Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-29
legislative Corruption.

The Philadelphia Public Record draws i re-
voting picture Of the Pennsylvania Legislature
as it has existed for many years, and Of the
cunnugly devised, wcll-adjustcd and thorou gh
system of bribery and corruption that prevails
in it, The Record says that the corruption OF
the Legislature has for many years been uni
versally recognized and accepted fact. The
picture is thus drawn:
Men of standing and character, who re-
quire legislative action for perfectly legitimate
purposes, finding that they can only procure it
By bribery, too often authorize their agents to
spend sums for contingent expenses; so large
that they can be used on y for iegitimate and
corrupt purposes; and thus they shut their
eyes to what they cannot but know to be the
truth. As this thing has become an accepted
fact. il is arranged in Il way to suit all but the
most delicate consciences. The buyer and sell
Ter of votes need never come personally togeth-
or. Bargains can be made through convenient
obetweens Names need never be mention
ed. Money can be passed through several
hands, so. that the trace OF it becomes lost:
The little dive" can be kept until the end
Of the session, and settlements can he made al
ter the adjournment, when all danger OF lnVcs-
tigatiun is over. There are thousand ways
in an art reduced to Il system by long expe-
rience. to hide the tracks of brber aud bribes
and so to eude the penalties of the law.
The languid interest with which the public
listens to stories Of the misCleeds Of its rulers
vanishcs when one is brought face to face with
the corruption with which the State capital
reeks. He ieels it all around HMM the eager
whisperings Of the lobby, in the careless gos-
SIP of the hotels, in the outspokep ovcrtures
which arc made to him, if he happens to be
interested in ''little bill' supposed to have
money in it. He can learn the price OF every
rooster" in Harrisburg, and finds, to his inf
mite disgust, that refusal to bride IS treated as
mcanneSs or simplicity even by honest men,
who would not themselves sell their votes for
any consideration. So thoroughly is coTup-
ton ingraned in the Legislature of the State
of Pennsylvania that he who cndeayors to car
~ by fair means Il measure which provokes
autagoniSm, when he is supposed to be capable
OF yielding money, is i fair subject for general
ridiculc. 10 an upright man. who believes in
honor among public men, 4 visit to the State
capital OF Pennsylvania during 4 session is one
of the most S;lddenlng experiences in life.
CoUNcILMEN.-Thc Constitution of Virginia
contains the following provision (Article VI,
section 20l:
Members OF Common Councils shall hold no
other Office in cities, and no city officer shall
hold seat in the General Assembly,"
This provision declares in effect that council
men are city officers in saying that they shall
hold no ''other' office; and ash then adds that
mo city officer shall hold seat in the General
Assembly it virtually prohibits councilmen as
well az other city officials from serving in the
General Assembly Such officers, however.
need not resign their Offices before they are
elected to the General Assembly. -Rih. Dis.
WASHINGTON ITEMs.--A fire broke out
about H. o'clock yesterday in the roof of Mr..
Forrest house. south side Of + street, near
Fifteenth and next door to the paylnaster
generals office, and occupied bya number of
gentlemen as private Offices The entire roof
and portion Of the fourth story Of the build
ing Vas destroyed.
Gov Cooke has recommiSsioned tTr. s. H.
Sherman of the Borden Mining Company, as.
harbor master Of the port of Georgetown.
It is estimated that the total return of per-
sonal estate in this city will foot mp seven and
a-haf millions of dollars.
The trial Of Darden is still going on
Prot. Mallefert blew up the wreck at Spots
wood Bar in the Rappahanock river on Monday