New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-24
CORRUPT LEGISLATURES
MOORFIELD STOREY's ADDRESS prro
THE BAR ASSOCIATION

T,,s-
Samuel F. Hunt, of Cincinnati The annua, ~
dress to the association was delivered bv ~
field Storey. Of Boston. His topic wa. ..r.
American Legislature" Among other thine, -
said:
| 1t must occur occasionally to even the mo.,
fdent American that certain tendencies have sh n.
themselves with Increasing frequency in recent
ing place In our theories Of government which :.
cannot afford TO Ignore When we remember ne
civilization of 400 years and contrast the sps,XHe
prospect upon which nj our eyes rested year sss
the same city during the conflict whose echoes ~
even now ringing In our ears, we may well inquiss
what the change means. s
Mr. Storey spoke at length of the corruptIn,.
huences that surrounded legislatures end Of n.
evils that made 1t possible to elect bad men !.
office. Continuing, he said
Americans have short memories. and even n.
shortest carry Us back to the revolutionary ~
| tempt of Governor Ga celon, OF Maine when cons.
tuona was e to s,a while , suspended
the duty of protecting the public property and ~
institutions or the State" during the nterregnun
necticut paralyzed for its entire term and unabs
to pass single law. while an election was nuiiiis
and the term OF the retiring Governor and othss
officers OF the State was prolonged for two Year,
without the popular assent Rhode Island has VIZ
though for a short period New-Jersey has jul
emerged from the confusion caused BY two sena,ss
each with It's Speaker holding simultaneous session.
in the same chamber until one party barred the
militia when directed by The Governor to expel the
party In possession refused TO obey the order
america. not even in our new communities but ia
the land steady habits in the Oldest States Of tie
Union and i'm Kansas, which was largely settled by
New England men. New-York at It's last electioi
set the seal Of It's condo on the methods
been secured. and the country now looks to the
Of COLORADO in TIE h1Re hst the ss pro
NAV receive an emphatic rebuke These examples
SHOW that even in the well-organized society Of
an election is disappearing. and throughout the
country political partisans in the name Of the Law
| and its principles resort to any eXpedent which
will enable them TO attain or acquire power
IL may, perhaps. be said that both the Illegal acts
! OF striking workmen and the Illegal acts Of des
perate politicians are occasional manifestations q
ia Opinion. IL is undoubtedy true that the char
acter OF community Is shown. not by the TACT that
| crimes are committed within rs limits. but by the
manner In which the criminals are regarded and
punished. Giving full weight TO this consideration Il
Is s true that great organizauons OIL ~o t
their associates. and that grea; political paris: sec
nothing to condemn in the frauds or qdiooes OF their
| own leaders If partisan success is az stake
| From the most august legislative body In the coun
try, the Senate OF the United states, down TO me
| Aldermen OF New-York. the citizen TOO often dis
trusts fears and is ASHAMED Of his representatives,
| The business community throughout the county
welcomes the adjournment OF Congress as the enc
| OF a season filled with perpexity and dread When
State legislature meets every great corporation
by bitter experience how Hospitality attacks upon rs
property are received in committee ana on he hoor
The citizen OF New.York needs no light from me az
TO the character Of his legislature; In Massachu;
| sets during each successive session for years
have heard on every hand: This is the worst legs.
Iature we have ever had" but | DO not believe tia,
Massachusetts Is more unfortunate than her sister,
| in New.Eng.and. and II the o.dtme virtues stu
exist in Pennsylvania. or Maryland. or California Of
| the great States OF the south, the West ana tns
| Northwest. | shall hope to earn from their repre-
|
When we come to municipal legislatures the same
! feeling is found. would not exaggerate. II. In.
deed Il were easy to do so. the extent OF the eyf
,Se test,mony given in New-York before commit.
tee OF the Legislature is still reshin your memories
ton. but the administration OF the law have been
for sale. Not criminals alone but men Of n, Me. s
an1 sta OF tss is S tn neglect to
duty Great corporations and prOmnen; S sIi,sns
influence in return FOR legislative iayCs s OF Il:
insurance against hostile laws Whine ~, num Ihs,
living In the greatest and richest city OF oai
! land the government Of laws has given P'A'Vs No. ~
government OF corruption and blackma,L Ne w.
York has had virtue enough at least 10 begin r..
form. and has learned what honest men secns.s All.
weak is any combination OF scoundres. ins. IA
OF the Tweed ring the most strongly ,na ysr az.
conspiracy against good government that ever ovsr
| isted in this country and the ignomnlous o 49,
| throw of McKane and his associates IN CRIME saw"
Mr. President ana gentlemen why not o os sss
what we 90 often quote? The existence Oh M M
permanence OF our institutions am mol an "a, sa, no
st The most sanguine American OF US az 'ss
more faith than IN me o Nrr'I peope but these
qualities must assert themselves , u we shall
Sod an n 'n apnlv the remedy: but they not paa
enough now? How much longer hnuS ro corrupt q
fore we r's sha,, we Wait? Is there not danger
that in our self-conndence we ma hlay nores time
40 too far for easy cure re- revolution. Can We n
sure that virtues are so .e'.' ~ reat that the
alton so peculiar our other republics by no
accident be ours , -...
After the reading OF the address 'nr'e -,
general discussion of the papers reau 1T.
evening by Hampton l.. Carson oil fe'''''! ,....,,
and Charles Claain Allen Of Missouri I'.'.
y Whoe,er Of New-York City and othe's Wv"
part in this discussion. Twenty-1Snn,g, omns from
bers were elected. including the io,.0 George NJ
New-York City: Francis NJ buruI.n Erwin
cummings Richard ~ Dyer, Frank ,, =; ~, A.
A Newton Fiero Alfred Greeves; ,. WSlnor
keenan, George w. kirchway, VI. ~ christie.
Robert u. Petty Isaac r. huSse
pm s.cnnd DAYS meeting Of the secuo" r W.
legal education was held this afterho s,'roon E.
first paper was read by Protess9' ihrads
Baldwin OF Yale University on i,." "a" that
and How 10 Use Them" He aiVova r,ors
!. libraries be used more for consul,auon Pro
than Is the usual practice Win cor. read
fessor Woodrow Wilson. OF frIn. 80. a,,ates"
noper on Legal Training for Unders' nnSht 10
be- he a SsSsdp the opportunity study the Jaw
Of Jurisprudence. the history OF law s ssnd not
Rome and the common law Oh I'd scholarly
scale paper on orthodox Legal I more 0,
S was read BY Professor John Henry soSds cs
the Northwestern University Law sSn acourinss
cago He discouraged the practice Oh "o her con-
sEaI occupation The work in wSrs
school demands the whole of stud sa secured
time No thorough training can readng@
pei pa,S one professor ra james Thaysr Of Of the
ward University. was elected chai arr baltimore
section, and George NJ Sharp OF DAM
secretary. ..t. o,ening 10 hesr
r n ;s Tsoors of the special committees on
form state Laws on Expression S ana Of Crimi.
ton OF the Law and on Federal 'o'e
nal Procedure. yr called atteh::