No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
New York's Legislature Under the Microscope
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2013
Extract
In these days of widespread dissatisfaction with legislative bodies, we are being presented with numerous studies on legislative improvement. One of the most interesting has recently been made by a special grand jury which investigated the New York state legislature. Although the final presentment praises the “general efficiency” and “rectitude” of the legislature and concludes with the statement that “the general picture … is of earnest men diligently engaged upon a public task in an earnest manner,” specific findings reveal serious laxities in the conduct of the state's legislative affairs. No doubt similar laxities may be found in most other states.
There are always rumors and whisperings as to evil goings-on in our legislative halls. The New York special grand jury did a real service in finding out their truth or falsity. It is of interest that neither the legislature nor the governor would, on their own volition, have considered such an investigation. We owe it to the fortuitous circumstance that Republican Governor Dewey and the Democratic political machine of Albany county did not like each other.
- Type
- American Government and Politics
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © American Political Science Association 1946
References
1 The printed findings of this legislative investigation are embodied in three documents filed in the Supreme Court, State of New York, Albany county, In the Matter of the Legislative Investigation, as follows: (1) “Interim Presentment by the Grand Jury of the Extraordinary Special and Trial Term,” dated Albany, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1944; (2) “Second Interim Presentment,” dated Albany, N.Y., May 4, 1945; and (3) “Final Report and Presentment,” dated Albany, N.Y., October 24, 1945.
2 Subsequently, the legislature set up its own Joint Committee to Inquire Into and Study Legislative Methods, Practices, Procedures, and Expenditures. An interim report containing significant data and recommendations, substantiating many of the grand jury findings, has already been followed by some legislative action of a reform nature. Evaluation of the Joint Committee's work must necessarily await its final report. [While this article was in press, the Joint Committee filed its final report. See Legislative Document (1946) No. 31.]
Comments
No Comments have been published for this article.