New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-17
LEGIsLATION FOR SALE.

IL we are TO credit information that reaches
us from most responsible sources, the Legisla-
ture now sitting at Albany ~ fast earning n
reputation for prohigacy that will equal If not
surpass the undesirable nOtOriety acquired BY
that Of 1860. We are well assured that there
are Committees Of either branch that levy reg
ular assessment on bills passing through their
hands, demanding 500 to $500 for those OF
considerable Importance but taking $50 or even
$40 each when the measure is OF secondary
consequence and no more can be had. " How
much money ID there in this bill y Is the brat
inquiry when proposition is submitted; Have
they their money here in Albany ?" comes next.
Promises to pay when the bill becomes law,
or at the close Of the session, are secuted, and
offers of interests in the enterprise to be pro-
NOTED very rarely command attention. The
| lobby" does business for cash-classng green
backs under that straightforward those men,
bers who are in the market have a kindred
weakness for the present and the tangible.
Perhaps two or three "big things" are put
ahead by On assignment Of " interests or shares
in their proceeds, but the general rule is to
insist on cash down. and regard all " interests
and contingencies as akin to stock in tho Con-
federate Cotton Loan.
A friend who recently spent q day at the
Capital represents the prevalent corruption as
moro general and shameless than was ever
before known. How much has been or must
be paid for this or that report or yote-how
many members arc Interested" in the pas
cage Of this or that bill--hOw A. or Is. was
"hxed as TO this robbery, or by whom G..
was seen" in behalf of that gOuge, is dis
cussed as coolly ard openly IL the time made
in the last notable race or the cost Of double
locks on the Erie Canal And the lobby 10
represented as more numerous, more impu-
dent, more shameless, than ever before.
How the People are to sweat for all this
will appear at the close Of the session. Lucius
Robinson, the visilant and incorruptible guar
dian of the Treasury, reported in January that
Direct Tax of less than three mills on the
dollar would suffice for the States needs during
the current year; yet that tax is likely 10 be
sweed to SIR mills by the bills already passed
by or now before the Legislature. And 1.-THE
cry is STILL They comet"
That there are honest and faithful men in
the present Legislature, need not DO said.
That some of the measures whereby our taxes
are to be swelled 40 immoderateiy have in
trlutic merits, We do not dispute. But that
Four or Five Millions per annum of taxation
in excess of what the Comptroller Of our State
Finances deems requisite should be imposed
and the proceeds appropriated III advance, al
time when the people are struggling under
National load that can hardly be borne, is
appalling Vino doer not knou that there must be
something wrong Lere, and that the People
viii realize It'll
The passage of pronigate bills is contagious.
Every member interested in a scheme OF plum
dering legislation must favor nearly every other
such ia order to win votes for his own pet.
IIerce, projects receive Legislative sanction that
could not possibly stand alone. A. does not
dare to vote against B.'s bill, knowing well
that the blow would be returned. Thus job
that ouly takes a few thousands out OF the
Treasury may really cost the People millions
OF dollars.
The session is drawing to a close. The pay
Of members by the State stops 1--WE believe)
with the present week. Some members are
understood to justify vena legislation after the
hundred days have expired, on the ground that
since the State has ceased to pay them and
they are holding over for the benefit OF those
who want bills passed. they ought to be paid
BY those who receive tho benefit Of their ser'
vices! This would not be 80 bad if the idea
we're carried out with any approach to con-
sistency. Let all bills so passed run thus;
Tho Legislature Of tue State Of Now'York,