The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-15
NO MORE TAMpERING WITH BILLS

crowd The prosecution of S. Otho
Wilson for his Gideonite practice made
him Railroad Commissioner, and the
prosecution of Satterfield and Brown
will result in giving them important
offices. There ought to be no political
prosecutions"
There ought to be no politlcal pro-
secutions and there have been none.
The true non-partisan pretender, who
is always at heart a Republican in
Democratic State and always Demo
crat in a Republican State, may be
relied upon to seek to shield promin-
ent politicians by such clap-trap as the
above. If there was any mistake at all
made in the case against s. Ohio VIII
sou, it was in permitting him to enter
the plea of nolo contendere. If he had
been convicted and punished for vio-
lating the provision of the constltu-
ton, there would have been no error.
And his conviction might or might not
have prevented his election to the Rail
road Commissionership. 1t was scan
dalous enough as it was to promote
him to that position, and showed the
incompetency of the legislators who
elected him.
No mistake has been made in the
conviction of Satterfield and Brown.
They were VIGOROUSLY negligent in
discharging their official duties, and
to such an extent as to amount to
public scandal. The jury could have
done no less than convict them upon
charge which is apparent and unques-
toned. A conviction for neglect of of
fetal duty, while not carrying with it
any moral turpitude, is more far
reaching in its effect upon the State
than any petty crime could be. A man
who steals a coat merely makes him
self warm at the expense of some other
one man. The man whose neglect of
duty permits the enrolment and rati-
fication of bills that the Legislature
tabled permits legislation that strikes
at the life, liberty and property of ev-
cry citizen lie may be guiltless of any
ligence is so far-reaching as to make
it quite as injurious and censurable,
and more lasting, than the commission
of a petty crime.
The Jury that rendered the verdict
that Satterfeld was guilty of negli-
gence and Brown of negligence and
corruption was composed of Democrats
and Fusionists and could not there
4 H. -
consideration. There has been no
clamor for the conviction of these two
men, but ar insistence upon the con-
yiction of the men who were guilty OF
procuring the enrolment and ratifi-
cation of the law
The attempt to excuse and pailiate
the offence of these men by saying
that such occurrences are common and
that Democratic officers have been as
negligent as Satterfield, and as negli-
gent and corrupt as Brown, is not only
q piece of mawkish sentimentality, but
is a gross libel upon Democratic Of
cials. Never in the history of the State
before, not even in the Radical era of
unlicensed corruption We're bills en-
rolled that had been tabled Mistakes
there have been and negligence posi-
bly,, but no such negligence or mistakes
that put upon the Statute books law
that had been sent to the table
1t is a mawkish sentimentality that
cries out against the punishment of
men who prove recreant 10 their Of
fetal duties. Unless men are punish
led for their neglect or corruption.
or both. has not the gate
been opened to ii continua-
ton Of the disgracefuI scenes and
consequences that were attendant upon
the late session of the Legislature? OF
what avail is ii that laws be passed
furnishing dereIiction or corruption if
a inawkish aentimentality cries out
for the pardon Of those who violate
these laws?
Neglect ought not 10 De punished
with anything like the severity hat IL
visited upon corruption, but an exam
Pile ought 10 be made of men whose
neglect offers an easy method of forg
cry and rascality to corrupt lobbyists
who have pecnniary interest in put
ting a tabled bill on the Statute books,
and making it law Of the land.
Judge McIyer cannot be too highly
commended for the sentences impos-
ed. He made distinction in the pun
ishment, giving one year Imprisonment
to Brown ''for fraudulently and cor
ruptly procuring tho enrolment of the
act, and fine eS $3.50 to each for negli-
gence. These pnnishments are very
light when the nature of the offence
is considered.
The sight of the enrolling clerk of
the General Assembly at work on the
public roads for negligence and cor
ruption, and the Principal Clerk of
the House of Representatives paying
n inc of $3.50 for negligence will stand
as a perpetual deterrent of future leg
islative officers.
The verdict and the sentence means
that we will have no more tampering
with bills in North Carolina.
Ia the trial of Satterfield and Brown
the solicitor relied chiefly on the de-