, 1866-07-20

LEGRLATIVE. CORRUPTIoN.

Ne
ThurloW Weed at the close of an interest.
ing review Of New York Legislatures for the
past fifty years, thus refers % the prevalence
of corruption in connection with law>makipn
at the present day: ,i:s "'y
This brings us down t9a generation still
extant have omitted many curious legis,
lative incidents that might wound descend,
ants of those to whom they relate. The
moral to be drawn from all this is, that leg.
islAtion and legislators have, within thirty
years, become sadly demoralized. There is
pot in these times that high sense of official
responsibilities and legislative integrity that
preEaded earlier legislation. Formerly the
suspicion Of corruption in a member would
have put him 4into Coventry" while kuowl!
edge Of such ai.o6ense would have insured
the expulsion Of the offender. Now "bribery
and corruption" prevailto, an extent greater
than existed in the worst days of the Parlia,
ment of England, where, happily for Eng.
Iand, the practice has been reformed, as Il
must be here, or corruption will undermine
the government. No measure, however meri.
torious, escapes the attention of strikers"
Venal members openly solicit appointment
on paying committees. In the better Vfavs
of legislation, when no unlawful notiVe.exs
listed, it was considered indelicate in q meme
Der to indicate to the Speaker any preference
about committees. The evil has been growN
ing,each year being worse than the preced!ngI
until reform is sternly demanded. Could the
Seotet history Of the present Legislature be-
exposed to the public gaze, popular indiguu
ton would be awakened to degree hereto>
tore unknown. In the Assembly everything
was struck at. Not even a religions charity
found exemption. The sources Of rapacious
Countries, Eana .;fbsL LYksSembly -Bauraad
and Villages. 1 say this upon reliable aus
thority, to correct the Tribune and the TTmes,
in both of which journals this Legislature is
commended for its integrity That there
were honest and honorable members il both
Houses, by whose integrity and frmnesS
much bad legislation was arrested, is true.
The Senate, fortunately, presents an infexiI
bic majority of upright members; while in
the House the ring +" was formidable enough
to put through Whatever paid or promised to
pay liberaIy, in ,defanse and derisiol Of the
efforts If an honest minority. Ii tie fScsof
notorious aud shameless corruption, it is un.
just to honest members 10 say, as the Tri6EAs
olQ on 1nutsuAyJ tnab II Tue - batuo men
could be returned next year, we should
have a magni6cent Legislature" That many
of, tie present members should be returned
admit, but thoIe should be Discrimination,
The black Sheep Should be rejected. DiN
tricts representation the purchaseable CONF
mittees, at least, should send better men.
Bot physician who describes q disease
should prescribe remedy. In this case it is
one cause 6f Legislative dishonesty. A
member who receives from this State for his
services less than is absolutely necessary TO
pay his expenses, is Wronged, and therefore
subjected to temptation. uiNhen SO perday
was fixed in the Convention as the limit,
good, board @a6obtai1ed for IS, Sc and 81
per week. Now it costs, to live respectfully,
$50, S25 and 80 per week This is both una
just and unwise. And what was regarded a
beneficial in respect to the single Assembly
Districts, has proved the reverse. 1t would
be better any way TO return to the General
Ticket system. With reasonable eompeuN
satien for legislative services. and the select
ton Of members from counties instead Of disa
tricts, we should have improved Houses ot
Assembly. Nor has the idea of brief termG
fof Senators worked well. The Senate would
be stronger and more independent and uss>
ful by enlarging the districts and extending
the term to four years. .... To