New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-24
Mr.. TREMAIN's SPEECH ON THB
HEALTH BILL.


over-taxed columns for the elaborate and admir-
able speech of Mr. Tremain on the motion in
Assembly TO substitute the Senate Health bill
for that reported by the majority of the Com
mittee The discussion on this subject will long
remain matter of interest to the people OF the
Metropolitan Health District, and scarcely less
to the Republican party of the State, whose
opinions and rights, as asserted by an over
whelming majority of its representatives, were
wantonly opposed and denied by an irrespOnsi-
bic faction, contemplate in numbers and not
particularly respectable on any account. With
great minuteness, with patience, with perfect
temper, with ample knowledge, and with
logic as clear as light, Mr.. Tremsin went over
both branches of this discussion. As We can
not hope to present even complete synopsis of
his speech, we must be content with extracts on
two or three main points.
Mr. Tremain makes it very plain that the
sole strength which the Senate bill acquired il
the House was contributed by Democratic
minority which was really opposed 10 any
Health bill at all, and which favored that Of
the Senate because it was believed likely to be
least effective The talk about non parti-
san" measure was blind. The Health Com
mission was sure to become inefficient in pro-
portion as share of It's power was placed in the
hands of men opposed to it on principle. Now
the Democrats mean hereafter to 90 to the
people on the general issue-that is, that any
Commission is nuisance. Of course, they
would use their best efforts to make the Com
mission designated by the Senate incapable i'll
order to strengthen their argument and their
party. II is amazing Republicans should have
been found willing TO be parties to so trans
parent plot.
But suppose the Commission usrs made mon
partisan" what prospect Of advantage was
there in that Mr. Tremain justly and forcibly
says:
81 object to the Senate bill because the whole theory
upon which il is based is a most dangerous theory.
What is i'll IL is thar must have double headed
Commission. 1t is double headed in two-fold sense
You are 10 have four Commissioners new men, united
with the four Commissioners Of the Police. or these
EIGHT Commissioners according TO the theory OF this
bill four are Democrats and four are Union men, and
the whole are execute these trusts. 1t IL double
headed Commission. am not bound 10 assume that q
Democrat would concede point In favor Of Union
Commissioner and in fact IL would he practically
reasonable TO expect that he would 90 So unless ne had
qud pro quo in like concession to himself The
the Board Of Supervisors and where the beauties Of
nor. partisan legislation aptly illustrated the Sc
rions deriment OF the people of the city Of NewYork
object the Senate BILL therefore. because Of the
tendency of improper political combination 10 i'm
pair the efficiency and successful operation Of the
ties devolying upon the Commission 10 perform"
One of Mr.. Littlejohn's guns was thus cleverly
turned against himself
Sir, was pleased at the proper appreciation mani
tested few DAYS since by nv friend from Oswego (Mr
Littleohn) OF a true principle, when he urged that
measure introduced should not be referred to an un-
friendly committee. His expression was forcioe ard
Just one that child should never be conhded to
hostile nurse You are proposing 70 put this expert
mental health bill into the hands ofa commission one
half Of whom friendly to the BILL and one-hah be-
longing TO party opposed TO IT, and which denounces
any health law whatever and who therefore bound
II thew are true TO their party to strange this bill Of
our creation
The argument that the Senate bill or none
must become law, amounted to nothing, since
the passage of Senate or Assembly bill was
merely question of time. Either might have
got through first. But the Senate bill did in
fact, and without apology or excuse, amount to
a vote of want of confidence in the Governor,
and on that Mr. Tremain remarks:
Sir object again 10 the Senate bill because its pas.
sage would be an indignity TO Reuben 4. Fenton the
Governor Of this State. II is worse than II you had
DOT passed the bill last year comforting upon him this
power. But last year all parties consenting you pro-
posed TO give him the power. What has induced ths
changer Is Reuben Z. FeIon less worthy OF our con-
dence now than them The people OF this State bring
him into power by majority of 1900 votes and year
afterward be is sustained by majority OF ~ against
an opposition ticket composed OF men Of extraordinary
personal worth and popularity and now we are called
upon to pass law 10 take from Gov. feDton the power
proposed 10 give him in 1865 aud to give to these
persons selected hv ~ reasonable cabAL II Gov.