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Show EVIDENCE INDICATING GRAFT IN CHICAGO CHICAGO. Peb. 3 City Engineer Ericsori today told tho Merriam committee, com-mittee, -which is investigating municipal munici-pal 'expenditures, that he had never boon encouraged by tho officials above him in his efforts to prevent tho wasting of city funds. Ho said that on one occasion, when he said $300,000 was too much o pay for a new pumping station, Mayor Busso said: "The sooner I got out of thc employment of the city thc better it would bo for me. ' ' Mr. Ericson said this occurred in Mnj', 1907, and shortly after the city purchased the plant, for $300,000. Mr. Ericson said his valuation of tho plant wns $194,000. but. later said that $230,-G00 $230,-G00 would be a fair price. Mnjyor Busse emphatically denied that, lie had over intimnicd 'that Mr, Ericson would bo better off out of tho city service. When Mr. Ericson was told of the mnyor's deninl he said: "Now, I suppose, I will bo kicked out. ' ' |