The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-13
Pass the Corrupt Practices Bill.

known at Albany as the Corrupt Prao-
tees bill. introduced in the Senate by
EDGAR Z. BRACKET, Republican, and
in the Assembly by GEORGE NJ PALMER,
Democrat.
There should be no politics, direct or
remote, in the discussions affecting such
n righteous measure. There should be
no opposition to it in any quarter, or
from any man or body Of men, bond or
free, upright or downright, Republican,
Democrat or Mugwump; or from any
citizen or public servant Of high or
humble degree,
II is a measure which rings true for
the integrity of the people Of the Empire
State II is legislation OF the wisest and
most civilizing character, The mere fact
Of Senator BRACKET $ presenting the bill
10 the Senate and Mr. PALMER's doing
the same in the Assembly illustrates in
the most striking form the non-partisan-
ship Of the measure.
The Corrupt Practices bill il direct and
simple. 1t begins at the beginning Of
what is known to be gross wrong to the
people OF the State, Irrespective Of the
political parties. Year after year cleo
tions in New York have been accom-
panied by degrading reports-many Of
which have received ample substantial
tion--of the purchase Of votes in all the
counties.
The bill provides that upon the pres
entation 10 the Supreme Court or to a
Justice Of that court or to County Judge
by a resident and qualified voter of the
county wherein the election which is
complained of took place of a petition
alleging corrupt pTactices-that is the
purchase of votes-at any general cleo
ton or any election for county, city,
town or village Office, and upon such
petitioner filing $3.50 security for costs
and disbursements, the Supreme Court
Justice or the County Judge shall pro-
Ceed to a summary investigation Of the
charges made in the petition.
The petition need not be in any par
ticular form, and il may allege such
corrupt practices upon information and
belief without stating the source Of such
information and belief The investiga-
ton Of the charges must be made within
ten days, aud the county chairmen of
the several political parties must appear
and testify; and pending the investiga-
ton the county canvassing boards can
be restrained from counting the returns
from the election district or districts or
the entire county wherein it is charged
that the corrupt practices took place.
The Corrupt Practices bill calls for
the most searching examination Of wit
nesses and of campaign fund books
Within ten days after the investigation
ends the Supreme Court or County Judge
must render his decision.
The measure, Furthermore, has a direct
application 20 candidates for Office or
their agents. II the petition of the
complainant is sustained, the vote Of an
election district, all the election districts,
> and, in fact, the vote Of an entire county,
can be thrown out and not counted; and
II the proved corruption has extended TO
all the political parties in the district,
districts or the entire county, then the
cntIro election can be declared null and
void and the candidate or candidates who
huve been parties to the fraud shall BE
disqualified from holding any political or
public Office or position Of public trust
for the period of five years.
Concerning candidates for legislative
Offices, the bill provides that if the cleo
ton of Senators and Assemblymen is
involved in fraud a copy Of the decision
OF the Supreme Court Justice or County
Judge shall be forwarded TO the Lieu
tenant-Governor Of the State and to the
Speaker Of the Assembly and shall be
primd fdcie evidence Of the truth Of such
facts in any investigation by the Senate
or Assembly in relation 10 the election or
qualification of a member OF the Senate
or Assembly
The Corrupt Practices bill provides for
proper appeals to the Appellate Divisions
Of the Supreme Court and thence 10 the
Court Of Appeals.
Judge D-CADY HERRICK, to his ever
lasting honor, said on Monday evening
at the Cooper Union 10 the Citizens
Union meeting;
Il appeal 70 you TO support the bill prohibiting
The buying Of votes, the purchase Of the Leglsa-
turt, the purchase OF othclal station, and appeal
In the name OF decency. You do bad things here
In New York, but they're worse up the STATE. So
far As your election methods 90 they arc clean
compared 10 what they are up there. - When
father sells his own vote and the votes OF bis sons
its time 70 stop II. You've heard a great deal
Of control BY corporations how do they do ~ By
the use Of money al the polls and by paying election
expenses Of candidates for public once II you
pay the expenses Of a man, he wants 10 show gtau-
tude and do the decent thing when a little matter
comes up that you're Interested In, 49, rs only
. question. nowadays, who raise The most money
and spend u most skilfuly, Our young men Gr
thinking less Of their righteous ciutenshlp. When
a man knows can be Offset BY H note. what's
the use thinking much about ~ IStop the people
who ohsr the money Make their expenditures
useless. rs impossible 10 send them 10 state
prison now The Grand JuY refuses 10 lndlct
We're all In II. they say OF The petty jury disagrsss
because Ne made up OF Democrats Ahd Repub.
leans and they know Hs the regular thing ''s
We don't want New YORK degraded 70 the extent
some Of the other s1aIss arr, but we're drifting
fat toward a."