New-York tribune., 1873-08-01

government, is again a candidate, and Will
continue to be Senator; so much to be pre-
ferred, forsooth is a notOriously unfaithful
representative, provided he is Republican, to
any Democrat!
On the 18th Of October, 1871, Senator Conk-
ling made great speech at Albany, in which
he attacked the Democratic management OF
the finances, and particularly of tho prisons.
In the two years 1861 and 1862, in war times,
the cost of maintaining the cOnvicts and
prisons was only about 100000 over the re-
ceipts from earnings; in the two years, 1869
and 1870, 100000, or seven times as much.
The Republican party was destined by Provl-
dence to reform this. The reform, how
ever, has not yet illuminated the hori-
zon. In tho single year ended Sept.
80, 1872, the deficiency was $45O,00O, which
is at the rate of 100000 for two years.
Neither do we find that the Legislature has
given any attention to the matter. And so OF
the whole matter of finance and taxation. The
Legislative expenses have been cut down
little from the monstrous figures of Tweed,
but they are still far above those of ten years
ago. Have the people been invigorated by
any great reduction of taxes? Cities, counties
and towns have been authorized to increase
almost ad HJitum their already magnificent
debts, until the State of New-YOrk is both more
heavily in debt and more heavily taxed than any
State north of mason and Dixon's line, with
perhaps single exception. This very year
the aggregate of State and local taxes col
lected and to be collected in the State ex-
ceeds fifty million dollars, exclusive of sum
fully as great, paid to the National Govern
ment. Yet tax bills and appropriation bills
are reserved for the last night of the session.
to be voted blindfOld, amid the rattle OF
paper balls, spittoons and files OF documents
and the most indescribable bar-roOm foolery.
The lobby, with its corrupting appliances
musters every Winter at Albany in constantly
increasing force. No intelligent man who ever
visited the place twice during the sessions of
the Legislature can be ignorant of its exist
ence. Here we have two or three dozen men,
at the lowest estimate, living in style of the
greatest extravaganza, intimately assocl-
ating with Senators and Assemblymen
constantly in their rooms and by their sides
in the legislative chambers during the sessions.
and advocating measures which are palpably
hostile to the public interests. Such Is the
lobby. But be it noted, the schemes and jobs
which the lobbyists have charge of " seldom
fail to pass, and the men who vote
for the schemes and jobs are always
the first in the field for denomination. They
never fail to find half dozen contemplate
newspapers, usually leeches fastened to the
State or County Treasury, or both, ready to
recommend them as faithful to their con-
"stituents,n "men of high ability, valu-
| Al toI inf itu
and more deserving of reelection than Judas
of reprobation. There are certain women to
| be seen walking the streets by gaslight whom
all men know to be prostitutes. There are
certain legislators who are equally well known
at Albany to be in the habit of selling their
votes, and whose chief reason for being SEN
ators and Representatives is the money
to be gotten in this way. Now we say
| that the active politicians of neither the Repub-
| lican nor the Democratic parties can be de-
pended on to remedy these evils which are
yisibly undermining tho foundations of the
| State. Both parties have been tried and both
have failed. Meanwhile the disease grows
worse and worse. NewYork is a richer and
greater State than Louisiana or South
! Carolina, but she is infected with the
same malady, and robust as she is
she will ultimately be overwhelmed un-
less there is a moral reformation at Albany.
We therefore advise the people to strain every
nerve and muscle to get majority of honest
men, whatever be their politics, into the next
Legislature. Beware of those men who want
to be reelected. Search their records. Inquire
of lockers on at Albany as to the regulations
such men have made. Vote for no thief for the
good of the party, for that is to set your party
above your country and your God.