New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-02
SOCIAL SCIENCE SUBJECTS.


BASIS OF OUR LAWS" THE READING LEASES
DEFENDED--ooUNTY JAILs.
saratoga Springs, n. Y. Sept. Specin-Georg"
william Curtis whose death took place yesterday. was
an cx-President OF the American Social science Asso
citation, and for years had been Of the most active
workers In this National organization. The ass0ca
ton will spread upon Its Minutes at an early day an
extended tribute to his memory. as was last evening
announced by Professor Francis Nayland. OF Yale.
who offered the resolution expressing the feelings aud
sentiment OF the members hearing OF the death oi
their associate.
Professor Wayland chairman, today presided In
the department OF Jurisprudence and mad- bnci
address lilo concluded By Introducing Judge John r.
Dillon, OF New York. who read paper The Ethical
Nature and Basis Of our Laws and Constitutions"
The paper opened with reference to the fact that
400 years ago this day Columbus In the midst OF
the ocean, facing the dangers OF the unknown waters
and OF mutiny. His career and discovery were re-
ferred the most memorable example in the history
of mankind OF the virtue and power OF faith In the
unseen. The world he unveiled and what 1t has been
made In the four Intervening centuries were briefly
portrayed Introductory to legal institutions ms
they exist to-day. our selfgoverned Republic. said
Judge Dillon, Is spectacle nowhere else to DO seen in
such successful operation and IL is the CREATION the
prodigy, the miracle OF liberty and law as brought Out
in the Institutions which our fathers founded, their
descendants maintained and we enjoy. The duty
rests upon all, we'll lawyers, TO see 'Hal
the glorious Inheritance which We presently hold In
fec ourselves and I'm revcrOn In trust for the gen
erstions to come is not wasted, despoiled or lost
To this end We must have an adequate and Just
conception OF our laws and constitutions, ana oil tc
essentially ethical nature Of the basis on whch lheS
all rest. To this end We must get rid OF an ldca
that law is something created by the LEGISLATOR WIN"
lie can make and mould, unmake and destroy NJ MS
will that 1t Is whatever the populace OF the moment
lacisl mai
enact Rights exist prior TO law. and both rights
and law exist prior 10 legislation ana tnereioie
neither OF them Is the mere product or erea'io" Vi
the arbitrary will OF the legislator
The most convincing proof of the ethical nature Oh
our laws was stated to be that although our STATUTES
and reports are numbered By thousands ana lWPc'
iec,ly known to lawyers and almost unknown 10 '"'
n,oss Of men IL was nevertheless true that any
man who obcyed the dictates OF an honcs'
heart, and whose civil conduct toward HIS iei
lowmen Is guided by the sense OF lnsuce' WHY"
is craven on his heart by the supreme Lawgiver'
will find that conduct TO be In perfect
conformity with the laws OF his country. our wt'eh
constitutions, their nature, effect and legal sancuohs
were dwet upon, since they were the supreme law
into which the people had infused ana IN WHO" ''S
had embodied their highest best their lofties cohcep
tons OF the ethical principles on which the ehIeh.ehei
organic, permanent justice of the state ana N"uo'
rested The speaker referred TO and dwelt upon the
constitutional guarantees OF e liberty and property.
and particularly those contained In the WITH ana NN
amendments to the Constitution of th" United aa'"''
OF the latter amendemeat he declared; Il Dehe'e
IT will hereafter full than nj present, be iouho
TO be the American complement OF the Great 'har'er
and be to us as the Great Charter was, ana Is, 10
England, the source OF perennial blessings
In naner on The Reading Leases" {. La Rue
Munson OF WilliamspoIt Penn, said In substance :
In February OF this year, 10 the surprise OF railway
and financial circles. organization was consumHateu
by which the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad be
came one OF the foremost railroad systems OF 'he
United states entering the field Of transportation with
nj esent facilities and opportunities for future growth
81 troni, uncxccllcd among the great carriers OF the
Eastern siatrs Nowhere i the power oil obtaining
me greatest good for the greatest number, particularly
IN the commercial way, better shown imam In Inc COM
bnation OF railway interests, by which oigahHauoi'
weak In themselves and alone are enabled throus'
81 consolidation under one head and management. TO
accomplish results beneficial TO themselves and 10 the
public al large: results beneficial to themselves ana
10 The public AT large: results absolutely beyond their
reach when, individual operators they We're surviving
TO effectGae the objects OF their creation MANY nave
uot forgotten the difficulties and impedimcnts In trhc
existing when the various railroads now MAKING up
the famous systems OF the Pennsylvania ana the Ne"
York Central railroad companies were operated as
individual and independent corporations. Men HE
Jhona, A. Scott and Cornelius Vanderbilt, so largely
Instrumental IN the Organization OF those great s!S
tens were benefactors Of the American people cfea"s
conditions not only valuable then. but. rs experience
has proved even more beneficial than they could eve:
have hoped. American history can point to no Gle
ment In the story Of hen progress more productive VI
National benefit than the consolidation of her railway
interests. Through such means more Than any othef
has the great West become stin greater West.
But greater stil-and this Is OF incalculable benefit
10 all her cizcnsis the certain assurance, through
the present Reading leases, OF an organization so
strong within itself always 10 be an equal In ac
competition with Pennsylvania other famous railroad
system: thus giving its citizens the permanent ad
vantage without fear of monopoly. 0: two magnificent
lines OF rail- which her vast wealth may ina an
outlet in constant competition with lne products OF
her sister states.
A paper on :" State supervision OF Insurance TOM
panies. was presented by Samuel Marsh OF New-l ORR
County Jails as ReIormatory Institutions was ''e
title OF a paper read by Edward Il. Merrill OF New
York After celebrating his subject AT much i"hstI
Mr. Merrill offered the following suggcstios' iiret'
petition the Legislature for act directing Tie "oV
e:nor 10 appoint Independent ana non partisan com
mission OF five persons, to be composed of both men
and women. without salary, their personal expenses
Only being paid. to serve for two years; they br
directed personally 10 visit and examine every JAIL
and penitentary In the State, and report to the Legs
laturc upon them. Second. based upon such report
an &c, ,11a Se sd r1fo ana nautical schools
% which all petty criminals, should thereafter be com
Of ncity criminals should thereafter be- abolished
Thin every subordinate officer aud enploye under
the superintendent OF Prisons. ami all such a. may
have the charge aud superintendent Of the proposed
warehouses and reform and nautical schools. shnl
Of the Civil service law Fourth. add t, the duties
Of the state Board OF Health an active aud compn DRY
sanitary condition Of each worHhousc school and IN
mate, with ample powers to effect all propose, os
bidding the landing any immigrant In who's" family
there has been convicted criminal for the last nec