New-York tribune., 1873-05-03

ing never mOlled their acerbty OF conscientious
victon, they deemed It duty TO against every
bill concerning which plausible doubt reasonable
amendment could be suggested.
THE LEGISLATURE SUSPICIOUS BUT NOT CORRUPT
According to law OF nature these ignorant nexpori-
eneed, incompetent members bad great dread Of
few who were shrewd 10 advise and able TO urge useful
Those who best understood the needs OF the
State and joined natural ambition TO help state and
party with some knowledge how TO do IT, we're great
deal too clever TO- the dulards, watched with in
tense dstrust by Zip Van Wnkles and honest incapa-
bles, and often enjoyed the luxury Of being beaten
purely con suspicion" 1t Is a common saying that
more corrupt Legislature met In Missouri I'm
questionaby there were many members whose "inten-
tons were strictly dshonorabe." Being poor at home,
they INDUCED the hope Of making much than per
diem and mileage. Yet preernatura suspicion OF the
old foges probably exaggerated the number Of these
members easy virtue and the prevalent fashion foe
Investigation kept them severely in check AS ignorant
people expect quack medicine to eradicate all con-
cevabe disorders of tho blood the honest old fogies
ina gned that investigating committees would expose
and cure all legislative other corruption; and, be-
ginning with the charges OF bribery in the Senatorial
election, they investigated everything past present, and
to come-the location OF the Lunatic Asylum the man
agement Of the Pententary the alleged fraud in trans
fer Of the North Missouri the conduct Of the Missouri
Pacific the talk Of lobbyist about Insurance bin.
and the behavior OF the House Clerk. That they dis
covered by all this investigation not one fact pertinent
TO legislative action Of any kind experienced per-
son could have predicted but they took up nearly the
whole IN this way, and scared Off all operators
who might otherwise have employed arguments highly
appreciated at Albany and Harrisburg With suspicious
thus wrought up honest members fastened TO postpone
any bill supposed to " have money in it," and as
nearly every bill Of general Importance may be sup
posed 10 benefit somebody, nearly all useful legtsa-
ton was pushed to next Winter The hungry pat
riots whenever they suspected that there was money IN
a BILL would vote against It from yirtuous indignation,
because they had not been bribed TO vote for the
honest ones would vote against 10 for fear that some
body else was Being bribed and the only remedy was
10 postpone GOOD bills and bad alike. Not sirge Dill
Of general Importance passed during the whole session
except the stock law and II anybody could have I'M
agned I'm that possible job for somebody 10 would nave
been postponed also. Thus, whatever the number OF
corrupt members may have been, circumstances gen.
Grated large amount Of virtue 70 the square men.
Probably Legislature has met in this state for years
among which less money was actually expended lor cor
rupt ends Thus by odd combination OF the very best
and the very neanest OF motives with ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ence and lack OF confidence IN the only personscapa-
bic Of sensible leadership this Legislature discovered
how not 20 do il with singular success. IC IS some
consolation that in cases, it also contryed to miss
doing serious evil. But the expenses OF session Of
three months were very large Considering that the
whole sum was invested in unsuccessful attempt TO
educate incompetent legislators, the taxpayers think
the school much too costly.
THE UNFINISHED WORK OF THE SESSION.
"Not TO DO sometimes the short road TO the most
mischief This Legislature utterly neglected to protect
the credit OF the state and took pains TO tarnish its
honor No provision made for payment OF $4,000
of state bonds falling due this year, and $4,000 falling
due next year; every bill for that purpose was sus-
pected OF being Job Of Walst. operators Hostility 10
the school system helped through the House bill for
the sale OF the United bonds in which the school
fund had been invested, but 1t was then perceived that
this was Job OF the Treasury Ring, and the discovery
saved the school fund The system OF assessment and
collection OF taxes is outrageous aud shameful yleds
decreasing revenue from rapidly increasing property
and forces creditors OF the state for several months IN
tho year "a hawk about the warrants OF empty treas
ury with property OF nearly s500OOOO II yields less
than S3OOO0OO of revenue ana yet Is 80 GeHnil d ~
hear with great severity upon some lnuNduals ana
localities and lead nearly every year 20 the propose!
or passage OF some stay-law Yet no remedy for al
this mischief and disgrace was devised LoIs To- re
form the system were called JOBS BY the country aW
yers and real estate sharks, who make gOod thlnS
In conjunction with local officials. hohor anu JI5.iCe J
reduired payment to purchasers OF the OLD STATE BANK
Of money & Sr0 m Soders OF bonds S issued before the war
an obligation which the supreme Court OF the state
has affirmed payment TO ESroaas oi suns rs Sioatg ~
state Everything Of the sort was refused The Cons-
tuition explicitly requires that the Legislature sha pro
vide methods by which the state shall be sued put h9
Legislature refused. The outrageous costs IN crlal
usually get the money! Bills regulating insurance com
panies and banks creating railroad OF
cred iobs Yet the same Legislature so managed the
railroad controversy as TO give fat fees TO Iew awyer
and 10 drive down the stocks and bonds OF certain roads
for the benefit OF clique which mad sold snort ana
i'm doing shook the faith or all capitalists IN the ndey
of the state its most solemn acts Not only honor
but the plainest policy required thaJ men WhO relyhs
upon laws the state had invested millions In the puT-
chase and completion OF railroads should not find their
title TO property disputed aud its value deprecated
by subseGuent Legislature. Yet this body instructed
flg
validity OF titles conveyed by enactments passed years
ago The cities towns counties and manufacturing and
other corporations OF this state trying 10 borrow
millions and millions are needed, Tor the completion or
roads Improvement OF rivers and development Of water
power and mineral Nay the state itself must
borrow 10 meet maturing bonds But ITS Dad lalth
not repaired must cause Increased interest IOt every
dollar thus obtained. What wise economy! What Tar
seeing state sInanshp!
Two-THIRDs OF THE ACTS LOCAL AND PRIVATE
The truth is that public business was crowded TO
DEATH because more than half the members were at work
at insignificant little bills for their own localities thereby
grinding private hatchets OF lS7 bills passed, l3 were
local and AZ more were small amendments OF existing
acts many of them trivial in character useful chiefly
to lawyers local officials 1t afterward appeared that
aim or effect than to help one lawyer 20 win question
aDe case in back county larger part OF the local
they consumed nearly all the time that smelling com
mittees" did How much all these small JOBS
Will cost the people no one can tell one Ot them adueu
$4,000 year to the salary OF the Collector OF ST. Louis,
whose devotion to the party was previously rewarded
Wllu dpOut sufVoV' t,''ih'1uA'''J
possible lob in public acc, tins honest Legislature
passed "httle local bills" with ooseness IOr had not
every member his private hatchet 10 be grounds
such was the craftsmanship OF the Democratic Legs
ature Missouri. The best OF these gentlemen are
lust learning the alphabet or GOyernmeW. The most
experienced nave the experience, the habits, ana the
prejudices OF quarter OF century ago 10 unlearn
before they begin work useful 10 this age Aud OF
the brighter and more capable members, not teW are
Democrats because they mean 10 make II pay 10 the
JefrrsOnau maxim, the greatest gOot 60 the greatest
number" they add the codic "the greatest number Is
alWay, number one" Between the honest fossils WhO
know little aud the sharpers VINO know TOO hnch
the Democracy OF Missouri Is incapable OF good govern
mcnt It's most trustworthy representatives. are the
settings OF yesterdays wine cup, and tue party ltseI
form nf rlNlAAtOn us anIInunt AND OlsO-