The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-01
THE STATE CAPITAL
A Retrospective and Prospective View
Of Albany and the Legislature.
LEADING AND WORKING MEMBERS.
The Disrnay OF the Canal Ring at
Threatened Legislation.
Exposure of Jobbery in
Some City Bills.

ALBANY. Jan. 81, 1878.
The peace ana quiet Of this antquated, artsto.
cratic town, peculiarly SO In q legislative sense
from Friday evening until Monday AFFORD ample
opportunity to your correspondents for meditation.
retrospect and prophecy. When ! use the word
''sristocratio" IN connection with Albany mean
there Is place exceptional In Its society. no
city where the Kntckerbocker stock, pure ana un-
adulrerated, Is cultivated and nursed with such
care. The heavy, respectable carriages and
sleighs, the sombre trappinRs OF majestic looking
horses, the religious and mournful aspects OF
coachmen, the Puritanical and ''Eeep-away" air
OF Its wealthy Inhabitants remind one more OF an
afternoon scene in q London park than q vener-
able town in free republic, $50 miles from the
metropolis, where every man, woman and child Ia
supposed 10 be on perfect equality. So much for
the Albanians. Now for
THE LEGISLATORS.
have heard frequent attempts made to dispar-
age the intellectual capacity and ability OF our
democratic majority In the Assembly. Retro
specrve comparison and argument are both used
in this discussion. True, no Castelar, has arisen In
the democratic ranks; no Gladstone or Dtsraei
comes up from the Fourth or sixth wards to emu
late the successes or those statesmen. "rhe
Lower House OF Parliament" as o distinguished
politician from Mr.. Nicholas Muller's district re-
Gently baptized the Assembly. has not yet de-
veloped thoroughly able representative. But
We must be patient We cannot tell what the fu-
ture may bring forth. We must recolect that
those representatives come direct from the people.
Like men OF French revolutionary fame, they
come straight from the masses. full OF po-
litical ideas. There IL no danger Of bloody
records and communistic ruins darkening
their path, but the illustration is used
to point out the axiom that monarchical institu-
lions do not alone carry with them intellectual
representation. Bad and ignorant men may some
times be selected under universal Suffrage, but
the peoples hearts beat true to their own inter.
ests, and 1t Is to be hoped that the mere plant
legislative tool may soon become creature Of
the past
NEW YORK ciTY's DELEGATION.
AS to actual ability In debate in the Senate the
country, no DOUBT, has the call over our I'VE Sena-
tors from New York-Messrs Fox, Booth, Gross,
Ledwith and Moore. In point or thoroughgoing
grasp OF suitable legislation for the people ana
laitnulness in the discharge OF that duty New
State. Senator John c. Jacobs. OF Kings, Is con-
sidered the aolest speaker III the House, and no
ara,rs. iournai,Ss of l5intT' ne was eIecteS
to the Assembly IN 1885, and served In that
body continuously until 1913, when ne was elected
Senator. his recent able fight In q hopeless cause
on behalf OF Mr. Henry q. Murphy will be long re-
memoered. HIS mastery and algnlhed manage.
cratic press OF the STARE and he received the per-
sonai congratulation OF Senators Herman, Woodln
THE ASSEMBLY PERSONNEL.
Statistics recently Carefully arransed put down
the political complexion OF the Assembly as fol-
pubhcans, 3 Total. 12s
Gloss criticism from peculiarly intellectual
arriving at just conclusihn as 10 It's ability.
Adler Legislatures have. no doeot, assembled at
the capital; but in this Assembly there Is con-
splcnous absence Of that low-br0wed, close
cropped element which preoominated Tor
the .R,ng.n the Republicans, led by the
BALD HeaCei Eagle Of Westchester." Major
General ansted ana ex, Lieutenant ian Governor Al
In parliamentary tactics; but the sterling solo,
business element Is with the democrats. Common
sense and discretion are sometimes lar more encc-
tive than. classical attainments ana extensive
readings Some members OF the New York dele
rival here possess those qualities to an eminent
degree. 1t Is easy TO abuse men, decry their char
to prove 1t. Politicians viii not stop at any pon5 to
destroy an opponents lnnuence. Among the men
whom have noticed as contributing those COM
mon sense views IN aid OF legislation are Mr.. Mich
olas Muller, Mr. John Brogan, Mr.. Timothy J.
campbell, Mr.. Charles Reilly, Mr.. William r. KIRK,
Mr.. George A. Staui, Mir. John W. Smith and Mr.
Prominent among those who lead in debate on
FreGercK ". Seward, Mr.. Louis G. waehner, MT:
Thomas Costigan, Mr.: John I. McGowan, Mr. T. G.
and M qSa Of 1ns
House. Tney ale inseparable companions and
both gentlemen mean to make their marx in the
political world. They deserve success. On the
whole, New \ rk city has no reason 10 he ashamed
OF her representatives.
Ihave been IN search OF the LOBBY. have wan
dered through hOtel corridors. glided through the
Sutt o those who ought to kSow, whispered
leverisny in the ears OF those VINO felt the potent
influence IN former years stood mealtstively m
Deiavan-Tweed's former headquart ers-al 10
no avail. Tne loooy has not yet put
But have interylewed some two or three gentle
men whose 'advlce" has often been received In
Sastsn Mr. a. 81 Bsrper nSa ccnyersSton
With him the other night at Stanwix Hall. He
looks older, about nfty.cve apparently: but the
There l met Mr.. George g. Jones, with a large
brimmed hat, q solemn, serious manner and =
plays good game OF billiards nightly al the Della
van, goes home early to ms luxurious residence
his brokerage business in wall street. prince
OF good fellows and . 'man OF mis- word" Is MS
rank among many poiiti politicians , .
Kings, ssunters daily through the moor OF the
House and nightly amid the halls and corridors
ing collar IN the country.
Orlando L. Stewart has assumed land the only
one yet that nave noticed as practically exer-
cisilg that prviege) the manner. airs ana mystic
res OF an Out-and.out lobbyist. He comes here III
the interest OF sheriff Conner,s oi,is. Mnen
10 supposed to have money to use among the boys.
Whether or not Orlando possesses any spare casn
has not yet been discovered. He ran for the AS.
sembly last foil In the Twentieth district OF New
YORK and was beaten by MIR. Jacob Hess.
THE TERROR or THE CANAL RING.
Next week we may look iOr preliminary expos.
ures on canal swindles. MIR. Davis. OF washing.
ton, tue terror Of the canal interest, Is at work
night and day hunting up facts and figures.
Rumor has 1t that there will be ''wailing and
weeping and gnasning or teeth" among some
prominent politicians when all the facts come to
the public.
bill will be introduced next week to abolish
wsylOcks on the canals. This, 1t Is understood d.
will result IN saving 20 the state OF 100000 er
annum.
LOOKING TOWARD WASHINGTON.
Governor Ttlden Is naturally sOhcitnus for the
ability and character exhibited by the democratic
majority In the Legislature. rhis anxiety Is
founded, no doubt, irrespective OF the gcnteman's
thorough integrity, on the expectation that tho
Empire Stale must nominate the democratic can
dldare Tor President next year. Tammany Hall
has dictated PRESIDENTIAL nominees before. the
Iammany society, ION It's mastery Inception,
has several times ruled the natlOnal POLITICAL