The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-04
BRIBEs AND BRIBERs.

The St. Louis Star very forcioly de- clares that "the bribe giver as we'll as the bribe taker should be punished" and that is the correct view to take of one of the worst blots on our political and judicial systems. It is quite easy, ordi- narily, to detect and convict the humble man without money or character who accepts bribc. but it is difficult to bring to justice the man who bribes him. It is wrong for any man to sell his vote, but the man who buys it is the first and greatest offender. We look with loathing on a juryman who takes money to defeat the ends of justice, while the one who buys him, and profits by the act, too often escapes the consequences. Even and exact justice would punish the man who does the bribing as not only the first but the greater criminal. but he goes free while the lesser criminal gets punished.
 But the crime of buying voters and jurors is small compared to that of buy ing up legislative bodies. There was a time in nearly all the Southern States when legislatures were bought almost without any attempt at concealment. Alabama did not escape that discreditable experience, and 1t Is recorded that one railroad magnate boasted that the Ala he had ever bought. That is a thing of the past, so far as our State is concerned, but we are constantly reading of both State and municipal bodies being bribed. either in the election of high officials or in the granting of franchises. If it were possible to punish those who gave as well as those who receive it would go a long way towards breaking up d crime which strikes at the very root of republican institutions. If a man without char acter or qualifications can purchase a seat in Congress, or any other high posi- tion, popular sovereignty Is a failure. If a corporation can secure valuable franchises from a city without paying a fair price for them 1t is crime against justice and a wrong to the people. Yet if there is any criticism or condemna- tion it usually falls on the sellers and not lnG puyCA ANb OOth SANSS SN AA M or both be punished.
 Readers of last Sundays Advertiser will remember the report just made by the grand jury of St. Louis setting out the shameful corruption of the municipal legislature of that city which, according to the finding of the jury, was bought up by the Suburban Street Railway Com pany, and which gave to that company franchises worth millions of dollars This is a recent case, but our readers have not forgotten the exposures made last year of the enormous scandal caused by similar acts in Philadelphia. These are not the only cases, but they are two of the most fragrant and extensive, and are two instances in which there seems to be not a shadow of doubt that the fran chises were secured by the most shame ful corruption.
 The fact is that the question of street railways has assumed quite a different aspect from that of few years ago. Up to a comparatively recent period a street railroad was looked on as an experiment of doubtful value. and there may have been some excuse for cities giving away the use of the streets under the belief that il was for the good of the general public, but if that was everAtrue it is so no longer. There is hardly any enter prise in the United States that pays bet ter than this does. as is plainly shown by the prices which the holders of the franchises ask for them. In any large city the exclusive use of the streets for this purpose is worth millions of dollars to the holders. and in many instances this privilege cost them nothing. In short. franchises of this kind are SO valuable that any city which gives them