Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-18
Legislative Corruption in New York.


Tho report Of the committee on legisla-
tive corruption, appointed ~ the constitu-
tional convention Of the state Of New York,
states. among other things, that
- Edward r. Phelps swore that $500. 900
worth of stock of the Central Park railway
company was distributed among members Of
the legislature 70 secure their votes and in
fuencc- William Richardson. President of
the Dry Dock Co, testified that his company
expended so. zoe, in 1866. in securing the
votes of the members Mr. Edward c. Wor-
"Cster. Treasurer If the New York Central
railroad company. testified that he paid
.S2a5 900 during the last session Of the Iegis-
lature. and he supposed ii was t. influence
vntes- He also testified that 500 600 were
expended during the session Of 1865 and
lso6- Among other parties subpnned was
Thurlow Wool. hut re flileI t. appear"
The New York legislature has had bad
reputation for several years. 1t being noro-
riously influenced in IT, legislation by pecu-
mary consideration, and this corruption
has not been confined to the members of
either party. but the plumber has evidently
been shared BY men of all kinds Of political
opinions. But the disclosures of the com
vention Of that state TO inquire in this pur-
chase and sale Of votes have brought the facts
rather more clearly before the public than
they have hitherto been, and have called
the attention 90 those who have any desire
for a better and more honest kind of legisla-
ton tn the subject Of devising some remedy
FIR 80 monstrous an evil. We certainly hope
=
put stop u this corruption which Is evil
IDENTIFY growing in New York and we fear
elsewhere: although We apprchend constitu-
rional provisions against bribery Will not
the disease The most efectual pro-
vision against bribery Is in the hands of the
people who elect legislators and if they
choose men who Will take a bride, there will
he found some one who to influence legislation
which affects pecuniary interests. will he
ready to fill the palm held out for the price
It vote Corporations, and especially rail
road corporations, are not famous for their
rigid and auStere virtue in their dealings
with individuals or legislators and railroad
corporations now. in almost every state,
make regular business of using their money
and patronage to control the legislation of
their states on all questions affecting their
interests There has been enough Of rail
road combination in Vermont, even to awaken
some solicitudc for the purity of our lcgisla-
ZION and while no legislative committee has
here unearthed such corruption rs the above
extract discloses in New York, such COM
ulittee might, if set about the investigation.
learn something new about the springs of
legislative action even in this State
The people of no state can be too jealous
of the interference Of large monied corpora
tions in the business of legislation. Of
course these corporations entitled to the
same protection Of their rights that individ-
nails have but they have the handling of SO
much more money. are in a condition. with +
out much expense TO themselves, to confer /
many favors, and pay so much larger .
compensation usually for professional servi-
ces, or for lobbying, than individuals can,
that they are vastly more potential when APP
pesling to the legislature, than individuals I
can be and if, as is sometimes the case, this
great power, extensive patronage. and liberal
'1IViuINulc VI uAc uoSNF &c 1ppCdic
70 have been done in New York-to i'm
properly influence the body which ought,
without fear OF favor. and certainly without
hone of reward. and much more without
rewards in hand, TO 1egislate for the best in
terests OF the whole State, the offense be-
comes one of such magnitude, that their
crime against the commonwealth should be
provided against by the election of honest,
unpurchaseable men as legislators. If the
fountain of justice becomes corrupted, and
Judges on the bench-the expounders of the
law-sell their opinions for money, they are
liable to be impeached as having committed
the highest ofense they are officially capable
Of ; yet the result of such purchased deci- {
ZION may and probably will effect injuriously
,ut one man in the State. How much {