The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-06


meet at Albany to-day. Though much more
strongly represented by the opposition ele-
ments than the last. it is republican Legis-
lature in both branches. In the Senate the
republicans have seventeen members. against
twelve democrats and three liberals and indie
pendents; while in the Assembly the repub-
lican force is seventy-three against fifty dem
ocrats and four Independents and liberals
Having thus the two houses. with the Cover
nor and Lieutenant Governor. the republic
cans will be responsible and will be held re-
sponsible for the failure of this Legislature if
it fail to meet the urgent wants Of the city and
the State and the just expectations of the
people.
We shall doubtless have the Governors
Message before the close of the day. The
Senate, with the Lieutenant Governor as its
presiding officer, will have only its Clerk and
other subordinates to choose to perfect its or
ganization; while for the Assembly the choice
of Speaker, always delicate matter and
frequently a disastrous bone of contention to
the dominant party, was settled in favor of
Mr.. Hustled, of Westchester, by the republican
caucus of last night Hustled A, Prince %.
Mr.. Hustled is well qualified, from his abilities
and legislative experience, to fill the response
BILE position. The most important duty de-
volving upon him will be the first duty he is
called upon to discharge-the appointment Of
his standing committees; and this task. we
have no reason to doubt, he will perform in
every case with a supreme regard for the public
interests concerned and to the public satisfac-
ton. For example, in his selections for the
] Committee on Cities We may assume that they
! will be made with especial reference to the
knowledge Of the members touching the para
mount interests Of the cities of New York and
Brooklyn, in which to q great extent are
directly involved the general interest Of every
corner of the State.
| We shall probably have in the Governors
Message foreshadowing of the Legislative
programme of the session, although it is un-
derstood that considerable portion of the
Message will be devoted to national affairs,
and particularly to the Governors orthodox
views on the important questions of banks,
currency, imitation, contraction and specie
payments. We dare say, however, that on
our State and city affairs his recommended
tons will not be limited to that narrow policy
of expenditures which would put stop to all
improvements in order to make q deceptive
show of retrenchment and reform. But
whatever may be the Governor recommenda-
tions there are certain things which it will be
well for this Legislature to do, and there are
things which it will be we'll to avoid. It is
still disputed point whether an overwhelm-
ing majority of the same party in both houses
like that of our last Legislature, or a close di-
vision between the dominant party and the
opposition forces like thatin the present Legis-
lature, is to be preferred in view of honest legis
lation On the one hand it is contended
that where the change of two or three votes
will, for instance, change the vote of the
Senate, the lobby, in the case Of bill with
''money in it." will find no difficulty in pur-
chasing those two or three votes, if required,
from one side or the other. In favor Of
close division Of parties it is contended that
the constant danger to the dominant party of
damaging break in its lines keeps it con-
stantly on the watch, while the hope of an
opportunity to the opposition keeps its forces
equally vigilant and united.
All our Legislative teachings from Albany
and from Washington will serve TO strengthen
this argument, that where the ruling party
possesses decisive maiorities against all possible
contingencies it becomes rapidly and reck-
lessly corrupt, and that when it is reduced
to close division in both houses, or in
either it becomes cautious and comparatively
honest. The general expectation that this
Legislature will prove better than the last
rests upon the idea that the republicans are
not strong enough in either House to enter
into any broadly corrupt or entangling alli-
ances with the lobby. There is OF should
be another guarantee for honest legislation at
Albany this winter in the fact that upon the
acts of this Legislature the republican party of
this State will be held to rigid account in
our elections of next autumn, which will en-
brace the Governor, the whole State delega-
ton for the next Congress, and an Assembly
which may turn the scale in the election of a
United States Senator in place OF Mr.. Fenton.
In this view of the subject one would think
that the ever present and controlling object
with the republicans in this Legislature must
be good record for next November, and par
ticularly in view Of the possibilities of
crushing defeat in that important election.
All things considered, our last Legislature
did as well al could be expected. The work
demanded of this one is comparatively light
and easy. We shall want, for the present, but
little tinkering with our city charter, although
a clearer definition than now exists of the
powers, rights and dutes respectively, of the
heads Of our city departments is much to be
desired. Above all things, in view of the recent
annexations to the city from Westchester, we
need rapid transit for hundred thousand
passengers down and up daily between the
widely separated northern and southern ex-
tremities of the metropolis. With our present