Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-04-12
HUGHES WANTS
LEGISLATIVE
CLEANUP
DECLARES TINE RIPE FOR
PAINSTAKlNG INQUIRY
Recent Revelations in Aids
Congef Scandal and Fire ln-
surance Probe Pronounced a
Disgrace to New York State,


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( IBy Morning Journa. Special Leased Wirel
Nlband \ y. April ill., Declaring
I that tho recent televadons in the
/ Aids Congcr bribery inquiry and the
/ tact~ brought out In the insurance
Investigation by superintendent Of
I Insurance Hotchkiss have caused
every honest citizen TO tingle with
shame and Indignation and have
4 made irrisistihle the demand thAt
Z every proper means should be em-
( ployed to purity" Governor Hughes
sent special message to the legisia-
/ ture tonight recommending "an inn
mediate impartial. thorough and un-
sparng investigation into legislative
practices and procedure and into the
use OF corrupt or improper means
for the promotion ar defeat of legis-
latlon.'
Accompanying the message was q
preliminary report of superintendent
Hotchkss outlining the facts deyel-
oped at the tire insurance lnvestiga-
tion ia New YORK and setting forth
the difficulties encountered in follow
ing up the various leads that have
been uncovered The superintendent
says that obstacles apparently insup-
erable have devcloped in the course
Of the Inquiry These, IN his tudn-
ment warrant further investigation,
hut he has no power to pursue them
aud therefore had laid the facts thus
far developed before the governor
Tor action
The governor sggs In part
III Is the high privilege Of tho
legislature IN the discharge Of IT,
obligations ia itself and 20 the peo-
Bleaof the state tn follow the salutaiA
action already taken in its upper
branch by appropriate steps for the
destruction Of combinations ana con-
spiracies against the lust use of the
Aw-makina power and hy providing
suitable protection against the recur-
renee of such abuses. This ls a prom
ising opportunity to pursue the OPEN
ing trials of corruption. 10 reveal IL
licit methods ANA agencies to uncover
the perfidious Influences that have
dishonorcd the state and thus aid in
securing the Wholesome exercise Of
It's beneTicient authority
1T is the unauestionable preroga-
live OF the legislature TO inquire into
the course OF legislation. the integ
rly Of legislative procedure ANA the
means by which its action has been
procured or frustrated. The legisla-
mre IS entitled 20 know how, wherein
and hy whom It has been dec"l'"d
and It's powers perverted.
Important as will be the wllolc-
some ana corrective Influence Of pub
licity with respects 10 these matters.
the purpose and result Of inquiry ex-
tend beyond the bounds Of mere dis
closure No subject deserves more
consideration to the end that the np-
porunities of those who are willing
10 buy legislative ftvor or 60 use rep
resentative powers for personal profit
should be limited to the utmost de-
gree.
III may be impossible wholly to
eradicate these evils. but ia the ex-
tent that the nature of the Illicit in
tcrcourse is understood and the
methods ana Observation-Disclosures which
have been successful are exposed.
ti''if iAfff f' lHA'tAi1NlN flARlA at
remedial action through both statutes
ana legislative rules. The time Is lipe
la my Judgment for fun and palms.
taking inquiry to expose the worst Of
pubic wrongs ana 20 prepare the
way for needed improvements in our
laws and legislative Processes
~ therefore recommend an immed-
Iate, impartial, thorough and unspar-
ing Investigation into legislative prac-
iiccs ANA procedure and into the use
OF corrupt or improper means for the
promotion or defeat OF legislation
such inquiry not 20 be limited TO. but
suitably To embrace. the matters adj
luced In the recent proceeding by
hc senate and these presented by
hc report. herewith submitted of the
'uperintendcnt OF insurance in order.
hat insofar as evidence may be oh-
ainahlr the actual facts may hc
known. that there may De a full an
Outstanding of the methods and agen-
les employed ia connection with leg
slativc proposals and that well con-
'idcred recommendations for the ap-
lropriate remedy may be made"
Superintendent Hotchkiss. in his
'oport says that the result of the
nvcstigation thus far warrants the
.tatement THAT legislative expendi-
ures ia New York hy insurance com
,auies were particularly conspicuous
"a the Years 1901, 1903. 1904, 1895
md 1903 and notably significant in
,va OF three of such years.
These disbursements. nc said.
were made by individual companies.
u connection with legislation affect
ng such companies by syndicates OF
ompanics apparently willing To do
his work for an. and by the New
FORK hoard of fire underwriters.
orporation supported by annual as
essments on practically all the COM
anies doing business in New York.
nch assessments being based on