The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-27
SOME JUDGES DIDN'T PAY.
TIN BRUNT ONE OF THEM AND
GAYNOR ANOTHER.

More opinions from the bench as to the pro-
priety OF candidates for the bench making
campaign contributions were culled before the
Mazet Com mites yesterday. As In the case OF
the judges called on the previous day. most OF
the witnesses yesterday believed 1t would be
good thing II contributions from candidates
for the bench were done away with. but didn't
quite see how such q thing was possible. In
the case OF one witness the interest reverted
to the Ramapo Company. Supreme Court JUS
tice Gaynor testifyinR to an effort that was
made to induce him to become president OF
the Company. $4,000 in stock having been
offered to him. He 10 the man OF great politl-
cal prominence" to whom President Circuit OF
the Borough OF Brooklyn referred in his testi-
mony as TO the Ramapo matter.
JUSTICE BARRETT THINKS ASSESSMENTS SHOULD
STOP.
Justice Barrett OF the Supreme Court was
the first witness called. and he testified that he
did not directly contribute any money for
election expenses but that he empowered a
personal friend OF his to make tho necessary
outlay for him. This amounted to several
hundred dollars. He was the nominee on all
the tickets except the Prohibition ticket he
said.
Is there custom for judiciary eand idates
to contributor" asked Mr.. Moss.
Not that | know Of" replied the witness.
Take the case OF Justice Van Brunt He did
not give . cent. When l went to Mr.. Croker
two years ago to advocate Justice Van Brunts
denomination he said that there had been much
talk OF contributions by the judicial candi-
dates. He thon said that the contributions
from the other candidates had been sufficient
for tho campaign expenses. and that Justice
Van Brunt would not be expected to give q
cent: furthermore. that II were . candidate
would not be expected TO give anything was
glad to see by Justice Van Brunts certificate
that his election cost him nothing"
DO you not think that 81. 500 10 enough for
q judicial candidate to pay?" asked Mr.. Moss
Personally am opposed to the custom OF
giving money" said the witness, enphatically.
"As l grow older l believe more and more
that the bench should be apart from politics;
that Justices life should be consecrated and
removed altogether from the phases OF poll
tics. Fifteen hundred dollars is too much for
judicial candidate to pay. Just as fifteen hum
bred cents is"
The witness believed that judges shou d have
long terms but that they should be brought
before the people for election at stated periods.
As to the matter Of referees he thought that q
board OF referees. consisting Of fifty mem bers.
should relieve the congestion Of the calen dars.
but that there might be difficulty in selecting
the fifty.
JuOR0 COWlnH OF inc court OF d6nerdl bo9-
sions was called and testified that when he was
nrst nominated he contributed $1,000 and a
like amount on his denomination. He under
stood that to be the usual thing and saw
nothing improper in it.
RAMAPo OFFERED aAYNoR $50, 900 IN STOCK.
Justice Gaynor Of Brooklyn took the stand
and Mr.. Moss called his attention to the testi
mony OF President Grout about the $50 900
offer by the Ramapo Company.
Was it to you that Mr. Circuit reierred?'
asked Mr.. Moss
ut may have bs ss,., was the reply. Il had
y. Did you receive such an offer? A. C. A.
Lamont same IN; to to me and talked aoont getting
New York. He offered me some stock, but did
nottake II, heard aiterward that an influential
private citizen had bscoms Interested in the
COMPANY; ! VIII tell you privately VINO the
Q. How many times did Mr., Lamont see you
., Was tho stock offered to you for purchaser
A. No: it was to be without charge.
y. Was the stock in Mr.. Lannon'S name3 A.
don't know.
NO PROPERTY But MAPS: 10 CAPITAL PAID Up.
O. Did you inquire into the afYairs OF the
l was in terested in this matter OF water supply
and knew i was coming up some time Mr.
Lamont said that the company owned a lot OF
| land and was prepared to supply water In time.
and something was said. too. about an ice
.. Did you find that the company, owned any
properly: a. a. SONS 4ne 1 mspsIthats all ,
No. not bit was sold. There was no demand
| for it..
@. Has l. any now? A; I've kept my eye on
know q any PROPERTY that it. has.
9 4 there any prospect Of a water famine in
but we are ali, right for water. There is an
enormous supply OF water on Long Island.
| REFUSED TO PAY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.
| Asked about campaign contributions. the
| witness said he hadn't made any One COM
nd S ne et sane wrote 10 n askns od 9 3S
| matter once for all. He believed that there
| should be no referees appointed and that all
| oases should be tried In court
| OTHER JUDGES WHO DID PAY.
Surrogate Fitzgerald. C allied ne1t, contr but.d
ments. but thought judicial contrib buttons :.
perfectly proper thing. Referees. he eonsid-
suprsms Court Justis. Maddox had contrib
Why Judicial candidsts should not contribute
| the same as any other. He was opposed to all
ss: sSoa be snder bona ana sSoad eo1 %.
| stitute board As to other referees the pres
enft n .y;te% was good ore =, ,n.u,,,.s
$4,000; He saw no harm In such contributions.
| nor did he see any reason for changing the
| present referee system. Chief Judge Fitz-
simons OF the City Court said:
Judiciary candidates are able to stand their
share Of the campaign expenses far better than
the average candidate, When | was nomi-
Croker ABOUT II, but he said 1000 would be
| about right. so / gave that. | sec no logical
objection 10 such contributions. Somebody
must stand tho expense OF the campaigns"
| Justice Freedman had m ado a voluntary COM
trIbutlon Of $500. He wa. on both party
judiciary candidate contributing. but thought
prohlpitory law on the subject might be a
good thing as it would put 4 stop to the mis-
representation which is undermining public
| confidence. Referees. in his opinion. are
| jailers."
| paign expenses,
~ would condemn an assessment" he said.
'or anything that saVors OF political taxation.
There 10 nothing improper or immoral in the
practice OF contributing. but II an erroneous
view Of these matters tendS to decrease public
| confidence in the bench. 1t would be well. per-
hAps, to do away with such contributions by
legislation. fixed the amount which con-
tribpted myself and paid It myself. | cer-
tainly should not permit any one else. an or