New-York tribune., 1876-05-08
A REFORMED LEGISLATURE.
DECLINE OF CORRUPTION AT ALBANY.

| THE LATE SENATE THE PUREsT OF THIS GENERA
TIoN-EvIL DAYS FOR STRIKERS AND LOBBYISTS
-INcoMPETENCY OF THE DELEGATION FROM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOB THE SMALL
AMOUNT OF WORK DONE.
| FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
| ALBANY, May Cit must be rather embar-
RAISING to preach sermon when the funeral has been
brought about by the direct intervention OF nitro
glycerine. something OF the difficulty attends the
pOstmorem discussion Of the late Legislature-ate in
every OF the word In the popular mind there
he very little left OF II after the explosion Of the
last day OF the session. There few words however,
that ought be said about IT, in the absence OF It's
scattered remains.
First 1t ought to be understood that the impression
which to have gone abroad that this Legislature
exceptionally corrupt ia very unjust Thesenate
che best that has beer had in generation. and the
Assembly, though not containing very many able men,
seemed above the average in point OF responsibility and
honesty In the Senate the change remarkable and
il ig only the truth to say that very much OF the
improvement he Democratic side. From the I'D
District Senator Kcunaday succeeded James W. Coe;
from the With District James w. Gerard succeeded
Thomas A. Ledwith from the Xth D. r. St. John, man
of large wealth and long publlc experience-he first
Il member OF the Assembly nearly 40 years ago-sup-
planted roaring Republican reprobate who was never
in proper physical condition for legislation from tho
XIVth Senator schoonmaler who far exceeded his
the XVIlith James 9tarbuck, the ablest OF the Dem
ocrats succeeded cssatiyc noneny by the Of
Middleton.
On the Republican side there changes quite
as good, though 80 many B. Pat Carpenter, from
the XIth District, retired Benjamin Ray, Democrat,
and old political pupil OF Fernando Wood and shcr-
man g. Rogers. from Buffalo, succeeded A. F. Loring,
Democrat able lawyer whose instincts unfortunately
led him TO the wrong side IN reform As the
Senate stands now two Republicans In IL VIGOROUSLY
corrupt used TO be- nut has retired on his profits
and has been and "a political corruptioni4 One
Democrat Is less openly yenal, who IA now wcbe-
haved was elected In spite danniug record, and
who, by the way, neither "striker" taker Of
bribes IS the proprietor of gamblinghouse The whole
tone o; the senate is however, vastly improved 1t ia
body 10 which II il honor TO belong and that s great
change since Tweed owned IL five years ago.
STRIKERS, LOBBYISTS AND BRIBE-TAKERs.
Ia the House tho usual proportion Of easily corrupted
membcrs-about twO-niibs-sccms To have been pre-
served their opportunities for being corrupted
very much diminished this year. IL Improbable
season that toward the last most of them got frantic
with hunger Votes 10 beat the Hustled Rapid Transit
bin went up with each step forward the bill took. First
TIE agreement was FOR $3.50 bt by The time il reached
the order Of hird readings members demanded and
received much a. ~ OOo ana some even Sl5o0 vote
TIE lobbyists. uscad ~ being able TO keep the larger
share OF the money ncy had received Tor themselves
th.y always do when they can, compelled TO dis
bursc almost the last cent. These are the statements
ado by careful honest who friends Of the
bill. and who have taken pains since TO hud out some
thing Of the efforts which put forth to de-
feat IT, This the one great prize OF tho year
there wcrr not many others. and they were small
ones M that The truth f. the atmosphere NJ Albany
grows clearer every year "srikcs" upll work at
all and thcrc seems 10 be greater
readiness On the part of honest members 10 combine
against the dishonest The saue railroad corporation
that paid $4,000 n nle year, not 20 very long ago.
smry q bc let alone has been almost unmocsed An
excellent Instance OF the degree 20 which grca, strikes
have gone Of fashion given early In the session,
when n Tweed Senator appeared on the ground making
astounding charges 81 the evasion Of taxes by railroads
lie predicted immediate invcstigatOn but In very
few days disappeared. Those who ought to know. say
that he amazed to Gnd what change had taken
place. In thc old time- a committee would have been
appointed without delay. he would have been named
ts cnsc and TIE process OF bleeding the corporations
would have begun at Now the cold shoulder was
turned him everywhere his charges did not receive
the slightest attention, and h's attempts to get coa
m.ttec were unsuccessful lie found himself out Of date
aud took himself %.
s,ill II must not he supposed that 60 lobby Is be-
comm, extinct. The mombers as numerous and 80
we'll fed "a ever Two attempts have been made 10 in
yestigate them-oncc on the Bergh bill, when sub
committee ~ the Judiciary Committee succeeded, after
we.k. ~ secret examination In eNtortng from lobbyist
bill he could have raised money buy votes to defeat It.
This Itng discovery the most valuable OF the
session this line OF research. and the subcommittee
made much of Il accordingly When the five Rcpub-
icans Who voted against The Brooklyn Charter
der investigation the futiy Of this Kind OF inquiry he
came s;l more manifest Notorious lobbyists like Phelps,
VINO had sworn the previous Investigations that their
only business IN Albany That OF stockholders, now
testified that they had helped to defeat the bill from
motives Of personal regard forithe Brooklyn Democrats,
ono OF whom returned the favor by saying that Mr..
Phol, was much OF gentleman 10 ask anything for
Ills services This latter gentleman tilted his chair back
and cafsd the Committee. lie had been promised two
appointments OF policeman and one or clerk, bat
he had allowed "yOu fellows" to find II out be-
cause they would have bothered him 10 death. II they
knew he had influence. by begging for appointments.
lie had business in Albany but took great interest
IN legislation When OF the Commite. asked qucs-
ton that considered mpertncnt, he curtly told
to mind his business All this is without result aud the
remedy this sort OF aycy fare of ever, unless
II f. 10 DO found In general awakening OF public
opinion and the improvement in legislative morals.
THE DELEGATION FROM NEw-YoRK.
The average NewYorkcr knows little and cares less
about Legislatures, but the ind Gcrent OF them all
might easily have bushcd hs great city had he
the showing she made the this year. The
sovereign city Of the continent represented by del
egati0n that. with barely half dozen exceptions,
tho mos ignorant incompetent and deprayed set OF men
that could well have been got together one OF them
was strongly suspected OF having stolen watch which
was mysterousy returned 10 avoid trouble one broke
nto the House post-oce and robbed mail boxes, and es
capped expulsion the plea that he was too drunk
10 know what he about four betrayed
their party OF the most important
party OF the session. and did IL for little reward
they earned the contempt of every lobbyist in
Albany; one liked the way the Senate was adjourned