New-York tribune., 1869-05-12
OUR DEAD LEGISLATURE.

We have been s0rely disappointed IN our laIe
Legislature. That there were few members
chosen as Republicans whose votes could be
bought, we were sadly aware; but we did
hope to check and battle their treachery by the
votes of few honest Democrats. That hope
has been blasted. Aside from Judge Miller OF
Seneca whose course on most non-partlsan
questions has been eminently high-minded and
faithful-the Democrats i'm both branches have
furnished most striking illustration of the de-
pravity of human nature. We cannot believe that
Senators Murphy, Banks, Nichols, and Ed
wards sold themselves for base lucre; but now
are we to understand their votesf Why should
they vote Six Hundred Thousand Dollars more
of Debt upon this plundered City under the
pretense of completing the new City Hall,
when we have already been put in for a like
sum in at least three annual Tax-Leyies for
this express purpOse3 Mr.. Murphy is under
stood to anticipate higher position in our
State councils unless he is easily duped, he
cannot expect to be helped to that
position by the Tammany Ring: why
could he not have said, al have been
"voting hundreds of thousands year after year
"tO expressly complete this very structure !;
"nOw refuse to vote another dime till am
satisfied as to the disposition of the money l
"have already voted. If 100000 only was
wanted and voted two years since to finish
cup this job, why is there need of this $780,
1000 now? There was Supervisor Tweed on
the floor, who had spent the money, and could
make the necessary explanation if any could
be given: Why was it not required Mr..
Murphy will live to regret that he did not de-
mand it,
AS to the Tax Commissioners bill, we will
concede that Democrats might be expected to
support it simply because it turned out Re-
publican offce-holders, and filled their places
with Democrats but the unmercenary Demo
cratic Legislators owed it to themselves to see
that this was not so done as to entail odum
on the doers. Now, instead of three COmmis-
sioners, costing the City $1,000 each per an
mum, we have four at $4,000 each-a steal Of
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars to start with [;
and it will be found that this is carried clean
through. The collection of our City and
County Taxes cost little less than 100000
last year. 1t will cost 100000 to begin
with under the new act, and 100000 directly.
If Mr. Murphy thinks that will help him into
the Governors chair, We beg leave to differ
He could have saved us this by simply moving
that the total yearly expense of the new Com
mission should not exceed that of the old one.
The Ring were so intent on clutching the
spols that they would not have yentured to
object to this.
On the whole, the Republicans in the Senate
stood by our tax payers nobly. There were bad
eggs among them-onc so far gone as to glory
in its rottenness-but the rest saved our tax
payers over Two Millions of Dollars, for which
we profoundly thank them. Had all been
faithful, they would have saved Two Millions
more.
As to the bakers dozen Of Republican thieves
who sold themselves to Tammany for cash in
hand, and have gone home with the wages of
inquity in their pockets we shall do our best
to make their evil deeds known and their in
ducement palpable to their betrayed and dis
graced constituents. The honest and true men
who sent these villains to prey upon the body
polite were simply deceived: if they send them
again, they will indorse their yillainy and share
their infamy. We shall give THEN votes due
blazon. Let none pretend that they failed to see
or did not understand them!