The evening world., 1894-08-23
EVILS OF BRIBERY.
Moorfeld storcy's Strong Speech
to the Bar Association.
Confidence Of the People Shaken by
Corruption.
Great Corporations Make or Defeat
Laws with Money.

tBy Associated PfesSD
SARATOGA, Aug. 23-When the Bar
Association resumed it's session to-day.
Moorfield Storey, Of Boston, read an ad-
dress on the American Legislature In
opening lie spoke of the abiding faitn
which Americans are brought up to
place I'm their institutions and good sense
Of the people, and their phiiosophic In
difference to political evils.
Yet, ne said. during the last twenty
years there has been n change In the
attitude OF the people towards the FUN
damentai principles of our Government.
He alluded briefly to the contempt for
law evinced 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. TIE Senate Of the United States, down 10
| the Aldermen OF New York the citizen TOO often
distruHts fears and is ashamed OF his representa-
tiyes.
Thc business community throughout the couhtry
welcomes the adjournment OF Congress as the end
Of season allied with perrieMy anu art tse b,a
laws have been repealed or bad proportions nave
been defeated than because good laws have been
passed. We congratulate ourselves upon our mar
When a State Legislature peets, every great
corporation within It's reach PREPARES for ser de-
tably attacks upon Its property are received IN
COMMITTEES and on the floor. The private citizen.
right may not be endangered by existing monop-
ocs by schemers In search Of valuable fran
chises
speaker found the same distrust exist
ing. Biennial sessions of State Legis-
latures, he regarded as an evidence OF
public distrust, also evinced IN the con-
t.tf tnh h NJ
ton. The same distrust is reflected In
the Legislature itself, and nowhere 50
strongly as in the Federal House of
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 tn
the root OF tn, changes In public opinion on fun
dar,ental principles ALREADY noted. Moro or less
distinctly recognized th- idea that the corpora
| lions have corrupted the Legislatures is dormant
| In the minds OF many. and bribery is made the
excuse for anarchy.
The danger against which we guard in constitu-
lions. and which In conversation we recognize ard
| AFFORD to pay for the 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
adeaute compensation. to tax their felow-ctizens.
or to use the public streets for private purposes
| tho ordinary voter smiles and thinks that so alb
| surd measure cannot possibly pass When
however however after a period Of incubation IN com
the measure is reported, the public awskes, and
certain citizens, whose interests are msnaeed. or
whose publ public 'Pi5i, is exceptional be.,r them:
''educated'' to be reached by argument and de-
termined to pass the bill which seemed impossi-
Great corporations secure or defeat legislation
at Will and dominate the politics Of whole States,
| and their power rests on corruption.
| The came conditions exist In relation to legis-
| lation by Congress. The existence OF the lobby
system threatens the permanence OF our instili-
lions. II large body OF voters desire change In
our monetary system and think that Congress has
been influenced against them by other than public
| tion and believe that the right to tax them has
been sold TO private citizens for money. whether
paad TO ihaiydaa,s or TO- campaign funds which
privileges from transportation companies and fnd
, themselves beaten BY large expenditures in nc
| sold for money which the public does not receive.
can they retain confidence In thoir representative
The action OF the Legislature in each case may
nave been right, but when a wise law is bought,
| most foolish law can cause.
our self,constituted political leaders talk much
about the public. but they foar nothing as much
they resort to every device which can proven;
Or emharrass 1t. Premature caucuses and packed
| conventions, false returns OF votes and stuffed
ballot boxes arc familiar expodents and the
last, at least. have been made more dnieut by
| recent laws. There Is however. one ancient
| wrong, native. I regret to say In Massachusetts
but readily adopted elsewhere, which seems &c
srow with our growth and strenythen with Our
"Gerrymandering
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 al
element for legislative corruption.
been decided In our Legislature is u standing
rcproach, and there is no remedy except &c
have these cases tried by Judges while we
cannot, without Constitutional amendment tax,
from our legislatures the right to decide uIti-
mately as To the elections and qualifications OF
their members we can, by proper legislation
make tho Judgment OF court the prma faCit
TUE to seat as well as the certificate OF q
Returning Board, and such a Judgment after
public trial, would with difficulty be reversed.
Mr.. Storey said in conclusion:
The fees which paid for very slight leris
lathe services are large. Their size often stig
TatEes the employment. The temptation is great
but we who the Interpreters and 10 a rraa
extent the makers OF the law We whose con,
tcirnceS are educated In courts Of Justice We who
should lead the community UP. and who know
mat npon respect for the law rests our Who'll,
system OF government certainly cannot Ctcap,
the greatest condemnation II. through any act
advice or acquiesence OF the fountains OF
the law are polluted. The honor OF our pro.as
law Is in our keaping and our hands must neye,
weaken their hold upon the people.