The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-14
ACTION NECESSARY
Governor Hughes Urges Legislative
Investigation of Corruption.


brought out in the insurance investiga-
tion by Superintendent of Insurance
Hotchkiss have caused every hon
est citizen to Jingle with shame and
indignation and have made irresis-
tible the demand that every proper
means should be employed to purge
and to purify" Governor Hughes
sent special message to the Legs-
lature tonight recommending IAN i'm
mediate, impartial, thorough and un-
sparing investigation into Legislative
practices and procedure and into the
use Of corrupt or improper means
for the promotion or defeat of legis-
lation."
Accompanying the message was a
preliminary report of Superintendent
Hotchkiss outlining the facts devel-
oped at the fire insurance investiga-
ton which he has been conducting
in New York and setting forth the
difficulties encountered in following
up the various leads which had been
uncovered. The superintendent says
that obstacles apparently insuperable
have developed in the course of the
inquiry which in his judgment war;
rant further investigation, but which
he has no power to pursue and he
has therefore laid the facts thus far
developed before the Governor for
action.
message that this is a promising OPP
portunity ito pursue the opening
trails of corruption, to reveal Illicit
methods and agencies, to uncover the
perfidious influences which have dis
honored the State and thus to aid
in securing the wholesome exercise
of it's benefcent authority"
He says:
Il place before you report which
has been made to me by the superin
tendent of insurance. While the SUI
perintendent is armed with power to
examine witnesses and to compel the
production of books and papers in
proceedings within the scope Of his
departmental action, he has come
on certain suggestive facts apparently
lying outside his official cognizance
and of a character to be adequately
dealt with only through means which
your honorable body is competent to
authorize.
THE revelations in the inquiry re-
Gently conducted by the Senate and
the facts brought to light by the SUI
perintendent of insurance make it
| imperative that there should be a
thorough investigation with respect
to legislative processes and as to the
corrupt practices which have been
effectual in advancing or blocking le-
gislation.
1T is the high privilege of the Leg
islature, in the discharge of its obli-
cations to itself and to the people OF
the State, to follow the Statutory &C
ton already taken in its upper branch
by appropriate steps for the expos
lure and destruction of copbinations
and conspiracies against the just use
of the lawmaking power and by pro-
yiding suitable protection against
the recurrence of such abuses.
1T is the unquestioned preroga-
tive of the Legislature to inquire in
to the course of legislation, the in
tegrity of legislative procedure and
the means by which its action has
been procured or frustrated. In this
there is no usurpation or confusion
of function but the proper safeguarding
of the legislative power. The Legis-
lature is entitled to know how
wherein and by whom it has been de-
ceived and it's powers perverted.
Il therefore recommend an imme
date, impartial, thorough and un
sparing investigation into Legislative
practices and procedure apd into thu
use OF corrupt or improper means
for the promotion or defeat of legis
lation, such inquiry not to be limitet
. to, but to suitably embrace the mat
tiers adduced in the recent proceed
ings by the Senate and those present
ed by the report herewith submitte'
of the superintendent of insurance
in order that, so far as evidence ma,
be obtainable, the actual facts ma
be known, that there may be full
understanding of the methods ant
:. agencies employed in connection
: with legislative proposals and tina
= well considered recommendations TO
: appropriate remedies may be made.
Superintendent Hotchkiss in hi
. report to the Governor says that tn
result of the investigation thus ia
warrants the statement that legisla
tive expenditures in New York by in
: surance companies authorized to d
business in this State were particu
. larly conspicuous in the years 1870
: 1903, 1904, and 1909, and notably sig
. nificant in two or three of such years
a "The moneys so paid were disburs
ed for travelling expenses of individ
uals and delegations, annual an
:, special retainers of regular counse
so-called retainers OF legislative law
yers. contributions to political con
y nitfaaa oifta or navmantc IN man