The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-20
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1869.
aoec,nI Legislation The Source of Cor
rup.iOn.

Albany by returning with an lndlBuan' an"
docisiva veto q priyate bill. Such an action
WAS An anomaly in the history OF State Ieg'9-
lation, for, with the exception OF laws VINO"
tsud to cede moneys due the State to private
oorrora,ions no bill of private nature is
avar vatoed, The action of the Governor oil
New York was not prompted by any detect OF
the bill ss to its merits, but was occaSloned by
a decision on his part to put stop TO all
suoh private legislation, except such as was
by law necessary. He says in his message
that the power to order many things which
are ordered by legislative enactment is lodged
in the courts of the Commonwealth aud
whenever that power is 80 lodged he shatl
veto all bills in which the Legislature attempts
its exercise. In his action in this matter he
has the warmest sympathy of all honest man,
Lat Ma look at the condition of affairs at Har-
burg by comparison with those at Albany,
and see how wise the action of Governor Holt
man has been.
It is conceded by all that at the capitals Of
all the larger States there is an atmosphere Of
pestilent corruption. There are of course
gentlemen in both branches Of all Legisla-
lures who are entirely honest aud
above reprosch, who would not sup
port q bad bill, and who cannot be ap-
preached by meroenary considerations. These
men are the bulwarks which protect us from
the utter prostitution of all the legislative
power of government. But in spite Of them
there are rascality, bribery AMI every species
OF corruption going on of which they know
nothing. Thus, what causes the rush of
oormorants to the capital, the presence of
lobbyists, and the use OF money On what
species of bill is money spent? 1t requires no
knowledge of the workings Of the Legislature
to be sure that all these corrupting influences
cluster around private bills. A general law
never causes any such corruption. People
feel an interest in its merits, but never feel
Sufficient interest to use money to defeat it
or facilitate its passage. When, therefore, a
general law Of really great importance
comes up, there is lull in corruption, and
it is considered from some other standard than
dollars and cents. But it is the private legis-
lation which draws the lobbyists together, aud
il is because Of the lack of real merit in la of
this GLASS of legislation that secures the ex-
are usually passed are of a kind which ,Oould
not stand the Investigation of a court. We do
not say that they are bad, but they are all of
character which would not be granted if
tested by an examiner of properly consti-
tuted court. Let US take the case of divorces.
The law gives to the Courts OF Common Pleas
of the different counties power to
order divorce for cause. The causes
for which they can be granted are
so broad and numerous as to cover almost
every real ground for the separation of mau
and wife desertion, ill-trsatmeut, crime,
and all the other good reasons for demsudng
that solemn contract be set aside. Yet We
See every session hundreds of applications to
the Legislature for divorces. Why do these
parties 90 to Harrisburg and spend FIVE timss
as much corruptly as is necessary to get
divorce from the courts, unless it be- that their
cases do not possess sufficient merit to secure
the assent of well-regulated court? This is
the true reason. The interposition of the
Legislature is necessary because the parties
have no right to be set fres. Take
case OF the present session. A divorce was
granted because husband did not feed the
children OF the wife by her first husband on
the same food that he ate himself. Can there
be any wonder, when this was the ground for
setting aside sacred contract, that the par
ties should avoid court and 90 to the Legis.
Iaturef This is typical OF all species of
private legislation. There ia nearly always a
defect somewhere which will prevent court
OF justice granting what is asked for; and it
lS on such bills as these that corruption
takes place and the lobbyists thrive.
Now the action Of Governor Hoffman is
suggestive of mode of remedying this evil.
1t is the vetOing Of all bills VIII oh can be
granted by the courts, irrespective Of the
merits Of the bills themselves. In
doing this the Governor would be only
obeying the provision of ths Constitution OF
the State which especially f0rbids the inter
ference Of the Legislature in any case in which
the courts have power. The Immediate effect
OF death-blow to this species OF laws would
be the exclusion from illegal perquisites OF
both lobbyists and members, aud the conse-
quent withdrawal from the Legislature OF the
element which disgraoes it. The example set
by Governor Hoffman is one Of real merit, ana
we doubt not that it will have benenciai
effect wherever it is adopted. Let Governor
Geary examine and initiate the action OF his
brother executive Of the Empire State.
We are glad to see that the Governor has
already been induced TO act in this manner In