The sun., 1901-08-29
THE CURSE OF CIVIC ABUSES.

The question of discussion, hereabont,
ancnt public affairs, just nov, is. how to
cure civic abuses. Grave charges are
made Movements are proposed for for
warting investigation as to the truth Of
the charges made. and the cure Of the
abuses alleged. About this Il contcm-
porary SAYS:
''rhcrr arc certainly grave abuses of
power, and there ought to he some Way
Of getting ut the matter"
Assuming that the abuses alleged ca
iSt. the conclusion of our contemporary
is indsputahr This being So the how
of the getting ut the NATTER" ought 10
br provided i'll the law. We prcsum" j.
is. The constitution of the State pro
vlts rs follows:
Article nv. section G. All public off
GERS Shall hold their offices on condition
that they behave themselves well. Ills
Governor shall remove from office any
public officer convicted Of misbrharint
in office. or of any infamous crime.
The presumption is that a method Of
procedure for the conviction of the officer
or officers who have not "hchavcd them
selves in office" is provided in the s;t-
tutcS Of the State. If that hc true II
natter. Amy citizen who has knowlcdg"
of the alleged abuses Of power is com
pctrnl to make complaint and begin the
process for the legal cure of those abuses
We assume that the matter complained
Of must bc violations of the law. That is
the point To he made clear That mus
he dome if it is done. by those havinl
knowledge Of the abuses. No one els
could do it, 1t is the duty of those wh'
know. il it is anyhody'S duty. ana i
n0t the duty of those who do not krnv
Of the abuses, To put in motion the pro
ccsScs for their care. To be compctna
in the sense of ability tu cure this evil
il is necessary, aS We have intimated, t
know that the abuses exist and To knoy
what the law Of the ease is. DiscusSio
Als,ut abuses Of power until these tw
essential facts are aSrcrtain"i, is am
must cuntinup to be flnitless. In thi
Temporary that grave abuses" exist
That assertion is equivalent Of IN aSS"i
tou of knowledge in the matter: an
having committed itself to the public -
vice. to the promotion of official int"gri'
amd political virtue, it appears that "l
contemporary should take the initiatiy
in the movement for the cnre of thcs
''grnve abuses" First that it should e
the public what it knows al Dut th">
grave abuses" in order 10 make good il
assertion that grave abuses of power
exist. Then, as a consistent alvocat" .
official integrity and honesty. il Shou
point ont how The law has been violatc
what the penalties are, and hGw the q
Tenders in these grave abuses of power
can b. dealt with according to the lay
Until these things are known, publ
meetings are of no avail. AT least th'
arc Of NJ avail until some one who knnN
is wiling to tell what he knows. o.
contemporary appears, from It's own =
frssion. TO he able to meet the first +
qliremcnt; and. presumably. is able
find the law in the ease. Our contei
pnrary also thinks it is the duty
somebody to do what its statement abo
tha existence of grave abuses" inlicat
that ii is allie 20 do We have said Til
duty to do follows ability 10 do. Is o
contemporary ready te so fully devote
self TO public duty as to adopt our 60
clusicn?
Let rs say further, that organizati