The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-04
THE ABOLITION or OAPIEAE PUEzsR.
MEM,
osu. Curtis Makes gsuss Explanatioas sr
Interest ana Inportsnoe.

asu. Curtis Makes se-,s Explaaatioss 81
Interest ana Importance.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir I have
read your temperate remarks OF May 1, In
which you offer some pertinent suggestio on
q subject Just now receiving attention In the
Legislature and am tempted to request you TO
publish few words from the mover OF the bill
to Abolish Capital Punishment, in acknowl-
edgment Of the particular attention paid to
the action Of the Assembly, which yesterday
passed my bill by seventy-nve affirmative
votes, have had an opportunity to read the
Herald, Tribune. Tunes, World, EreninO Post,
and Commercial Aduetiser, and find editorials
lamentinR the fact that the Legislature should
have given its approval to a bill. introduced
as they agree, without notice, not referred to
or considered by any committee. and rushed
through without debate, abolishing capital
punishment
will not take your time nor space to note
their several comments, nor use the choice
language employed by them to express their
horror at such unseemly proceedinRs, It 10
truly distressing, admit az stated by them
but what relief 1t will be to the several editor
ial writer's to be made acquainted with the
simple fact that the bill referred to has been
introduced BY the subscriber. in each OF the
seven sessions OF the Legislature OF which he
is member, and that in the present session IL
was introduced on Feb and referred to the
Committee on Codes; that II was considered in
that committee about four weeks, and at least
one hearing given on It; that It was reported
for the consideration OF the House, went on
general orders. was twice considered In the
Committee OF the Whole. debated by the In
troducer In the first committee and made q
special order for the second. whom IL was de-
bsted by its frionds no one having any arRu-
ments to offer in opposition to its passage. It
went to third reading, came up regularly In
that order, and on account Of the absence from
the House OF many OF fits supporters. 1t was
laid on the table. whore 1t remained about two
weeks. subject to be called M by Its intro
duoer.ito do which no notice is required BY the
rules OF the Assembly. This 10 course fire.
ouently praoused In both Houses.
1t may disturb these gentlemen should the
fact be known that there are seven other NOM
bers besides those whose names were recorded
in favor Of the bill. who would have voted foIv
1t had they been present whom the roll wcs
called. l am indeed sorry that these gentle
men are 30 greatly distressed to find that there
are eighty-two nl-advised, hasty. and reck-
less members Of the Assembly willing to 20 on
record to abolish Q relic Of the Dark Ages.
How competent these writer's must be to In
struct the public ON current events whom a bill
considered for three months in the Assembly.
is spoken Of by them az having been intro
duoed and rushed through In an hour. without
consideration 1t 10 charged that the measure
was passed by money paid to members by an
electrical company to save Door wretch. now
awaiting execution. from disgracing the In
struments to be employed to despatch himl
These papers make o charge which. IL true.
should stamp each and every member who
NyAk od ia hi hill v-rtkh at Itch
ono moro deservodly than its introduoer.
II not true, the Same dishonor should At
tach to the journalists who so boldly make the
charge. am the principal person In this mat
ter; invite the closest examination OF the
facts: nay, more. demand these several man
ayers to give the whole subject prompt and
careful scrutiny and to publish the facts as
found. II they can find any fact which reflects
In the sliGhtest degree upon the conduct In this
respect Of those who have supported this bill
In the Assembly. or that any influence OF o
venal character was exercised let them state
It; II not. let them have the manliness to con-
fess their error. their unjustinablo and un-
truthful assertions In Q manner and In Ian
guage to show that all decency and sense OF
honor has not departed from the American
press. as represented by these great journals Of
the metropolis.
Come. gentlemen! Do your duty to the pub
lic; give heavy blows to the Wrongdoers or
make frank apology for wholly unwarranted
Question every man who voted for
my bill. and every one who voted against IL or
failed to vote. I will gladly give you the names
Of all persons who have spoken or written to
mo on the subject. and an examination Of my
1t may surprise them to lOarn
that the measure has the support OF many Of
The most distinguished men In the country. II
H.. H. Al.