The New York herald., 1869-01-25
Tho Metropolitan Connissions In the
Legislature.


Now that the fierce conflict for Senator is
over and the clan Fenton and clan Morgan
have laid by their claymores and flung away
their shields-the former to sit in high
places within the threshold OF the Senate
Chamber; the Morgan chiefs to retire
to the dismal hooks and Businesses where
the whiskey ring doth dwell and where
the light of day will probably enter no more
forever-our Metropolitan commissions, the
Police Department and the Excise law, are
about to obtain the attention of the Legls-
lature. The Metropolitan Police law and the
Excise Board are both the creations Of
Greeley Weed fanaticism and political cum
ming. They stood the test bravely for long
time in the face Of popular disgust and odium.
From the Metropolitan Police law sprung q
despotism that our courts were often COM
PEELED to protest against. The rights Of the
poorer classes found little recognition when
they transgressed the law and became the
victims Of Incarceration, frequently for trivial
offences, under circumstances Of peculiar hard
ship, or were held as prisoners in the House
of Detention under the guise Of witnesses,
while the criminal went at large on bail It
may be that these grievances are not charge
able to the members of the force any more
than the vexatious and paltry prosecutions
which the police have inflicted upon the liquor
dealers under the operations of the excise
system. The construction and interpreta-
~ 1ouo IN both fn
blame. The remedy, then, is to be found in
wholesome legislation. The defeat of Morgan
has put an extinguisher upon the fanaticism Of
the Greeley faction. 1t has, moreover, left
many soreheads in both houses at Albany,
who may not be unwilling to resent the election
Of Fenton and the disappointment which they
had to swallow at the hands of Speaker Young
love by leaning tenderly towards such mea-
sures as may be introduced for the amendment
of our Metropolitan Police and Excise laws.
Two or three bills have already been reported
and referred to committees relative to these
laws; for the regulation Of licenses, the hours
designated for the legal sale Of liquors and the
duties of the police In the premises. 1t is said
buut xcdSOudUkC uOoiuV0tOuo Al eAC5C AoWo
will not meet with much hostility even from
the friends of Senator Fenton, while the dis
appointed adherents of Morgan may prove still
easier in dealing with the measures broached
by the democratic minority.
The extreme views Of the radicals have re-
ceived shock in this Senatorial contest which
even success has not been wholly able to ward
of. The game is not all with them. The
republican party in the Legislature is divided,
let partisans say what they will to the con-
trary, and the division is based upon the bit
terest of all causes-treachery, successfully
practised and most provokingly boasted Of.
The radicals hold the majority of the party in
their hands, it is true, but it may turn out that
it is not quite safe to use their power incau-
tiously. BY skilful management the demo-
Gratis may turn this condition of things to ad-
vantage. Senator Tweed and Peter B.
Sweeny-the bold Agamemnon and the wise
Ulysses Of the campaign-keep watch and
ward over the battle from their tents in the
D-lavun, anu ~ is not nkeiy snas .ny opportu-
nifty will be overlooked by these ever active
leaders. By whatever agency modification
of the obnoxious Excise law may be brought
about, the people Of this city will have cause
to rejoice that one of the most oppressive, un-
equal and odious enactments on the statute
book will have had the sting taken out Of 1t.
1t was conceived in fanaticism and vindictive-
ness and has disgraced our legislation too
long. The Metropolitan Police law stands
nearly in the same category, though some good
may have come out Of this Nazareth. Its
operation Is full Of abuses which we trust the
present Legislature will correct.
THE DANISH WEST INDIA ENTANaLEMRNT.-
With the approach Of the Senate to the con-
siderstion Of Mr.. Stewards treaty for the
annexation Of the lovely island of st.
Thomas, the sore disappointment Of the
Danish government at the prospect Of no sale
t. G,1 g. kl~A