New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-16
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

The Legislature has just treated itself to week 3
holiday which we are inclined to approve, though
the members do take pay for it. Law making is poor
business among US, and we don't wonder that the
Indians rule Poor pay poor preach" applies to its
practitioners. We cant expect very striking ability
nor very devoted assiduty to be exhibited for three
dollars day at point where two dollars per day is
a common charge for board Not that paying higher
would mend the matter-wtness the operations Of
Congress- passm; but STILL if any one is disposed to
eruubIe that the Legislature makes slow progress we
rnd him that the pay but three doarsa day. the steal
ngs very moderate and the honor but micro ,cOpcay
apprecsbe So if the Controller legally pay them
(Which we dOub) for their vacation, let the members
have the money without grumbling. Justconsder that
twothrds of the bills already the orders Of either
House are of not the least public general
quence while of the residue at least half better
defeated than passed There will be enough done to
make the Session hOnorably distinguished if the Maine
Law be enacted and nothing else besides the essential
Appropriations.
We heartily approve the plan of taking all
together Granting leave of absence, except in
of severe illness in the family, s wrong Each member
should be required to swear to his sccount-that is,
that he has been in attendance the deliberations Of
his branch for at least twOthrds Of the sitting on each
day for which be claims payment Then a member
absent On any call of the Yeas and Nays should be
fined days pay in addition, and three days in case of
lis lodging vote when actually within hail of the Capt.
toll The average non-attendance Of ten to thirty
Members is among the Affections of faithful legs
lators.
We do hope that at least every Member professedly
favorable to Prohibitory Liquor Law will feel bound
to return forthwith to Albany if there already and
remain at his post until the Main Question ia taken.
All have had play-spell; have been home and seen
the children and certainly afford to stick to their
seats for good month at least while the Law of Pro
bibton ought to be through the House within week
at fUrthest Its opponents have been INDUCED in the
display of their talents their philanthropy their logic
and their humor, until even they should be satisfied
If they have not done enough for Immortality, they
surely cannot plead want of opportunity They ought
TO be willing to retire their laurels and let the
House come to q vote Let the day wherein the bill
is to pass its third reading be fixed beforehand so that
no one can pretend that he was absent supposng the
vote would not be taken And let the People
give every dodger distinctly to understand that they
comprehend perfectly that failure to vote is exactly
equivalent to q vote in the negative.
As to the details Of the bill, we trust they will
be improved and strengthened by the action of the
Select Committee now having it in charge; but let no
professed Temperance man be trusted evermore who
votes against it on the final question because it is MT
precisely what be would have it, Errors of detail can
be corrected hereafter and any law which says in sub
stance "Cursed is be who putteth the bottle to bis
neighbor's mouth " must be far better than none
Even though thousands should defy evade its penal
ties in their hot quest Of the rumselcrs gains aud
should seem to defy them with impuDiy it would still
be worth very much to have the Law reinforcing the
Conscience in bearing emphatic testimony to the inquity
OF the Liquor Traffic Brazen Guilt must IN time lose