The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-13

No good reason can be given why the Legis-
lature at Albany should not perform its work
within the term of one hundred days, as fixed
by the constitution. 1t takes but little legis-
iation to keep the machinery of our State gov
eminent in running order. All that is needed
annually might be transacted in forty working
days If the Legislature would give six in
place of four days out Of the week to the dis
charge of the public business no necessity
would arise for an extra session. Take away
the volume of special legislation, from which
all the corruption springs, and the bulk of
measures affecting the people of the whole
State appears very small. Next Wednesday
the one hundred days expire, and if we look
for what has been done we shall find little Of
general interest. 1t is true this Legislature
is relatively ahead of that of last year.
Two essential bills-the Appropriation and
Supply-have been more rapidly advanced.
large number of bills concerning private in
terests and private individuals have been
passed The one for which the people of this
city most eagerly ask, that of rapid transit, is
still to be acted on. With this settled, we
could afford to let every other measure wait
until next year.
The amendments to the constitution have
been disposed Of, and it only remains to pass
some measure directing the method of their
submission to the people. The committees
retain number Of bills in their possession
which are of more or less importance.
In the Canal Committee the Canal Funding
l~s1 nkckoc &C.,
to the people Of the entire State It aims at
radical reform by throwing the canals on their
own resources and making them self-sustain-
ing Nobody will deny that the canals have
been source Of great corruption and most
shameless plumber. The State is annually
robbed for their pretended support, and re-
form in their management seems utterly un-
attainable. The bill for the consolidation Of
the city and county of New York should by
all means pass. The double-headed monstros-
ity that exists is responsible for countless
frauds on the city treasury. Another bill that
recommends itself is the one providing for
return to the contract system of performing
work for the city and doing away with the
expensive mode Of opening streets by special
commissions. Still another is the one look
ing to the organization of the new territory an
nexed to New York The three towns of West
chester that have cast in their fortunes with
us are in deplorable chaos as tar as their mu-
nicpal affairs are concerned. The bill will
require careful scrutiny, SO that nothing
creeps in to enable the frozen-out politicians
of Westchester to prey upon the Treasury with
pretended claims. In the Assembly the bill
must soon come up for debate that will settle
the question whether the people Of New York
have right to elect their chief financial
officer. The democrats in the Legislature are
said to be restrained from voting in it's favor
By the instructions of the head sachem of
Tammany Hall. 1t is perilous policy for the
''big Injun" to play. The New York demo-
cratic as well as republican representatives
should be the mouthpiece Of the people and
not of man or party. If the gentlemen at
Albany will just pass proper rapid transit
bill We will dispense with their services for
the remainder of this year Of grace.