Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-01
new LAWS TO
STOP BRIBERY
Investigating Committee Fa-
vors Reforms.

Albany, rep. 1.-The Legislative In
vestigating committee, OF which Ed
win A. Merritt, Jr., of the assembly Il
chairman, submitted its report to tn,
legislature today. The resolution ere
ating the committee provided for {
report upon Jan. is. An extension un
til Feb. / was granted by resolution
adopted In both branches Jan. Is.
The report cover 26S typewriter
pages and 10 divided into six parts
The first I'VE deal with the evidence
taken at the hearings concerning cor.
rupt practices in connection with
legislation and set forth the salient
facts established by the evidence.
The conclusions reached by the com
mittee with reference to the different
subjects of corruption Investigated are
set forth In various subdivisions In the
nature Of findings. The report upon
this branch Of the subject concludes
with some observations with relation
to legislative practices and the diff
Guilty of exposing legislative corrup-
ton, which 1t appears to the commit
tee results largely from the failure of
legislators to Immediately make known
any attempts made to bride them.
Want Pens! Code Amended.
The committee recommends the
passage of an amendment to the penal
law compelling any member Of the
legislature to report at once to either
house and to the district attorney OF
the county any attempt to bride or
improperly influence his vote.
Failure to do so Is made punishable
by imprisonment for not more than ten
years or by a fine OF not more than
$4,000, or both, together with forfeit
ture Of office and disqualification from
ever holding any office in the state.
Eleven proposed laws are submitted
with the report, which constitute the
last section OF the document. In addi-
ton to the proposed act providing for
immediate notification OF attempted
bribery there are ten bills affecting
ire Insurance. One measure places
rate making associations and organiza-
tons, Including the New York Fire In
surance exchange, under the control
md supervision OF the state superin-
.endent of insurance. The guperin-
'endent Is to be vested with ample
over to prevent discrimination In the
Of rates. The power OF Hcens-
ng brokers is taken from the New
.ork Fire Insurance exchange and all
1miiar associations throughout the
tate. 1t is vested In the state super
aIspaepf st
tkeaszAf p~renaiums and
makes it a misdemeanor to give or ac-
ept rebates. The bill follows the lines
( the present law relating to life In
premiums. Another measure
that FIRE insurance compa-
lies shall report to the state superin-
endent OF insurance the amount OF In
urance issued by them In the longest
d value sections of all the large cities
u the country. Provision Is made In
mother bill for the admission to New
Fork state Of the New England Fac
DRY Mutual Insurance companies I'M
Ter the supervision OF the state super
ntendent Of insurance.
For New Insurance. Law.
Another bill provides for the or
g~anizatlon of new Lloyds and inter
Insurance. organizations. The bin com
pels ell such associations to have q
guarantee fund Of $780, 600 In addition
to the unearned premium fund. as ts
now provided by law. Another of the
bills creates the office of
state fire marshal, with swooping pow
ers for inspection Of property and in
vestigation of fires. He Is to have two
deputies. Fire marshals In cities and
FIRE CHIEFS In smaller communities are
his assistants.
The legislative investigating commit
tee includes In its membership Edwin
A. Merritt, Jr., chairman; Alexander
BEough, vice chairman; Victos M. Al
len, Robert 3. Wagner, William W..
Colne, Frederick r. Toombs, Frank l..
Young, James A. Foley, M. Linn Bruce,
chief counsel; Alfred Hurrell, assist
ant counsel, in charge of fire insurance
matters; Isidor ]. Kresei, assistant
counsel. in charge or corrupt prac-
tees; Professor Albert w. Whitney,
actuarys Z. Ell. Conant and Marvyn
Scudder, accountants, and George M.
.h0twell, sfen0grapher.
The committee was organized on
July 8. 1910. The first public session
was held on Sept. 7, 1910. AL. told
there were forty-two public meetings.
The witnesses examined numbered lS4.
The testimony covered $500 pages OF
oral evidence and 1850 pages Of docu-
mentary evidence. The public hear
ended Jan. 6, 1911.
Some OF the news OF your immo-
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