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

SARATOGA. Aug. 23.-When the Bar
Association resumed Its session to-day,
Moorfield Storey, OF Boston. read an ad-
dress on the 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 phiosophic 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
He alluded briefly to the contempt for
law evlnced in the conduct of labor.
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, ~ Senate of the United States. down to
tho Aldermen Of New York the citizen too often
| distrusts fears and Is ashamed OF his representa-
lives.
Tho business community throughout the oouatry
welcomes the adjournment of Congress- as the end
OF season filled with p'irleIity and dread II
laws have been repealed or bad propositions have
been defeated than because good laws have h,en
PASSED We congratulate ourselves upon our mar
row escapes, AMI wonler whether we shall be
When a State Legislature pieets. every great
corporation within It's reach prepares for self de
| Tense. knowing by bitter experience. how hospi-
tably attacks upon Its property are received IN
on hs n"q ps on me moor
right may not b.. endangered by existing moncp.
oes or by schemefs In search OF valuable fran
chises
Toward municipal legislatures the
speaker found the same distrust exist
ing. Biennial sessions of State Legis-
latures. he regarded as an evidence of
stitutional inhibition of special legisla
ton. The same distrust Is reflected in
the Legislature itself, and nowhere SO
strongly as in the Federal House of
Representativ which by it's rules has
so fettered It's own action AS to have
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 til
people Themselves. rnd This feeling really lies
III" root Of tn changes In public opinion on fun
di",ental principles ALREADY noted. Mere less
distinctly recognized. th idea that the corpora
lions have corrupted the ogiglsturcs Is dormant
,Ncus" fer anarchy.
The danger against which guard In constrtu.
tons, and which In cunv,nltion we recognize and
deplore. Is the danger that private Interests can
pn"ri TO nay for 'he privileges which they seek
pIir's 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
tons or individuals.
When a bill In introduced into tho Legislature
which gives TO certain private individuals the
right TO take their nerhbors' property without
or TO use the public streets for private purposes,
the Ordinary voter smiles and thinks that so alb
snrh measure cannot possibly pass. When.
however. after period Of Incubation In com
mittec, spent in educating the Legislature
the measure is reported. the public awakss. aud
certain citizens. whose Interests are n,enaced. or
whose public spirit Is exceptional, bestir them
selves only to and legislature too thoroughly
trrmined to pass the bill which seemed impossi-
Bile.
Great corporations secure or defeat IegIslation
nj hnl Stafk
aud their power rests corruption.
me same conditions exist In relation 10 legis-
Iatlon by congress. The existence OF tho lobby
system threatens the permanence OF our instilu-
lions u large body ot voters desire n change in
our monetary system and think that Congress- has
been influenced against them by other than public
considerations II they demand relief from taxa
ton and believe that the right to tax them has
oeen soid to private citizens for money whether
paid to individuals or To campaign funds which
are used to elect individuals II they seek greater
priNlekes from transportation companies and find
themselves heaten by large expenditures In ne
legislature II they find franchises OF great value
sold for money which the public does not receive
'an they retain confidence in their representative
system or rely on 1t for the redress OF grievances?
The action ~ the Legislature in each case NAV
have been right, hut when a wise law lis bought
the injury done the public 10 far greater than the
most foolish law cause.
Our seif-constitutcd politIca, leaders talk much
about the public. but they fear nothing as much
as tn" Expression of its real opinion Hence
or emoarrsss IT, Premature caucuscs and packed
conventions false returns OF votes and stuffed
last. at least. have been made more dificult by
recent laws There Is, however. one ancient
wrong native, ! regret to say, In Massachusetts
but readily adopted elsewhere. which seems to
grow with our growth and strengthen with our
strength. | refer TO the practice known as
Gerry Wandering"
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 our Legislature Is a. standing
reproach, and there Is remedy except 10
have these cases tried by Judges While We
| cannot. without Constitutional amendment, take
| from our legislatures the right to decide ultl-
| their members, We can, by proper legislation,
| make the judgment NJ court the prima facie
| title to seat we'll Ms the certificate of a
| Returning Board. and such Judgment after
| public trial. would with difacuity be reversed.
Mr.. Storey said in conclusions:
| The fees which paid for very slight lezis-
| ndti2"s the employ ment. The temptation 10 great
| hut We who are the Interpreters and to a great
| extent the makers Of the law. We whose con
sciences are educated III courts of Justice We who
should lead the community w. and who know
| that upon respect for the law rests our whole
| system OF government We certainly cannot escape
the greatest condemnation H. through any act
advice or acguiescnce OF ours the fountains OF
| the l2w are polluted. The honor OF our prof
thR anIn mi