Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-18
wO RCESTER
SATURDAY. MAY rs. 1919.


Failure Of Reform an New n Fk.
The famous "reform legislature" as it has
been called, though of late that term is given it
only in derision, adjourned some days ago, after
disappointing most of the hopes that had been
entertained in regard TO its action. 1t was a
mistake to suppose that, because the members
were elected at time when indignation at the
lately exposed Tammany frauds ovcrsha1owed
all other issues, they were therefore genuine re-
formers and proof against the temptations
which heset legislators at Albany. The maiori-
ty of them were elected as reformers, and the
people in general were willing to trust in their
professions; but the experienced frequenters of
the Albany lobby judged them more correctly.
The veteran lobbyist, A. d. Barber, casting
his practiccd eye over the list, pronounced
them "ihe cheapest yet" and the event seems
to prove that be was right. The New York city
people are especially disappointed. They
thought it the chief business of the legislature
TO deliver them ont of the hands of the Tam
many thieves. to give them new charter, and
to impeach and remove their corrupt judges.
Since these expectations have been disappoint-
ed they cannot speak too contemptuously or
severely of those who have failed them at their
need. The Legislature to be sure passed two city
charters successfully, but the governor has We
toed both of them, corruptly as some say, and
vet he gives some plausible if not sound rei-
sons for his disapproval. There is apparently
quite as much ground for the belief that the
fatal defects in the last charter were introduced
designedly and left undisturbed by corrupt con
nivance. "a
The history of the legislative dealings with
the corrupt judges is somewhat curious. Judge
Cardo1o was about to be impeached when he
prevented that by resigning his office. The
charges against lin were carefully prepared
and no doubt there was abundant proof TO sus-
tain them, and they involved as grave official
transgressions as judge could be guilty Of
By resigning he loses his office temporarily but
is capable of reelection. Judge Barnard with
more courage, faced his accusers, but contriyed,
it is said, that a majority of the managers of
the impeachment should be his personal
friends, so that he does not greatly fear the re-
suit, and the friends of honest administration of
justice have not much TO hope from it. The
latest report in regard to this business is a truly
remarkable one, and if told of any other than
New York legislative assembly would be in
credible. 1t is that the resolution to impeach
Judge Barnard did not actually pass the house.
As the story goes, the resolution was passed to
third reading and the articles of impeachment
as prepared by committee were reported, and
at this stage the house adjourned for the day
The next morning, Tom Fields, a notorious
Tammany partisan, called up the articles of i'm
parchment as the next business in order; thew
obi ,fn1 all 81, -.
without day, under the impression that the i'm
parchment business had been properly finished.
This, il true, would be an extraordinary instance
of shameless trickery on the part of some mem.
bers and of criminal negligence in others, but it
is still more extraordinary that no one seems TO
know whether it is true or not. The papers dis
cuss 1t as doubtful report which cannot posi-
bly, be verified or dsproved at present. The pro-
duction of the house journals on the trial can
alone decide the question NewYolk has furnish
ed many instances Of hasty, careless and lraudu-
lent legislation, but hardly any that makes more
apparent the defects of the methods there en-
poyed. If, as seems to be the case, no member
of the legislature has positive knowledge
whether measure so important as this was
actually passed, the production of the Journals,
though they may be the highest kind of formal
and legal evidence, might reasonably fail 10
silence all doubters, since the inducements TO
procure Justification of the record must some
times be enormous and official integrity in that
state has often failed TO resist much smaller
temptations.
In the case of Judge McCunn, Judge no less
corrupt and dangerous than his associates Bar
nard and Cardezo, it was determined, for some
reason not explained, to take different course,
aud, instead of impeaching him, to attempt his
removal by resolution, course which differs in
its consequences from Impeachment in that the
removed Judge is eligible for reelection. No
body, so far as we can learn from the New York
papers, has much confidence that the bench will
be relieved Of Barnard or MeCunn
The city journals, as we have said, speak of
the reform legislature as wretched and dis
graceful failure, and mourn over the compara-
tive insignificance of the results attained by the
great uprising against municipal corruption
last fall But the Evening Mail takes more
cheerful view Of the situation, reminding its
readers that, though Tweed was not expelled
from the senate, the corrupt Judges, except
Cardozo, still occupy the BENCH and the city is
still Obliged to submit to a government under
the forms OF Tweed's charter. yet the nefaripus
inner ring is broken; Tweed, Sweeny and Con.
molly are out OF office, and Mayor Hall, proba-
bly, no less dangerous conspira.or, is compara-
lively harmless without his confederates; the
treasury OF the city is controlled by man
whom everybody trusts, and all The departments
except that of the police, are in capable and
honest hanls. This is certainly great gain
since last year, although not everything that
was hoped for has been attained. The papers in
The interior of the state are by no means so
much dissatisfied with the legislature as those
ofNthe city. Some Of them even give il high
praise for integrity and faithful discharge Of
duty. But these papers are not very exacting
in their demands in the matter of legislative
behavior, and are more constantly governed by
personal and partisan considerations than Jour