The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-23
EVILS OF BRIBERY.
Moorfeld storey's Strong Speech
to the Bar Association.
Confidence Of the People Shaken by
Corruption.
Great Corporations Make or Defeat
Laws with Money.

SARATOGA. Aug. 23.-When the Bar
Assucia ton resumed Its session to-day,
Moorfield Storey, of Boston, read an ad-
dress on tn. American Legislature" In
opening he spoke Of the abiding faith
which Americans are brought up to
place In their institutions and good sense
OF the people. and their .philosophc In
difference to political evils.
Yet. he said. during the last twenty
years there has been change In the
attitude Of the people towards the fun
damental principles of our Goyernme mt.
law. evinced In the conduct OF la Dor
strikes and to the conflicts OF the last
twenty years for the control OF State
Legislature. Continuing he said, in part:
From the most august legislative body in the
country, II Senate Of the United States, down to
the Aldermen OF New York the citizen too often
distrusu. fears and Is ashamed OF his representa-
lives.
The business community throughout the oonhtry
welcomes the adjournment of Congress as the end
OF a season Allied with p,trlesity and dread. II
we applaud Congress, II 10 rather because the bad
iaws have been repealed or bad propositions have
been defeated than because good laws have hecn
passed. We congratulate Ourselves upon our mar
rev escapes. AMI wonler whether We shall be
e1uail" fortunate aqua.
When a state Legislature s,eets. every great
corporation within Us reach prepares for self de.
tsbly attacks upon its property are received IN
COMMITTEES and on the noor The private citizen
on ms own part. never knows what ehershsd
olies or by schemers In search Of valuable fran
chises.
Toward municipal legislatures the
ing. Biennial sessions OF State Legs-
iatures, he regarded as an evidence of
public distrust, also evinced In the con-
stitutional Inhibition Of special legisla-
ton. The same distrust IL reflected in
the Legislature itself, and nowhere so
strongly as in the Federal House of
Representatives. which by Its rules has
almost revolutionized its character Con
tinuing he said:
Loss Of faith In the Legislature Is loss OF faith
IN representative government. loss OF faith in tn,
people themselv,l rnd hits feeling really lies at
the root of thu changes in public opinion. on fun.
da",ental principles air, ady noted. More or less
lions have the ns Snrms
IN the minds OF many. and bribery Is made the
tiuhs. and which In conversation we recognize AID
dsplore is the danger that private interests can
onord 10 Day for he privileges which they seek
prices which the ordinary Legislator cannot refuse.
Mr. Storey spoke at some length of the
method by which lobbyists and corrup-
tionists pursue their nefarious work. cit
Ing various Instances of the bribery OF
Legislators In the interest OF corpora
lions or individuals.
When a bill Is introduced into the Legislature
which gives TO certain private individuals the
ahequte compensation to tax their felIow.citizens
or to use the public streets for private purposes
,ne qsr smiles and thinks that so s
mittee, spent in educating the Legislature,
the measure is reported. the public awakes. and
certain citizens, who's. interests are mensced, or
whose public spirit Is exceptional, bestir them
:s ads., only to ma legislature too ,horosshly
termined 10 pass the bill which seemed impossi-
BIZ, co.,,.,.,,- .,... ,,-,.,,-
al WIN. and dominate the politics OF whole States
and their power rests on corruption.
Ihu came conditions exist In relation TO legis-
latlon by Congress The existence OF the lobby
system threatens the permancnce OF our institl-
lions, u large body OF voters desire a change In
our monetary system and think that Congress has
been Influenced aga INST them by other than public
considerations; II they demand relief from taxa.
ton and believe that the right to tax them has
been sold TO private citizenG for money. whether
paid TO Individuals or to campaign funis which
are used to elect Individuals II they SEEK
privileges from transportation companies and find
themselves beaten by large expenditures in nc
Legislature; II they md franchises OF great value
sofa Tor money which the public does not receive
can they retain confidence In their representa-
system or rely on 1t for the redress OF grievances?
me hctlon OF the Legislature in each case may
have been right. but when u wise law Is bought
the injury done the public is far greater than The
most foolish law can cause.
Our self-consttuted political leaders talk much
about tina public. but they fear nothing as much
as the oppression of Its real opinion Hence
or embarrass Il. Premature caucuses and packed
conventions. false returns OF votes and stuffed
bal boxes are familiar expedients, and the
last. at least. have been made more diifcult by
recent laws There Ia however. one ancient
but readily adopted elsewhere, which seems to
grow with our growth and strengthen with our
| strength. refer to the practice known as
| "Gcrrymandering
Mr.. Storey gave an outline of how this
species OF political corruption was man
aged and said the Supreme Court should
appoint the commissions to redistrict
territories.
The subject of campaign contributions
also came up for consideration as an
element for legislative corruption.
The manner in which contested elections have
been decided in orr Legislature Is a standing
reproach. and there is remedy except to
have these cases tried by Judges. While we
| cannot, without Constitutional amendment, TAX
| from our legislatures the right to decide uti-
mhtely as to the elections and quAlihC atoms OF
their meInberu, We can. by proper legislation.
| title To seat W we'll as the certificate of a
Returning Board. and such a judgment after
! public trial. would with d!frculty be reversed.
Mr.. Storey said in conclusion:
| The fees which are paid for Very slight leyls.
ratiTcs the employment, The temptation Is great
! hut we who are the Interpreters and, to II great
! extent, the makers Of tho law. We whose coli,
i.i,nceS are educated IT. courts 81 Justice. who
| rhoull lead tae comn.Caity w. and who know
that upon respect for the law rests our Who'll,
| the greatest condemnation w. through any act
advice or scquiesence OF ours the fountains al
the law are polluted, The honor Of our prof g.
SION, ihe future OF our country are al stake. IT,,