82 State Legislation 



DARK SIDE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PICTURE 

 MENTION has been made above of the bribe- 

 taking which undoubtedly at times occurs in the 

 New York Legislature. This is what is commonly 

 called "a delicate subject" with which to deal, 

 and, therefore, according to our usual methods of 

 handling delicate subjects, it is either never dis- 

 cussed at all, or else discussed with the grossest 

 exaggeration; but most certainly there is nothing 

 about which it is more important to know the 

 truth. 



In each of the last three Legislatures there were 

 a number of us who were interested in getting 

 through certain measures which we deemed to be 

 for the public good, but which were certain to be 

 strongly opposed, some for political and some for 

 pecuniary reasons. Now, to get through any such 

 measure requires genuine hard work, a certain 

 amount of parliamentary skill, a good deal of tact 

 and courage, and above all, a thorough knowledge 

 of the men with whom one has to deal, and of the 

 motives which actuate them. In other words, be- 

 fore taking any active steps, we had to "size up" our 

 fellow-legislators, to find out their past history and 

 present character and associates, to find out whether 

 they were their own masters or were acting under 

 the directions of somebody else, whether they were 

 bright or stupid, etc., etc. As a result, and after 

 very careful study, conducted purely with the ob- 

 ject of learning the truth, so that we might work 

 more effectually, we came to the conclusion that 



