New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-12
HOPE FOR RICHMOND COUNTY,
4 BILL SENT TO ALBANY BY THE CIT
IZTNS' COMMITTEE.
1T WILL. If PASSED. ENABLE THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL. TO CHALLENGE \ JUROR SIGN

q 1T WILL. If PASSED, ENNbl.i> I'M -
GENERAL TO CHALLENGE \ JUROR. SIGN
INDICTMENTS. ETC.
The bill prepared by the citizens Commi''ea %
Richmond County with view 10 improving NV
condition of affairs in the County, which IL WIS ue
cidel to prepare after Governor Flowers decd'"o''
IN the committee at the Windsor Hotel meeting
that the Attorney General had no right uiuV' INC
existing Law. to so into the Grand jury roo"n' was
taken 10 Albany by George Cromwell of the com
mittee who returned to this city yesterday morn
ing Mr. Cromwell says he found the EXECUTIVE
Department favorable TO the measure anu WIG"
the pith of the bin had been explained many mem
bers who before that had looked upon the Ola as
one affecting Richmond County only became IN
terested in il and anxious to see it pass. senator
Saxton has the bill in charge in the Senate ana MI
Answorh in the lower House
TEXT OF THE BILL.
The following is the text Of the bill:
IAN Act to amend the executive law
"rbe People of the State OF New-York, repre-
scnted in Senate and Assembly. do enact as ioloWs:
Section l. Subdivision two Of section hfiy-t"o Oh
;he Executive law Is hereby aihehdeu 81 40 - ''"
az follows:
80 Whenever required by the Governor or
Justice of the Supreme Court. in person. or by one
OF his deputies attending a Court or oyer anu Ter
miner or appearing before the Grand jury thereof
for the purpose of managing and conducting IN such
court or before such jury such criminal actions W
proceedings as shall be specified in such require
ment in which the Attorney-Generai or MS
DENNY so attending shall exercise all the powers
and perform all the duties in respect OF such ac-
lions or proceedings which by sections Z'' ~ 20,
9e4 27c 300 3C and Go Of the Code OF criminal
Procedure the DlsricAttorney Is authorized or re-
ouired 70 exercise or perform. and In respect OF
such actions or proceedings. the District-Attorhey
shall not exercise said powers or perform SAID
dnties except upon the request of the Attorney
General or the Deputy Acknowledgement 50 attend
ing.
"section This act shall take effect immediately
John s Davenport. who acted as the committee
spokesman at the meeting with the Governor WIS
seen AT his Office. No IS Wall-st, and said he was
glad 10 explain the intent Of the bill as to which
some doubt or misrepresentation may exist; .,
o. ans pir' he ittorn@v. General to fulfil The duty
which. under a statute OF long standing, me ,ioY
ernor has had the power to lay upon hm wnTn
simply add to the present law the P POM %. ns
AtIorn iSnedly tbnmsh not expressly to chal-
ienge Grand Jury. sign an Indictment emit enter me
a Bench warrant, issue subpoenas. ana arraign the
defendant
OF INTEREST To MANY PEOPLE.
people should not imagine added Mr. Daven-
port. that this is an act Of interest merely
to Richmond County. The Mckane people IN
BROOKLYN have been troubling Mr. Shepard,
though not very seriously. perhaps. with sug-
gestions that the Attorney General lacks the powers
which we propose to make II sure that he IS to
have The effect of this act in future elections
throughout the state generally, is calculated to be
that where local corruption springs w. tn dread ~
prosecution from the Attorney -GcnerAIs one "II
nave a wholesome effect upon election criminals,
even if the prosecuting power In their own locality
should be practically ami politically pledged To fur
nirh them immunity and TO shut It's eyes 10 their
misdeeds. That is wherc the real diisuity N he
matters OF local corruption arises. That m" local
politicians secure control OF the prosrcutins rover.
and in such cases the local 'heeers are quite fear
less
The mere existence OF this act on the s'airte
books" he continued, with Il good demonstration
Of It's power in Kings County and Richmond county
this election. will no doubt suffice 10 render
much recourse IL unnecessary In the future Those
who are opposed 10 II are trying 10 raise a great
penses could in no case be very great. especially
in small Counties and the sudden spirit Of economy
which has seized the opponents of this measure Ia
not entitled TO "A great deal OF consideration.
WHAT THE COMMITTEE Is TO DO.
Gan our Committee OF Twenty five IL organized TO
DO Is to restore the law ito proper terror for evil
doors They have. in county. demonstrated for
the last three years that II has lacked that
element The whole system Of the prosecuting Of
offences g. that IL is done by the whole people oi toe
State. and u would seem emnently proper tnat IN"
Attorney General. officer elected by all the
people. should have kind o: supervision Of The
prosecution OF crimes which, ike election offences,
necessarily affect the whole people