form of a “confession” by Moe Rosenberg, a wealthy deceased scrapmetal and junk dealer who, to avoid prosecution for income tax evasion, informed Federal agents that most of the large profits from the sale of junk went to a group of politicians, Including the late Mayor. Mr Anton Cermak. numerottr aldermen and other officials. Cermak he listed as receiving 95,000 dollars, presumably for ‘.‘campaign expenses.” In all, about 500,000 dollars was distributed. The way the system was worked, according to Rosenberg’s statement, was that utility companies, notably the Insull group, sold him scrap metal at a ridiculously low figure which he sold for enormous profits, most of which was turner! over to politicians in cash without receipts. A few of the politicians named denied the charges. Others admitted gifts hut insisted that they were legitimate i ampaigi? contributions,