New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-24
CITY SENATOR'S AND ASSEMBLY.
nRS

MEN.
For many years it must have been patent 10
every obseryant and rejecting citizen that TIE
average representatives of Mahattan Island IN
our State Legislature have not been the right
men for their places. Three-fourths OF thein'
before election. were never heard Of outside the
lowest circle of ward or district politics; ana
after the election, the g.eat majority return TO
An obscurity only redeemed from total darkness
by the fiery flashes OF indignation which pursue
them for their completely in certain money
making "jobs" Such indignation is entirely
misplaced, and ak complaints on the
part Of the public are as unjust as futile. SO
long as we allow our representatives at Albany
to be selected by interested managers from
among the grog.shops, emgrani'nnner dens'
and he lowest resorts and calling OF our city,
so long will the persons thus selected do the bid
ding Of those who send them; and so long VIII
the most importan: interests OF our city be sacr-
feed to the schemes II gTasping and corrupt
politicians.
The stipulated compensation of Assembly.
men and Senators is such az not TO place theri'
if poor men, above temptation. II men OF
honor, wealth and position were now, aS for
mcrly, selected for the office, the payment
might be sufficient. But, with the class manly
sent from our city thi: parsmony Of compensa-
ton is direct challenge 20 coTuption-a chal-
longe, unhappily, all too little needed Hence
we have seen, year in and year out. the we'll
known lobby agents of that infamous league
between Republicans Of easy virtue and Demo
Gratis of no virtue at all, running their city rail-
road and other money-making bills through
both houses a, Albany-with never a hitch IN
the machinery, never halt 10 their horses, I'M
less when some refractory Assemblyman or
Senator stands ont for payment in advance
an idea little short of high treason against
the majority Of the lobby lords.
And here We may state fact WHICH is curious,
but none the less true, to Wit, that the actual
agents OF fraud in these schemes-the corrupt
Assemblymen and Senators thcmsolyes-are sell
dom. in the Tong run, participants in the profits
which result from their corrupt and injurious
votes I'm many cases, their votes axe demanded
with no offer or promise of reward whatever.
The managers" merely show them that they
have the nominating machinery Of their respect
i've parties in their hands, and say: Make
what You can on other bills; but on this, YOU
must vote for IL, if You desire TO be renomi-
nated."a Others, in their first years at Albany,
while they are still inexperienced, receive large
promises. but are told: "Of course we cannot
give you anything in cash until after the session.
In ease of an Investigation 1t would be neccs-
,ary Tor YOU to swear that you had never re-
ceiyed a dollar" The votes are thus obtained,
and, after The session, the dupes may whistle
for their money. There is even q means OF de-
irauding those, most cunning and experienced,
who insis. that so much " stock IN the
Charter or Corporate Company about To be
created shall be given to one Of their " friends
After the session is over the great capitalists
who are in the Charter combine to crush out
these "small fry;" and either postpone putting
the privilege into operation for years, or put II
into operation Oh Il scale SO costly and expensive
that the "small fry cannot meet the first drafts
on the capital stock, and are obliged to dispose
of their interests for an old song or to forfeit
them altogether for non-paymont.
II is not, therefore, against the men who
actually vote the passage of corrupt measures
that the chief stream OF public Indignation should
be actively directed; but against those corrupt
leaders, on both sides cfthe political ehess-board,
who combine to control Assembly and Senatorial
nominations with n direct view 10 the passage
Of such bills. These men are the shame and
plague Of both parties and are known rs the
"City Railroad politicians" They are without
principle, without conscience, without grati-
tudc. They huckstcr their political con-
yictons for "a rake in each new
plunderng device. They are careful 20 exclude
from both Houses ut Albany any man OF slull-
Glen, talent or integrity to be formidable as an
opponent of their schemes. II is even asserted
that on every item Of our annual 'ax-levy they
demand their percentage, threatening inc vote
of a majority Of tho New.York City Assembly