The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-17

Vigorous Charge Of Judge Bedle to the Grand
Jury-rhe Plunderers Of the Jersey City
and Hudson County Treasury To Be
Amenable to Justice Collision Of
Officials with Contractors.

"Tne longest day has night" is an old proverb,
and the corrupt "Ring' which has plundered Jersey
Guy for the past eight months will soon learn the
force OF the adage. The fearless, upright judiciary
oil New Jersey interpOses once more and throws the
protecting shield of the law over an OPP
pressed people. The opening OF the Hud-
son County Courts took place yesterday
forenoon, and Judge Bede, who presided,
made 1t the occasion o: onslaught on the public
plunderers which may result in sending at least
one prominent member OF the "Ring' to quarter
where he Will find cOngenial associates.
After reminding the Grand Jury that the Court
found It necessary year ago to call attention to
what might be termed Official frauds. Judge Bedle
stated that it seemed proper the Court should 10
again He hoped and trusted
THE GRAND JURY WOULD NOT SHRINK
from the performance OF their duty If they should
find cause 10 indict. The Grand Jury Is not an ex-
permental body. No one should De indicted as an
experiment The Grand Jury In the State OF New
Jersey Is an inqulrng BODY. Whether complaints
10, IS mnaierla. they may sS' originate an in.
OF pHrlson.hodIng Official POSITIONS, do not
speak In view OF any particular cases, but
a., II it does not encourage, Official dishonesty
Onices are created for the public good. They are
necessity, and IN days gone by man was Obliged
ment II he refused. 1t does not seem nova
to threaten one with for
secure the performance OF duty after the
a ae S Oncial position Is place OF public
srlclest honesty on the part OF the official. In
private trustees, and with reason The trustee for
private individual can be watched by the private
individual. The facilities to watch public trustee
are not so numerous and SO easily accessible. The
general rule IS that the public Official is indctable
on official corruption ana
WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT
Tor the forces perpetrat0 fraud SUBTLE TheV
are seldom direct. Now Official corruption may
consist IN taxing Dribes, &C., 10 influence official
action, the acceptance under certain circumstances
oil an interest IN contract and wlfllly aiding and
allowing false claims to impose eXtravagant bills
upon the city or other corporate authority. Most
important of all is the collision OF oicial with
contractor, Tor which both may he held
INDICTABLE FOR CONSPIRACY.
For instance, under the Jersey City charter the
pubic have right to have the city contracts given
Oclal and the contractor to impose more eXtrava-
CANT contract upon the city defeats the provision.
absence Of express statute Official cannot be
Indicted for dong an honest job for the corporation
laws made for certain parts OF this county Is to
tnterdict officials from being
INTEREST ED IN CITY CONTRACTS.
In the Jersey City charter there IL an absolute
prohibition against an Official being directly or IN
directly interested III any city contract, and makes
MN Liable ior Indictment IN case he violates TINS
provision. THIS prohibition, without liking the
remedy, would make HIM indlctable at common law,
even though there had been provision for indict-
menG IN the statue. In HODoKen it IL different.
me Official there is liable to penalty of $500 IN
case he interests himself III any city contracts.
Gentlemen II you find any OF This KIND ind
your Indictment under The common law, not under
the statute The statute may be repealed ana then
Your Indictment aso
The Court erred specifically to Ofclal frauds in
the board Ol Chosen FreehUldcrs, well az the
boards OF the city government, and impressed upon
the Granu Jurors The Importance OF secrecy which
they mad sworn to observe In their proceedings.
The investigation OF official frauds Will extend to
the Board OF Aldermen OF last year, under wnom
some very questionable Jobs were per.
petrated. In the matter Of awarding con-
tracts TO the lowest bidder the most
overwhelming evidence be adduced that the
Board OF Public Works disregarded this provision
In several instances IN favor oil the "klngr men,
and To the great detrlment oil the city. among the
Grand Jurors are gentlemen OF the highest integrity,
and there Is lair prospect that JUS tice, though
tardy VIII be at last dealt out To pubic well rs
private thieves.