Previously, criminal or civil charges were rarely brought against bribe givers.

The prosecutors said many of the bribe givers were victimized by the inspectors and that their cooperation would be sought.

Bribery is a difficult charge to prove unless the bribe giver or bribe taker confesses, but Devray is convinced of the charges.

He emphasized that he and other city officials would in the future urge Federal and local officials to prosecute "the bribe givers as well as the takers."

This will cause a divergence in the interests of the bribe giver and taker and will be willing to cooperate to help the bribe taker get caught.

We come to the end of the century, the century of Teapot Dome and Watergate and S & L's, as a nation of bribe givers and takers, thoroughly corrupted by our ever-advancing skill at converting money into votes and political power.