The national Republican., 1867-12-11
BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION.

II we were to judge the State Of New York By
what Is said in the papers, but more especially
by what has been introduced into the constitu-
tionh convention, We should conclude that
bribery and corruption ruled the hour In the
Empire State.
Mr.. orDrKR, in his report just made to the
convention, recommends article on bribery to
be inserted into the constitution. Certainly
bribery and corruption must have become with
the public men OF that State . settled and def.
mite policy, II II has come to this that q consti.
tutional prohibition is demanded to check It OF
to prevent its practice. 1t strickes US that law
Furnishing this crime OF bribery with heavy PEN
alties would be better than q constitutional pro-
vision to this end. A constitution Of State is
Its organic law, to be sure, but II Ia hardly the
Instrument into which provision or a series OF
provisions, like those introduced by Mr.. .OrDrKR,
should be Incorporated. The crime OF bribery
and corruption should be provided against by
special statute, and we think II is hardly beeom-
ing for great State to incorporate into Its con-
stitution provisions which look to Its punish
ment.
II the following facts, which we take from the
New York Evening Pon, be true, Il 10 evidently
high time that something was done to check and
cfeetuslly put an end to these eorrupting innu-
ences which prevail in the Legislature.
The Post says:
The committee on bribery, in the Constitu-
tionsl Convention, report among other matters
that the treasurer Of the New York Central
railroad company, Mr.. E. ID. Worcester, paid out
to the order OF the president OF the road, and
with the sanction OF the directors, to influence
legislation In ls6G-67, s2oS, 900 and In ls6s-'os,
10000, In all over quarter Of a million.
Here Is a particular charge, made not against
men Of straw but against well-known, responsi-
BILE citizens, and which they must pay attention
to. According to Mr.. Opdyke's report, Mr.. wor-
eester, treasurer, testified In substance that the
company paid out during the pending OF Its Ap-
plcation before the last Legislature for an in
crease Of fare, t2o5, 900; which, he inferred, was
used In various ways to influence the Legisla-
ture that he, as treasurer, advanced the money
without any specific authority, paying II mainly
to the president of the road or on his orders
that these advances have received the sanction
of the board of directors but he is not aware the
advances have yet been charged to any specific
account. He also testified that similar advances,
amounting to $4,000 or more, were made by that
company during the years 1885 and lseo.n Now
the president spoken Of by Mr.. Worcester 10 Mr..
Henry Keep; the board of directors which
"sanctionedm the "adyanees"-"eonvey the wise
i eall'i-are Henry Keep, lie Grand Lockwood,
AEariah Boody, David Crawford, Jr., II. Henry
Baxter, Danforth II: Barney, Joshua Hanna,
Ersstus Corning, John Butterheld, Edward b.
Jmdson, John II. Chedell, George J. whitney,
all prominent citizens.
We print their names here in the hone that
they will make public and particular explains
tion OF the facts thus brought out by the testi-
mony of their own trusted officers.