The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-01
EMPIRE STATE IS
AFTER GRAFTERs
Radical Anti Bribery Legisla-
ton Recommended by
Committee
UNABLE TO TRACE
BIG "SLUSH" FUND
Legislators Must Promptly Re-
port Every Effort to I'm
duly Influence
Them

ALBANY, n. Y. Feb. New
York State is to Set the pace in pre-
venting the bribery of legislators.
Hereafter, IL the Recommendations OF
the Legislative graft investigation
committee" are followed. the man
who 10 offered a bride and fails to
see that the person responsible Is pun
ished Is guilty of a felony. Legis-
lators are made their own detective
and must on penalty of forfeiture of
this right to hold office; $4,000 fine
and not more than ten years in State
prison. inform their fellow members
and the prosecuting attorney OF any
attempt to unduly influence them.
Even threats that their political
careers may be tnterfered with should
they decide to support measures the
boss does not favor are TO be con-
strued as attempts unduly to influence
and must be reported to the authori-
ties. The bill as framed is the most
sweeping piece of advanced iegisla-
ton ever conceived by New York
legislature. and it's effect. according
TO Edwin A. Merritt. Jr., chairman of
the committee, will be absolutely to
put an end to ali attempts TO influence
lawmakers unpropGEly.
The committee W. its report. which
Is composed of ess typewriter pages,
"regretfully admits" that IL was I'M
able to trace the money which 1t
has been alleged was expended In the
vain attempt To defeat the Hughes
anti-racing laws. The half million
"siush fund" raised at Delmonico.s
by politicians, bookmakers and rae
ing men. which. II was alleged, was
expended by City Chamberlain
Charles II. Hyde and former State
Senator Frank ]. Gardner, could not
be uncovered. according to the COM
mtttee, because members OF the CO.
terte which raised the money stayed
out Of the Jurisdiction OF the COM
mittee and def In process servers. Z
The money urcs ny the bookmakers'
organixat. II In opposing the bills also
could not be traced because all Of
the rec.S h. ID been destroyed"
The report safes, however, that the
people of the State are now aroused
to such a pitch that bribery LIS al
most impossible, and insists that the
passage OF 1e legislation suggesting
IT VIII put an end for all time to
bribery and like evils.
The committee bitterly assaiis fire
insurance methods in its report. and
recommends drastic legislation which
is expected to revoiutionixe that bush
ness. II fathers eleven bills which
will have fully as far-reaching effect
on the fire insurance business as did
the Hughes reform bills on life In
surance. Matchmaking associations
and organizations. including the New
York Fire Insurance Exchange. which
practically fixes rates for the entire
United States. are placed under the
control and supervision of the State
Insurance Department The power
of licensing brokers Is taken from the
exchanges and vested IN the State
Superintendent Of Insurance: giving
or accepting rebates liz made q misde-
meanor: while all insurance compa-
nies doing business In the State ara
compelled to report annually to the
State Insurance Department ..for the
benefit OF the public" the amount of
insurance issued by them In the con
gested value districts" OF all the large
cities.