New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
TO IMPROVE STATE LAWS.
THE PRIMARY WORK OF THE FASSETT COM
MITTEE.
AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE ADDITIONAL POWERS
lMPRI soNMENr FOR DEBp-THE ALDER
MEN AND THE EXCISE QUESTION.


IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBr-THE ALDER
MEN AND THE EXCISE QUESTION.
In consequence of the fact that the senate Com
mt'eo which has been conducting investigation
il'o the conduct Of the officials Of this city has pro-
u"'ou cNnehce OF 50 startling a nature, show
ns inc utter incompetency to perform the duties Of
'I'ci respective Offices of many OF the who
charged with the highly responsible duty Of governing
'nS Guy many people have forgotten what the real
WORK OF TINS committee is and the reasons why tho
"por OF conducting sweeping investigation laid
upon It's shoulders one Of Governor HIPS greatest
pohucal fads is his antagonism to what he terms
special legislation" During his Cover
nor TINS has been his one consistent course along
sac OF ms opposition TO Reform measures.
III HIS anxiety to let 1t be known that he would
not S"erve hairs breadth from this position many
OF the smaller cities throughout the state have su
lereo exceedingly. Relief In dozens Of instance, has
been sought by the various cities Of the the
hands of the Legislature 1t NAV have been 10 raise
money TO build a bridge purchase a fire engine dix
sewer erect town hail. pay force Of police
men, or any of a thousand and things Of which
the rapidly growing cities Of the state yearly find
themselves in great need. When OF these many I'm
piovemonts is needed, the wise 81 the town or
city look the charter 10 soc II under the act
under which the municipality was chartered money
can be raised for the purpose for which II Is required
ihc chances are that In nine case, out OF ten the
AsNemblyman from that particular district introduces
IN his branch Of the Legislature bill 10 amend the
charter Of the city town for the purpose Of raising
money 10 be applied In the construction Of a sewer
for example The bill IS hurried through. and every
member III the House may have from one to half
a dozen similar measures to place before the Cover
nor In many Instances IL is capital for the member
to set the relief desired and insure him rcnomina-
ton by his party. This Of course. is an expensive
m Ihc too to hch
son Of legislation is referred must spend considerable
time over these measures. They must De printed
and cngrosscd. thereby adding monetary cost
well.
TO GIVE MORE POWERS TO TIE CITIES AND
Towns.
To do away much possible with tlhs kind n
legislation the main reason Tor tho Introduction
IN tho senate II the resolution empowering tho
cities Committee Of that body 10 pursue inve-ti-
CATION into the municipal affairs of the various cities
Of nc stat" and report Tie result ~ the ppcr House.
The member, Of the committee and number Of
prominent and able lawyers 100 th., ~iaie are firmly
convinced that general law can De framed which
will put the power to hands 4 the local author
i'ios 70 make the necessary improvements in tho
various cities. without going 20 The Lo-l,aturr Such
bill will De the nr-t work 70 ho done ~ the next
-c-.lon q ;he LEGISLATURE. There IS 10 good reason.
ri.. towns reach certain population. why they
...aot become Incorporated under one general at.
acts. There is general Incorporation at which
'. 'irs 20 al Incorporated oomprue,
Ihoro wcrr two reasons ~hi th- work ic.an
ui, city. Here At hand are three members II the
committee senators stewart and Ahc,rn. who 1--we ia
Ncw y ork. and senator H.riScu. Of Bn,ohl.n. only
one more member o.: the committee needs {, 30 pre-
cnt 10 form q quorum. The other reason was the
exposure II the Ludlow street jail scandal which
lcd to immediate Investigation Of tho >nculs Office
The testimony adduced Glowing Tie resort ~ 90.
cmlfauou for tie purpose Of obtaining h..ie, fo-
privileges .- familiar 90 100. and the "N''.ai" s',nc"
lar f persons unfortunate enough . let TITO Tho
hands Of Godfather Grant and s d"ru'cs o. 9u,
Of the be-. known Of ne black chapter = municipal
acknowledgement and lad government. ono remedy /
ha, alr'.ady teen applied 81 the pr age oi tho new
ShcriG's law. Another and sweeping reform 3,
yet 10 come in the abolition Of imprisonment ior debt.
DEBr.E> TIL PREY or sHEIIrFo.
1t va, through the unfortunate debtors who came
within the Law, emsp Lccause they cpum not pay !
their obligations tIat shcrlGs and DrpUu sheriff, |
became rich and could nCori % pay big prices
for nominations and appointments. Tic bill abolish
Ing Imprisonment for debt failed in passage at tho
last ec,sipr II The legislature bur Do viii lo 4
the first measures taken mp after tho opening II the
scsslon next year. Tho existing law g., under /
which frequently punished nf being poor.
Tho idea If those conducting the invest cation 10
extend tho Penal Code take ia certain cases
now involved IN th" common Law. Where there is
evidence Of crime the punl'hmcnt should Doe gov
erucd by the Penal Code. This viii 81 away with
throwing people into jail because try have not got
the means n meet their obligations. whom - Is shown
that these obligations not made with intent TO
defriud
II is a question In the minds Of great many law
ycrs whether or not Godfather Grant -ho,ld be In
dicicd for perjury Before taking his Office hc was
compelled 10 swear upon oath that he had neither
given promised 70 give any money Or valuable thing
as a consideration for tho giving Withholding Of
vote for him. His testimony. iu which he admits
giving = oncdollar gold piece 3, Fo-ec Croker before
he Wa, elected tho Office u sheriff ~ this county
and $4,000 after he elected Is considered by many
well known lawyers % be ample evidence ~ bribery In
ca-c H. would be difficult, doubt. 10 prove that
there wa, an under landing between Grant and croker
before Grants election. II the Mayor b. not iuiced
for perjury this testimony viii be Of assistance toward
the passage OF contemplated measure which VIII BE-
a great addition the election laws Of the state. Tho
penalty the division Of tho receipt II an eiec
tive or appOiutivc Office. With any one cOn'ldc'a
oicc. is beng -idered.
II IL il found thai such law VIII como within the
In the work Of the senate Committee IN the Inc1'
ure which Will undoubtedly be- presented 10 The Lefl,
a criminal one. punishable by lmpHNgnm'Hl anu
election FROM o1ce uR2n coni,uGl o IC c,o; bo
anything more tan side issue IN lle
grand result TO be attained VIZ vic, ain Ms n m"
need Of an enactment prohibiting the division OF the
RET urns an office with political leader a. payment
for tho nomination to that oItcc
There Is a strong probability that New York may be
freed before long Of Board Of Aldermen he class
Of men who yearly elected IA that ONCE has tc
sneh that The Legislature has gradually cut down tho
powcrs Of that body until about the only power OF an!
IN pOtance which Is sim retained j. the granting OF
fronchscs To this power the members Of the Board
cling trnacously. and about the only way u WrtNt
IL from them is 10 abolish tho hoald altogethcr.
LEGISLATION looking toward TIL, end VIII undoubtedly
play important part In next years session; rev
tears regret win he shed by honest people whcn inc
laet meeting OF THIS body has been held ON Tho
OTTER hand II will 10 glad day for the promoters 81
improvements. which should be approved on thclr
merits. when there is longer Board OF Aldermen
composed. at any rate Ike boards o! recent years
II the men who anxious Ia obtain franchises 20
do certain wOr, viii not kiss the resolution ALLOW"
Ing II 10 be done through the Board, t chances are
ten 10 that IN ell never get ont Of the comnltc
10 which the resolution IS originally sent \ glitter
% hlllnr le,l.l IN Ion .