New-York tribune., 1885-02-13
ASSESSMENTS ON JUDGES.
THE UNION LEAGUE CLUBS BILL.

SEEKING TO PREVENT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ON JUDICIAL OFFICERS OR CANDIDATES.
at the monthly meeting of the Union League
Club lastevening motion made to extend the limit
OF membership from 1000 to LOO The motion lost
The Committee Political Reform mado the following
report:
To the Union Leogue Club:
Your committee the follow ing repor. upon tho
proposed bill relating to Judicial officers and candidates
club:
The general purpose Of the bill, tswit: to protect
against political assessments as the price or their
eiection and to prohibit candidates from making com
peIye bids for the office Of Judge, needs no argument
But the bill in the form proposed found objection
I prescribed an oath different from that written In
Article IL Of the existing Constitution of the state OF
York, and Article IL declares that other oath,
Tor any Office Of public trust"
Its Language was broad that there danger lest
~ might DE construed to prevent officers fro making
voluntary contributions to their political party for pur
poses having no relation 70 their OF Office.
construction like this has proved fatal certain parts
OF the Civil Service Acts
The author Of the proposed BILL eonceding the force of
these objections, has prepared draft, which your
committee has modified in some minor respects and
ieved the bill is free from the objections above ind
Gated ana VIII tend to accomplish the general purpose
Il has been thought better present independent
bill rather than al amendment TO the Civil Service
ORIGINAL law and give rise to disputed questions Of con-
sructon aud for the further that judicial officers
Ne,e York. Feb 4, 1855.
The following is the bill recommended by the com
mittee:
To Prohibit and Punish Soliciting from Judicial officers
or Candidates for judicial Offices, and the Payment
or Contributions for Political Purposes.
The People Of the State of represented in Sem
ate ana Assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION l.NO person shall, directly or indirectly, fo
icit or he IN any manner concerned In soliciting any
property OF any kind value whatsoever for any po
teal purpose from any person holding the office Of Judge
Title OF Chapter OF the Code OF Civil Procedure; or
from any perion who nominee or candidate for eec
SECTION Amy person who shall violate the pro-
visions OF the next preceding section Of this act shall be
guilty OF msdemeanOr. and shall, on conviction
thereof be punished by line, not less than 81 000 or
by Imprisonment Tor term not less than one year. or
SECTION 3.--Any person. being nominee or candidate
for election TO the office OF Judge or Justice OF OF the
courts referred to In Section l. who shall within three
months prior to his election appointment to any such
office directly or indirectly subscribe or pay or promise
10 pay who shall cause induce other person 10
subscribe or pay, or promise to pay, any assessment
subscription or contribution In money or property of
any Kind or value whatsoever for any political purpose,
shall be guilty OF misdemeanor, aud shall. on convic
tion thereof be punished by fine not less than $1,000
aud by Imprisonment for not less than one year. aud
shall also forfeit his office.
The bill referred to in the first Of the report
proposed by Artemus H. Holmes at the last regular
meeting Of the club. The report OF the committee
was approved, and measures will be taken
to the passage OF the bill In
accordance with a rule OF the club copy Of the
report sent to every member a few days Yes
erday Mr. scudder surprised to read In the Albany
dispatches that similar bill had been introduced into
the senate by Mr. Daily who stated that its passage
urged by the Union League Club Mr.. scudder said to
TRIBUNE reporter before the meeting: This matter
affords great annoyance. The club has acted
the bill. and may not do 1t may perhaps recommit
me- have heard certain amendments suggested
only understand Senator Days action by supposing
that member. through ignorance careossness,
the bill to him aud led him suppose that the club
wished him to introduce It,"