New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-04
the Legislature 10 postpone the election the law should
at least be modified In its faulty and Unconstitutional


least be modified In its faulty and unconstitutional
features.
THE USE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
The part OF our electoral machinery which now most
needs Strengthening by leg Station is that relating to
the use Of money In elections. The Legislature has
made impossible TO bride voters with any degree Of
assurance that they Will vote they have been bIbed'
but Notwithstanding the statutory safeguards 1t Is
notorious that money Is still spent in elections FIR cor
rp purposes The active agents in the corruption are
apparently either willing to trust the corrupted voter
10 vote lie has been brired the corruption takes
the form OF peoun inducement to the eirctor to
remain away from the polls. =.
am not confident that this sate of affairs can be
thoroughly remcdied by law. The most potent IN
strument of reform is wholesome pnblic opinion no
law, however stringent, can be effective WITHOUT the
earnest support # popular sentiment .....
Lut every law aimed at This evil and every agiia,
lion Of II influential in properly shaping public
opinion. An end must come so'n TO wholcnlc bribery
Persons familiar with cami agn Arrangements stand
aehas at tie rapid Increase OF purhasabc voters from
year to year. reaction toward honcster methods OF
conducting elections Will be welcomed by political
iicn and legislation are al i asst aids to this end:
defect in what is nov known as oar Corrnpt
and expenditures. While the statute compels TINS
duty on the part OF candidates. 1t leaves political com
mitteeS and agents free 10 conceal both the source
Of their ard the purposes OF their expcndi
es The extension OF the provisions Of the law to
financial traI sacti)ns Of such committees matter Of
public reco'd rs they should be- and would tend to
by individuals Such law is now In force in Ma>sa.
chusets. havlng been enacted recently. 1t should
be drawn with rigid provisions Which would permit
Another proposed remedy for the evil Of corruption
Is such lcgiSatp will make proof OF bribery the
part Of candidates their political agents com
nittces sufficient cause for forfeiture of Office Great
chsc those who convicted of brillng voters. but
they practically protect the beneficiary Of this crime
be proved that the bbed votes which he received
% %Ga tina" sa%ssa the "TSSnt 4 b; purs!
money corrupty II proof Of the act would be dis
qualification for Office. Properly administered such
recommend these proposed changes in orr election
laws TO your attention, and trust that some practical
good, IN The drecfiJ OF diminishing bribery may be
accomplished at the present legislative session.
GOOD ROADS.
The subject Of good reads is exciting remarkable
Interest throughout The country. By popular agiia
ton and through the newspapers the movement Is
beginning to find expression In state legislation. and
II 1t goes Oh with Its present momentum will rev0
tionizc conditions prevailing in nearly all rural
localities.
While having no sympathy whatever with that
phase OF this movement which seeks the establish
ment OF a national bureau OF roads and the cOilse
quent building OF national roads through the country
| am thoroughly convinced that tae prosperity OF
agricultural sections. demand promp and effective
efforts 10 improve the condition OF our highways.
1t has long been admitted generally that our present
system of highway Improvement Is lndefcnsble either
from the point CT View OF economy the point
Of view OF efficiency. iet annual spasinodic efforts
iave been made here and there TO establish permanent
ana durable roads, or even to chonge the antiluated
method which has long prevailed. As l. we'll
Known the principal feature OF OR highway lesisa-
ton and practice Is what is comprehendej By the
sO-Cii.d wording" system, and with view Of
getting at reliable statistics the actual cost
at present OF highway maintenance and construction
under this system. Lave sent communications ~ tlc
,ONn clerks III the stale, requesting them q furnish
me Will figures which would be of use In such a cOu-
puiauon. ! have received replies from only abol
third OF the towns. Vet the figures received ano.I
reasonable opportunity OF computing with more or
less degree OF accuracy the approximate cost In each
county. ! have eDdcavorcd Chiefly I, ascertain tac
the highways OF each county. and the total casa
expenditures for highway Improvement in each county
for one year The following table presents ihs re.
suits OF my computation. in estimating the total
money cost In each county have aided t. the cash
expenditures the number Of days work performed
valued al one dollar for each day. The figures do
not in any case includ" the cost OF road Improve
men i'm cities and villages The table f. rs follow: