The New York herald., 1875-03-01
A Brief Review OF Legislation
and Legislators.
AN ACTIVE LOBBY.
How New York's Rapid Transit
Schemes are Buried.
T Tammany Dictation and the Fifth Avenue
"Plaster" Scheme.


criticism. inquiry and dissection OF legislative
WORK accomplished. Prospective work means
probabilities OF future action, based upon what
has been done in the past. These two issues pro.
pose as the main framework OF my present cor.
respondence. ! believe in the doctrine OF close
criticism OF measures, not individuals. The fruits
OF this years. legislative WORK Will weave out, In
good time, net OF IN fanny for those who deserve
II, and q crown of laurels for those who prove
faithful to their trusts. The people OF New YORK
city and State, at the fail elections OF November,
must extend even-handed justice TO both political
parties. The recreants will be wlthered and cast
aside with that unerring outburst Of popular in
dgnation which rolled up over $4,000 majority for
Samuel J. llden at the last election. Political
justice, though slow, Is always sure.
Ay, Justice. who evades her:
her sea es reacn every heart,
She wcgheh each apart;
And none who swerve from right or truth
Can 'scape her penalty!
THE LOBBY.
1t was mistake to suppose that the constitu.
tional amendments had cut or all operations OF
the lobby. They are here IN force, and their In.
nuence is already apparent upon the face OF Icgts-
latlon. Of course the exposure OF their schemes
has heen narrowed down. In IOrmer years hun.
dreds OF SPECIAL enactments were brought up be.
lore the Legislature, in most OF which cropped out
a fraudulent purp Sc. The parties behind hose
schemes were necessitated to procure the Sc vices
OF lobbyist, who held the money and disl riDuted
It. with the members either before or after the
passage Of bill. Now there exists not one tenth
the usual number OF such measures and tue
sphere OF the lobbyist Is consequently
clrcumscrlDed. Then we have an original
name for skilled talent" necessary to
keep wheels Of legislation in working order.
Ma md man mn mi,
struct them, and gentlemen Of an "advisory''
turn Of mimi, with graceful manner and eloquent
tongue, perambulate the Capitol building, haunt
the hotels, play poker with the Senators and AS.
semOlymen and give an occasional hint as to how
they ought to vote. Mr.. A. ID. Barber Is still here
at Stanwix Hall. Some OF the members drop In
occasionally to TASK his advice" Mr.. George O.
Jones diates around the halls OF the Deavan
upon political economy and the history OF twenty
years. legislative experience. General F. 3.
Spinola, with that enormous standing collar and
blackthOrn stick, presented to him by Celtic
representative, gives 'p0ints" TO the "boysn upon
pending measures and is looked upon by some as
having the private ear OF Mr.. John Kelly. MI.
Orlando L. Stewart seems to grow daily more
important and communicative in his capacity Of
lobbyist, although be tas o good cause
to support, ior Sheriff Conner's claims are
entitled to consideration. Messrs. Richmond
and Fellows have come upon the scene at late
hour. Tney are said to devote their peculiar tai.
ents principally to the Fifth avenue asphalt pave
ment scheme and canal matters. Last, though
not least, except in stature, We have Mr. Charles
A. Swan, OF Syracuse, in the interest OF Andrew
h. Green. Swan is ever ready TO parry and thrust
In behalf Of his employer. and, l must admit,
although on very weak side, does mis- work well
and adroity.
RAPID TRANSIT AND THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ADVANCED AND THE PEOPLE NEGLECTED.
We have now six bills introduced IN the Legisla-
ture providing among other things, q system Of
rapid transit Tor New York city. 1he main points
and propositions Of each OF these proposed enact.
ments have already narrated In the HERALD.
will here merely designate the bills In question.
In the Senate, bills OF Senators Moore, OF New
YORK; and Robertson, OF. westchester; In the As
sembly, bills of Messrs. L. Bradford Prince, OF
Queens. John W. Smith and Leo G. Dessar, oil New
York, and Stephen d. Shattuck, OF Steuben.
Some OF these bills were introduced several
weeks since, but as yet VIC have heard nothing OF
them from the committees to which they were
referred. In the early part OF the session Mr..
Jacob Hess, from the Twentieth district In New
York city, Introduced resolution in the Assembly
calling upon the Committee on General Local and
Special Laws to frame a bill giving to the people
OF New York city the much desired boon of rapid
transit. But there it practically lies buried
Mr.. John r. Kcnnaday. OF Kings, Is chair
man Of this committee. He is also
member of the Judiciary Committee, which
reported iavorably on Friday bill giving
$780, 900 q wear additional to the Sheriff of New
YORK county. will the gentlemen composing
those committees please recollect that the people
have their eyes closely upon them in this
matter OF rapid transit? The poor man,
tired ana broken down with hard days
work, compelled to sit In Third or Second
avenue car lOr two hours, half frozen with cold
in order TO reach his home will watch them.
Thousands OF the voters or New York who look
for rapid transit road from the Governor and
Legislature will see to 1t that their dlsappoint-
ments are avenged at the polls next fall, II busy
Senators and AssemblYmen have nothing else to
do but auditing private claims and passing bills to
enrich officials. Among those bills already passed
is one providing lor emoluments to Warden VIM
H. Dunnam, OF the County jail, Tor the year 1874.
1t was rushed through both houses with lightning
rapidity. Another bill Is here which compels
the city to foot the bill for 1876 and 1870
The Fifth avenue pavement job has been reported
from the Committee on cities, against the wishes OF
Messrs. Daily and Hess 1t must be admitted
Will Governor Tden allow these swindes to be
perpetrated Are considerations OF rapid transit
and other important measures to give way to the
avaricous graspmg of already over.paid of1icialsi
We shall see.
THE NEW CRY OF "PARTY MEAsURED
We have imported from New York city new
manGuvre IN the pushing through process IN the
Legislature. When a corrupt New York measure
Is likely TO be beaten then arrives the whipping
IN movement. This comes to us In form OF a
party measure" A member from New YORK,
for whom have the greatest respect, In CONVEX
sation with me recently on a certain measure
now before the Legislature agreed as TO its
fraudulent character and also as to the out
ragcous means co be used in its passage. Last
night, to my surprise, his tune had changed.
what Is the mater?" queried.
"Why," the member remarked, "ths has been
made party measure. Tammany Hall wants the
bill passed. must support IT,"
turned from him in disgust. Thus does Tam
many bind the body ana even the soul OF Its adj
herents. The seventeen Tammany delegates from
that CITY scen tn he fled IN itq mandatns