New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-08

statutes in which ne has pecuniary hte'cs'
in any contracted, literal sense. On the con-
trary, be has adopted a system of spacious ava
comprehensive Interpretation under winch Ne
/ imposes upon himself the duty of assuming
oppressive burdens in the way of compensation
with which the trainers of the statutes never
intended to aflct him, and no doubt hDerai
reading of the now law will disclose TO MN
some mandatory clauses compelling him 10
retain ont of the moneys handled by
him n considerable fraction for invest
ment in property not taxed. How much
he will take charge OF will probably never be
ascertaned 10 a nicely, owing to the hlghly
secretive system Of bookkeeping devised tor
Use in his Office. At one time the Legisa-
ture of the State. as a matter OF public
policy, passed a law directing the socre-
tary to file quarterly a sworn state
ment of the amount of fees received by
him in his multiform official capacity But
Mr.. Kelsey walked up to n notary with
obedient alacrity every three months and took
his Bible oath to something else.
The people of New-Jersey have grounds for
bitter complaint against Governor Ludlow for
| his defiance of public sentiment and his dis
courtesy to the Senate. The Senate confirmed
without question nearly all OF his appointments.
They made no obstructive opposition on partisan
grounds They even strained point to be
| agreeable, aud in one conspicuous instance
| they proved themselves more studiously care
| full To crafty the Governors preference than
| to preserve the credit and dignity and effect
| iveness of the highest Court of the State. Be
sides Mr. Kelsey, the Senate rejected only
|
with the careers of these two gentlemen
will understand. without explanation, why
self-respectng body of men should hesitate
to make themselves responsible for Patrick
Layerty as State Prison Keeper and the Hon
orable Absalom Woodruff as President Judge
of a County Court. or any other court for the
matter of that. The Governor sent no other
names to the Senate in the place of these
after their rejection. He did not even return
these. But waiting until after the
/ adjournment Of the Legislature, he APP
points all three to hold office and
draw pay during the recess and take their
chance, with new Senate. with the covert
threat of repeating the performance another
year.
The reappaiutluent of these branded Off
Gals. AID especially Of Mr.. Kelsey, Is "A public
scandal. The Governor has advertised his
sympathy with predatory politicians aud
his practical approval Of crooked and
slippery methods of folding fees for i'm
agln1ry or fictitious service IL knows
that Mr.. Kelsey took some $4,000 in n SIN
gle term for sending printed slips to news
papers. while the very act which imposed this
duty upon him limited his compensation 10
81. 900. which was liberal pay for the service
lie knows that the pay III the original act was
smaller even than this, hut was increased "a
this amount mt Mr. Kelscys own request. He
| knows that SUIT has been brought hy the Atior-
ney. General to recover from Mr.. kelsey what
the State claims has been ilieg lily taken.
| He knows thar, even II the State cannot
establish It's CASE IN the courts, the moral
! quality Of the entire transaction Is altogether
unsavory. lie knows that this Is not an isolated
grab but one of series of skilliully executed as
sault~ upon the Treasury. lie knows that il was
discovered after MIR. Kclscys name had been
sent to the Senate that, for simply laying 10y
in his vault SOME prepared statistics, the Sccrc-
tary Ind taken in a single lump nearly $1,000
under cover of O law which was never INTENDED
to be- wrrsted to such purpose. He know'
| tnAt bl ufAtIou1 lobD1lH- II bphs VI 4fh h'i'
been enacted under which no Jerseyman Is per
mite to die without feeling Mr. Kelsey tor the
privilege, nor can any one Toe born, or get
married or do business in a stock company with
out paying similar tribute. He know
TINT so much indignation was aroused
against Mr.. Kelsey last fall that In,
vote of honest Democrats could only be
secured for the State ticket by the assurance
that NJ. Kelsey would not be rcappointcd. i
is true that MIR. Kelsey helped to elect Gov
ernor Ludlow. but he made more votes by
persuadlnc trusriuI Democrats that he woul,
not asl. for third tenn than in any othc
way Altogether this act of the Governor d
dlscrcdlable to himself, insulting to the Sen
ate, % piece OF trcachciy 10 the reputable elc
mcuts of his own party and an outrage upoi
thc longsuGcrng taxpayers Of tie State. The
Republicans of New jersey need not l'ok aul
further Tor IAN issue - this Fan.