New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-31
THE END on TIE LEGISLATURE.

forty days, the Legislature mas hhiiy au
ieurned. Its organization was enected WIN
the usual amount of wire-pulling and con-
siderable assumption of dignity; it went out
with great breeze of hilarity and the Joylal
saturnalia which many hght-headed people
think is the permitted reward of long
and laboriOus legislative service. Considering
how many alarms we have had on the subject
of mischievous legislation, we have cause LOT
congratulation that things are no worse, anu
that the Legislature is fairly out OF the way
of doing more harm. Local legislation has
occupied more of the time and attention OF
both houses than all other subjects combined.
This city. its treasury and its political
possibilities, have been the chief point
on which all other topics have been made TO
center. The Charter under which we are now
working was garrulously and eagerly fought
over SO long that the hundred days for
which members may draw pay slipped
away before that instrument was sent to
the Governor for his signature. Next
came several supplements to the Charter
which too long quarreling over the political
part of that bill-to the neglect of other feat
ures-made necessary. The City and its vast
interests were helpless in the hands of the
Legislature and q powerful and hungry lobby;
a vigilant independent press and an aroused
public opinion compelled the passage of a
scheme of Municipal Government which was
not nearly so bad as that which threatened
us at first. Among other bills Immediately
affecting this city, the most conspicuous are
those recognizing the Police Justices Court,
the Quarantine Commission, submitting the
question of Westminster annexation to popu-
lar vote, granting charters to sundry
rapid transit railroads. and amending
the charter of the East River Bridge.
Brooklyn has also secured considerable legis-
lation, of which its new Charter is most
notable if not wholly desirable feature
Taken together, the making designed for
the millions of people crowded into the area
twenty miles around the City Hall Is not SO
bad as it might have been if the Legislature
had been less Indifferent to the public opinion
it could not wholly defy.
OF what may be called general legislation,
there has been very little. Laws for the sup
preston of incompetence have excited much
discussion in and out of the Legislature. The
party in power was under distinct pledge to
give some acceptable statute to the organiza-
ton which had already cut some figure as the
Temperance party. The Local Option law was
desired; but after much debate, which showed
more political anxiety than moral principle,
Local Option was killed, and the Civil Dam
ages bill was substituted. This bill, now in
the hands of the Governor, is modelled on the
Ohio Law, and is, so far as it goes, a whole
some measure. But it does not satisfy the
friends of thorough temperance legislation.
The law for the arrest of habitual
criminals, and that for the prompt
punishment of petty thieves, may be cited as
examples of good enactments. Bills for the
amendment of the Usury laws and the statute
relating to the tax on bonds and mortgages
were anxiously watched; but they came to
nothing. The new Congressional Apportion-
ment is an Improvement on that of last year ;
and, allowing that the party controlling the
Legislature naturally handles an apportion-
ment with view to securing partisan advantage,
special complaint cannot be made by any side.
The amendments proposed by the Constitu-
tional Commission have been needlessly and
weakly changed by the Legislature when it
was only expected that they would be for
mally passed on their way to the next Legis-
lature and vote by the people. We have es-
capped the proposed unjust redistrcting of tho
State for Senatorial elections, however, though
we have lost the highly desired guard against
special and underhanded legislation. Canal
affairs have beenmuch talked about, and little
has been done. Appropriations for canal pur-
poses have been cut down, but no decisive
measures have been adopted. In this depart
ment of government things are left pretty
much at loose ends.
The result Of the several Investigations
which have been set on foot is characteristic
of the general legislative outcome. That into
Erie Railway affairs had for its most practical
feature bill relating to railway leases and q
recommendation concerning special legisla-
ton, both of which were speedily dismissed
to the limbo of things blighted. The Tweed
investigation also bore no fruit. Inquiries into
the condition of the Poughkeepsie Lunatic
Asylum and Elmira Reformatory were not
specially exciting in the Developments, and had
only the effect to modify the figures of the
annual appropriations for these institutions.
We give elsewhere more minute summary
of the work of the Legislature, from which il
will be seen that it has been q body of
much ambition IN the direction of work
planned. though it is not ahead of any of its
predecessors in labors accomplished. 1t came
together as Reform Legislature. It neg
lected the canals; it botched the taxation for
Deficiencies; it fastened Henry Smith and
Geo. N. Van Mort upon the City
OF New-YOrk, its measures secured
ia also. Commissioners Charlick and