New-York tribune., 1901-02-01
JUDICIARY ASSESSMENTS.

The hIl forhidding the political assessment Of
judiciary candidates. which failed last year. is
10 be introduced again ar Albany by request OF
the CITY Club We are not exceedingly hopeful
Of its passage. for the Legislature has great
amount Of work on hand. and the measure is
one thar Is likely 10 he crowded ont of sight
But there is no doubt thar ii ought 10 he sup
ported by right minded members Of both parties
and there would seem to he time enough 10 put
it through without endanGering other business
which may be regarded as more important. The
subject has been pretty thoroughly discussed
already in consequence of facts brought out by
the Afazet investigation. and sufficient evidence
Of public sentiment regarding it 10 Justify
prompt action is in existence. Indeed. outside
Of the small circle of political managers the
practice Of requiring candidates for the bench
10 contribute large sums 10 campaign commit
tees is almost universally condemned, and VIC
suppose that within thar circle it has few sin
cere defenders. Important organizations Of all
kinds. including the Chamber of Commerce and
the Bar Association. have urged It's prohibition
and we are not aware that il has ever been
publicly approved by anybody but Richard
Croker. Many Of the best men on the bench
whose honor is proof against betrayal
picion. admit its evil character and tendencies
while those who have not 50 frankly deplored ii
would be glad Ia have it abolished.
II judiciary candidates were never expected
or allowed 10 contribute ~ campaign funds until
after their nomination the case would he bad
enough hut il has heen proved and is generally
known that such payments are sometimes
agreed upon in advapce-in 2 word that some
nominations 70 the bench are virtually bought
nasmuch as they would otherwise he withheld
THAT is not tho light in which the arrangement
usually appears 70 the candidate who consents
10 il. and Wa arc glad 10 holiev" that the eases
are few in which tho nominee, whatever the
date Of the pecuniary transaction. would toll
crate for i moment a suggestion of any unPX-
pressed obligation 10 the man or machine in
power Yet II has 10 be acknowledged that
there have been scandals in connection with
rcfereeships. and the ruler If Tammany has
impudently specified the judiciary as one Of the
agencies through which he expects IN work for
his own pocket all the time If lawyers 10
culiarly IN for the bench were always in such
an easy financial condition that the customary
assessment could not cause them Inconvenience
or an anxious thought the eXaction would
nevertheless be unsuitable: hut in reality the
system has the effect in some instances Of mar
rowing the field Of choice ard i'm others Of com
pelling candidates 10 incur troublesome debts
and perhaps 10 mortgage their salaries.
But il is or should be- unnecessary Ia dwell
upon the evils of a custom which must he in
stnctively condemned by all who have a keen
regard for the purity and dignity Of the judicial
Office. We are glad 70 know that the City Club
has taken the matter up again in earnest. and
We hope il will find no lack of cooperation on
the part Of other civic organizations the legal
profession and the newspaper press.