New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-07
vg EEINEy,S ERADICATION.

There is a temporary lull in the storm OF
libel suits in the New jersey courts, but VIM
dlcation continues to rage with undated Vlo-
lrnce. On Monday evening noh-par'l>ah
majority of the legislative committee ap-
Tainted To investigate " grave charges
brought against the Hon. Henry c. Kelsey, in
ON. of his numerous official capacities, that of
Insurance Commissioner, To wit, reported that
no evidence had been presented III support OF
these charges, but that on the contrary the
testimony justified them III giving very
~ ----. s'.iad Dcn-
tleman. Perhaps this special yindcaton would
have been more symmetrical, as work OF
art, if it had been a unanimous verdict, or,
at least if the energetic minority of one
could have been dissuaded from filing mill
tant denial given elsewhere, of the findings, all
and several, of the majority. Perhaps, too, it
would have been n tritle more satisfying if
Mr. Kcl-cy's friends in the Legislature had
waited until the report had been rendered be-
fore they caucuscd Mr. Cooper, of Morris,
out Of the seat to which he had
been elected by the people. Mr.. Cooper,
ii will be remembered, was one of three
Republicans on the committee, and he pos
scs,cd by actual measurement considerably
more than one-third OF the sum total of mental
and moral force contributed by his party 10
the investigation. The committee as a whole
was not so rich in talent and reputation that
il could suffer such loss of brains and char
acfer rs Mr.. Cooper carried off with him,
without seriously Impairng It's gross as
sets, and therefore the name of Mr.. Cooper
appended to this document might have
materially enhanced It's market value. Per-
hans. also, Mr.. Kelsey himself could have
heightened the scenic effect of his vindlca-
ton if, instead of dong it himself, he had
allowed some disiDterestcd citizen 10 urge
Senators and others to defeat the Joint
resolution to send the committee to
New-YorIl after some testimony proffcrcd
by Judge Fullerton; if he had taken
pains to dispel the popular impression that
some members of the committee had received
from the State House enough assistance for
their District campaigns to render 1t a trial
of some magnitude for them 10 preserve
strictly judicial frame of mind; and if he had
encouraged his friends on the committee to
keep cool and not allow themselves to be
thrown into state Of nervous excitement over
any proposed appointment of IL stenographer
or counsel who was suspected of being hos
"te."
But although the lustre of Mr. Kelscy's vim
dication may be little blurred by these and
other considerations, it is a very fair article OF
yindcatIOn, az vindications average. lnvesti-
cations do not always investigate but perhaps
this one was quite as searching as the one which
Messrs. Wright and McMichae made of the
affairs of the New Jersey Mutual, and the people
of the State ought to be as well satisfied with
this one rs Mr. Kelsey was with the other
Ii ought to be added that the committees
recommendation of a more stringent libel law
il admirable The one hundred and third
Legislature of New-Jersey would probably
pass an act making it a felony to speak dis
respectfully Of any State officer whose emOlu-
ments are more than $4,000 per annum,
and such law would exercise n very
wholesome restraint upon the growing irrev-
erence of the age. 1t seems to be a pity,
however, that, under this head of Legislation
"reouired," the committee did not recommend
an act for the relief of Mr.. Kelsey. There is
very prevalent impression, outside of the
State House. that Mr.. Kelsey is compelled to
earn too much money, and that some
one should bo requested to take the
Insurance Department and n few other
Offices off his hands. This might not alleviate
Mr.. Kelsey's burdens very sensibly, because n
half dozen offices, more or less, would be but
a trile to a gentleman who has to carry for
eign Governor, an incompetent Legislature
and the untamed Democracy of his State all
while performing the duties Of dozen
or so important positions. But, after all.
it would be some relief, and it might prove
an advantage to the State to have an lnsur-
ance Commissioner who had more time to
devote to tie duties of his Office, and who