The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-24
The People Responsible.
From the Philadelphia Times.


Municipal corruption is both common and con-
tagious. This is due primarily to the careless
ness of the voters and taxpayers, who permit
men to be elected to councils and other muni-
cipal offices who seek the office not to serve the
public, but themselves. With this class OF men
controlling municipal legislation and municipal
contracts, the mission of the agents Of firms and
corporations that furnish municipal supplies and
bid for municipal contracts is an easy one il
nobody gives the game away. The councmen
are ready to be bribed, want to be bribcd, are
hunting for bribes; and the lobbyist, with his
hand full of bribes, is in search of the men who,
for a consideration. will award contracts and
orders to those who will pay most for the favor.
This sort Of thing has become so common in
our great cities that the public conscience has
become callOus and few seem TO be shocked at it.
As matter of fact the public have come to
regard bribery and corruption in the connection
with public contracts as something that cannot
be prevented and that must be submitted to. In
the smaller towns and cities people still hold the
ldfashioned notion that Councilmen who accept
hrbics are scoundrels and that they deserve pun.
ishment A Shamokn jury recently found
lot Of councilmen and lobbying contractors guilty
of bribery, since which eighteen councilmen Ct
the city Of Scranton have been held for trial
for a similar oifcnse There is no telling now to
what lengths this sort Of thing will go. Posi-
bly, conviction may become contagious COR
rupt solicitation in time
1t may be accepted as certain, however, thSt
neither in the great cities nor in the little ones
will the offense OF bribery be exiting lished by the
mere processes of Furnishing hribe Givers and Dribe
takers. Those who give and those who accept
lrbes richly deserve punishment, and punish
nent should be meted out with certainty and
severity where proof Of the crime can be estab.
lshod. As long, however, as the people continue
to elect political Adventures withoat character,
conscience responsibility to councils and other
municipal Offices, bribery ami corruption will
| flourish II one set OF scoundrols are convicted
and punished others will contrive new ways Of
Offering and accepting bribes that will battle ex-
posure, and the old game OF rottenness and fraud
| will continue to be practiced at the old stands
| the country over.
While conviction and punishment will have a
| slightly deterrent effect, the real and permanent
| remedy for municipal corruption lies alone in
| the election Of men who are incorruptihle Such
men can be found in every community; they are
| known 10 everybody, but they are not political
| Adventures seeking Office They are not dema-
gogues ready to promise impossible things 10 Sc
cure an election. In most instances they ere
not willing to accept an election, and yet could
| be induced TO do so as a public duty. II the
people want eouncilmen and other officials who
| will not sell contracts 10 the highest instead oi
the lowest bidders, and accept cheap work and
materials for the money, they must seek men
who are honest in all their transactions and who
have established regulations for integrity.