New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-18
OUR LAST LEGISLATURE.
A SKETCH OF ITS LAST ACTs-LIsT OF SOME OF
THE PRINCIPAL MEASURES THAT HAVE BE-
COME LAWS.

A SKETCH OF ITS LAST ACTs-LIsT OF SOME OF
THE PRINCIPAL MEASURES THAT HAVE BE-
COME LAWS.
ALBANY, May 17.-Some one very aptly and
truthfuy remarked in this city during the closing hours
Of the session that the Pacific Railroad Company exer
csed wise discretion in not inviting the NewYork Leg
isature Of 1869 witness the driving of the last spike
on that road because II the Senators and Assembymen
had been present, the spike would surely have been
stolen No Legislature several years past had better
Yet take them all together, 1t was the most shame
less assembage that met in capital There was
great deal less money spent than during the year DO
fore, yet there was hardly corporation or
in need Of special legislation Iwho was not Dleu.
Even the most mertoous measures, such as the Cenra
Underground Railroad could not get through the ASSEM-
bly,, until the company paid out 800 vote to certain
rings These rings well organized this year tna'
they moved in solid phalanX lin behalf orfaganst any
they chose The ring in the Legislature OF 1850
scarcely formidable but far better organAeu
1t was under the control Of Democratic member on te
center Of the State red pocket handkerchief
manner in which the members were to vote whenever
the Clerk had read the title Of BILL ETC., In which there
was bone" the leader II he considered his ring salts
fed would march TO the front Of the Clerks desk al"
gracefully blow his with his red linen. Every oln
Der OF the ring would vote in favor OF the measure H.
on the contrary the leader should carelessy hOu INC
handkerchief toward the floor that denoted that his o
lowers should vote against the measure Many project
was carried or defeated by that red handkerchief and II
was as much terror TO the applicant for Legislative
favors as were some of the Executive Committees
OF the Assembly of 1869. There were four OF h'e
rings in the last Legislature, the most formidaDe Vi
which was that the Senate, which tried 10 pass tne
Broadway Surface and which stood ready to pass or XII
any project they chose. the Assembly the most form
dabe ring at OF the session was coI
posed OF the prominent Republican and Democratic lnc
bers-those who delight TO call themselves leaders-Dut
toward the close Of the sessOnither power was mostly
broken. Next came the Black Horse cavalry
with AS men on tho roll led by Now
York Democrat, followed a little hlgherpriced crowd,
who made their arrangements through executive com
ttee composed OF three Republicans one for the eastern
end OF the State for Hudson River district and one
for southern county This the party that did their
best push through the Junction Canal swude ana ost
their mOuey because it contingent. Then we had
Cys battery composed Of a dozen more men. Then
most OF the New York members had circle OF their own
but they compared favorably wthhe majority OF the
country members Of both parties There were moro men
entitled 20 the cognomen OF petty larceny chaps than
were ever seen before in Legislature. In fact II was
the cheapest Legislature that assembled Hereto
fore it was hard to buy mans vote on an important
measure-for instance affecting the Central or Erie
Railroad and which would put millions in the pockets OF
those corpOratons-for less than $500; but TINS year.
votes OF that kind were sold for $780, and 10 only took
few hundred divided, that certain number should
receive $50 each Kill the bill prohibiting non residents
was introduced agents the interests Of members were
sent to Washington Market to tell the stall owners that
5000 we're raised bill could be killed The offer was
rejected and then the same parties anxious TO carry
out their intentions for half the sum- OO-bu the
Jerseymen would not But finding that the bill
would probably go through the latter sent delegation
here who paid ont $40 20 countrymen, and they
killed the bill. There great many honest votes
against the measure but there many which we're
not honest Broadway Surface Railroad was defeated
partly by the attacks Of the newspapers, ana
partly by the money Of the stage aud street
railroads The Excise bill the only great measure
whose fate was not affected by money There was plenty
on hand 10 pass H. but tho tdings from the country
warned Senators TO II charged on the floor
that money passed the Tax Commissioners bil-but no
one asserted openly what generally Whispered
around-tlat the whole fight on this bill was noeIr
game OF poker with the Republican politicians on one
side and the Democrats on the other Those who wanted
10 Kill the bill boosted OF having money bu' 'hey
cond not have used 1t as eneetnaly a. uin
tho other side The junction canal people ouerca
Ayo hundred dollars apiece; and 10 one prominent
Republican, who had fought desperately tho OIL III JUS
frat stages they offered 5000 II lie kept Ais mouth
slut" when the bin came up for a final passage lie
spurned the Offer and the bill was allowed to le upon
the table That the public may see that the Democrno
marty was the one which mainly supported tins sNIhul'
I record the yeas and nays test vote TIC yeas
ware the friends Of the measure, the nays the opponents