The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-15
The Health Bill at Albany-Epidemio In
Politics.

The Health Bill at Albany-Epidemio In
Politics.
The rural gentlemen in the Assembly at
Albany made grand flourish of trumpets on
Tuesday over what is termed health bill for
this metropolis. The entire day was spent in
a wordy contest and the night exhausted in the
controversy between the two factions in the re-
publican party. Were it not for the fact that it
was announced at the outset that " the Health
bill was then taken up" we might have looked
in vain for any reference to that subject. Had
the measure been called "a bill to regulate the
politics of this city and State, to define the
status of the political cliques, and todetermine
who should be the next candidates for Cover
nor and United States SENATOR" the discussion
and speeches on the occasion would have been
in order and 10 the point but, as it u.s. 1t is
impossible to see what all this talk and buster
have to do with the health of the citizens Of this
| city. There was, it is true, some allusion to
the cholera but it is quite evident that the
danger of an epidemic is at Albany and not in
| New York. In fact, we should judge that it has
| already broken out there and is sweeping every
| thing before ii. 1t seems to develop delirous
| symptoms and calls for immediate remedies, or
the erection of q political lunatc asylum may
become necessary. Since the recent conven-
ton of allopathic doctors at the State capital
failed to prevent the breaking out of this cpl
demic, we would suggest that the hOmeO-
| pathic physicians forthwith try their skill and
| see If they cannot cure what the other school
could not prevent.
| The developments of the debate furnish some
| very curious facts in regard to this political
| epidemic. One member talks about his con-
version as if he were at o religious revival;
another gives his views of the reliability of the
New York Tribune, indicating that it is cross
between fanatic, reform and copperhead. A
little later in the day the discourse takes new
| form, and one Of its victims suddenly becomes
very rich and declares that New York city is
owned by gentlemen in the rural districts. He
therefore was in favor Of the country members
taking the responsibility of doing what they
pleased with their own property. They "could
annihilatc the cholera and ali other pests
| that have visited the country" If this
be true we would suggest that they try
their hands on the Legislatures, by way
of experiment; for that next TO Congress, is the
greatest nuisance that we are just now afflicted
with. But to accomplish this work Of annihi-
lating pests we are told they "must confde in
Governor Fenton. The Union party" he adds,
sought to have confidence in him." From this
statement it appears that they have not, and
this, no doubt, is where the shoe pinches. Fol-
lowing this outburst comes voice from the pit,
describing the remarkable "scenes presented to
Eneas during his descent into hell" accom-
panied with tumble about changing men Of
color, insidious blows at Governor Fenton,
defeat of Wadsworth and the election of Sey-
mour." As the debate proceeds visions Of
Weed faction, Raymond faction and q Greeley
faction float before the august assembly, which
call forth dissertation on rings in the republi-
can party. Mr.. Littlejohn finally comes to the
rescue and manifests q great anxiety to get
ready for pestilence. He wants sanitary
regulation to go into operation tomorrow"
This he shows to be impossible, for the reason
that the Tribune is opposing the Senate
bill because Weed is in favor of it.
This episode calls out a history of our
Chamber of Commerce, the Loyal League,
republican committee the Police Commits
sloners, Board of Supervisors, with illusions TO
our city Postmaster and Surveyor of the port,
closing with an appeal in behalf of Governor
Fenton, who Is termed the commandcr-in-chicf
of the republican party. All this we are asked
to receive as appertaining to the health of this
metropolis.
What all this r'gmarole and buster have to do
with the regulation of the sanitary affairs OF
this city il more than we can see. Had the
debate taken place in a party caucus when
the whole question at issue was whether this or
that clique should rule the party, the discus
sion could not possibly have been any diffe-
rent. That is plainly the purpOrt and meaning
of the whole affair. It is not the health Of our
citizens, the cleanliness of our streets, nor the
danger OF visit by the cholera which excr-
ciscd their minds, but political power and
political patronage. To this point the whole
thing has been degraded at last. II Is about
time that this nonsense and political clapirar
ceased. No good can come from IL, nor will
any measure which Is brought forward and
advocated under such auspices effect anything
: in preventing the threatened pcstlence. Every
effort of the Albany solons in tinkering out
sanitary matters has only made them worse
instead of better. Last winter they provided
that the city should be cleaned by contract
The result il that our streets are in ten times
worse condition than before. We did hav,
some show for our money under the former
. system, but there is none now. At this rate
the passage Of another sanitary measure at AL.
, bany will compel ms to resort to mud scows to
get across the streets.
This political contest has finally resulted in