The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-19

whltewashisg dirt cheap; but the bill has not
yet beea sigsed BY the Goveraee.
Another very important matter which needed
TIE attention Of the Legislature last session
vas the Quarantine question. Nothing has
beeu done with it. A bill was introduced
under the patronage Of the late Health Oficer
and the Speaker Of the House, apparently for
the removal Of Quarantine, but in reality for
the re-establisbment of the hospitals on Staten
Island, for the payment Of $4,000 damages
for burnt pill boxes to Dr. Thomson, and for
the maintenance of DR.. Jerome's divine right
to salary of $4,000 year. This bill was
supported by the George Law interest, there
being contract for building an island
concealed in one of the sections, and
was warmly advocated by the ex-mem-
Der and very fcebly il ct all op-
posed by The present member from Rich
mond county. It narrowly escaped becoming
law, but was defeated by conflict of in
forests before Governor Morgan had an oppor-
tunity to veto it. Another bill was introduced
by Mr.. ConkliDg, appropriating 100000 for
the support of hospitals this summer, directing
the sale of the Quarantine property, and con-
tinuing the present Commissioners In Office.
This bill was defeated in the last hours Of the
session. So matters remain In statu quo. The
sick will probably be kept as they were last
year, in floating hospital, which is found to
answer very well. The State will lose another
years interest on 100000 worth of property
at the old Quarantine; but, on the other hand,
the schemes of the lobby have been defeated,
and the prospect of yellow fever diminished.
Next year Richmond county should be more
careful in selecting a representative to protect
her interests at Albany. Had it not been for
Governor Morgan and Mr.. Conkling, Staten
Island would have Jared badly this winter.
Another measure, with large spoil in pro-
spective, was Senator Prosser's long locks
scheme for substituting sliding instead Of
swinging doors to the canal locks. This bill
asked for 100000 and ten per cent interest
payable until the locks were completed, and
the right to toll the long boats passing through
for ten years, at the rate Of about 100000 q
year, q scheme which would be worth about
three millions Of dollars to the projectors.
This bill, however, though 1t was run through
the Senate, without opposition, did not reach
the House.
These form the leading features In the action
of the late Legislature, in which the republi-
cans had everything their own way, for both
branches were republican to the backbone;
and what shameful record they present to
the world! If this party, in the very infancy of
its power, displays such an aptitude for corrup-
ton and fraud, what may not be expected from
it when it reaches maturity If the bud be 90
pestilent, what will not the blossom be, should
it not be blasted by the breath of public indig
nation?
We publish TO- day an address from the dem
ocratic minority Of both houses, in which they
proclaim their utter inability to have resisted
the tide of corruption and infamy of the repub-
lican majority, and indicating themselves
from the odium which attaches to the Legislar
ture. They contrast the opinion Of Gov. Sew
ard, in his message of 1888, when he assumed
Office after years of democratic understanding
the grand and prosperous condition Of the
State in the most glowing terms-with the opin-
ion of Gov. Morgan, In his message In 1860,
after brief term of republican sway, repre-
senting the great State of New York over
whelmed with debt, on the verge of bankrupt
cy, and in degraded and pitiful attitude. In
the action of the late republican Legislature, we
have stronger evidence than was ever produced
before, Of the disposition and capacity of that
party to perpetuate the condition of affairs de-
plored by Gov. Morgan, and to sink this State,
and the whole country, if they had the power,
deeper and deeper into ruin.