Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-12
SEARCHING PROBE
SURE To FOLLOW
HUGHES's MESSAGE
Both Senate and Assembly
Ready to Act on Governors
Recommendations.

ALBANY, April 12.-Leaders in both
the Senate and Assembly today de-
clare there viii be prompt and affirma-
tive action in both houses on the
recommendations contained in the
message of Governor Hughes sent to
the Legislature last night calling for
immediate n thorough investigation
of all forms of corruption affecting
legislation at Albany.
AS soon as the message was read
calls were sent forth for a meeting
today of the Senate nance commit
tee and the Assembly ways and means
committee to devise a plan for the pro-
posed inquiry.
President Pro Tenn of the Senate
Cobb. speaking of the message, said;
The Governors recommendations
must be givensimmediate and affirma-
tive consideration. We have already
been at work on a scheme which we
think will bring about a searching in
quiry."
Republican Floor Leader Merritt, of
the Assembly, said:
The Assembly ways and means COM
mittee will act. We have intended all
the while to do our own house-clean-
ing"
The plan which it is most generally
believed will be adopted provides Tor
the appointment of a committee of
nine. Three a~ssemblymen will be
named by the speaker of the House,
three senator's by the lieutenant-gov-
ernor and three outsiders by Governor
Hughes.
Following is the text of the Gov
ernor's message:
Governors Message.
"Whiie the superintendent of insur-
ance is armed with power to examine
witnesses, to compel the production of
books and papers in proceedings with
in the scope of his departmental &C
ton. he has come upon certain sug-
gestive facts apparently lying outside
his official c~ognizance and of a char
acter to be adequately dealt with only
through means which your honorable
body is competent to authorize.
1.-The revelations in the inquiry re-
Gently conducted by the Senate and
the facts brought to light by the su-
perintendent of insurance make 1t i'm
perative that there should be a thor
ough Investigation with respect to leg
i~slative processes and as to the cor
rupt practises which have been effec-
tual in advancing or blocking legisla-
ton.
These disclosures LAY caused every
honest citizen to tingle with shame
and Indignation and have made ire
sistible the demand that every proper
means should be employed to purge
and to purify.
"It is the high privilege of the Legis-
lature to follow the salutary action
already taken in its upper branch by
appropriate steps for the exposure and
destruction of combinations and con-
spiracies against the just use of the
10 wmaking power n by providing
suitable protection against the recur-
renee of such abuses.
This is a promising opportunity to
pursue the opening trails of corruption,
to reveal Illicit methods and agencies,
to uncover the perfidious influences
which nave ~dishonored the State and
thus to aid in securing the wholesome,
exercise of its beneficent authority. I
ut is the unquestioned p~rerogative Of
the Legislature to inquire into the
coul Sc OF legislation, the integrity OF
Legislative procedure and the means
by which it's action has been procured
or frustrated. The Legislature is ehti-
tied to know how, wherein and by
whom it has been deceived and its
powers perverted.
Important as will be NJ whole
some and corrective influence OF pub
licity In this respect to these mat
ters, the purpose and result of inquiry
extend beyond the sounds Of mere dis
closure.
I'VE are far from perfection in legis-
lative method. Nor have We aust
available measures Of protection
against rattle in legislation and chican-
cry in dealing with bills.
mo subject deserves more thorough
consideration, to the end that the OPP
portunities of those who are willing to
buy legislative powers for personal
profit should should be limited to the
utmost degree.
1T may be impossible wholly to
eradicate these evils, but to the ex-
tent that the nature of the Illicit inter-
course is understood, and he methods
and instrumentalities which have been
successful are exposed, there may be
intelligent effort at remedial action
through both statutes and legislative
rules.
1.-THE time is ripe, in my Judgment,
1Or d 1ull ana pdllSldhhhS hu4u'iy W
expose the worst of public wrongs and
to prepare the way for needed improve
ments in our laws and legislative proc
esses.
IT therefore recommend an immedi-
ate, impartial, thorough and u~nspar1ng
investigation into legislative practise
and procedure, and into the use OF cor
rupt or improper means for the promo
ton or defeat of legislation, such IN
quiry not to be limited to, but suitable
to embrace matters adduced in the re-
cent proceedings by the Senate and
those presented by the report herewith
submitted of the superintendent OF in
surance. in order that. so far as evil
dence may be obtainable. the actual
facts may be known, that there may
he a full understanding Of the methods
and agencies employed in connection
with legislative proposals.; and thai
1911 a1~-i5A.ad ooor, ~ and1tinna for