The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-09
Our New York Letter.
Mo'aD'e Feasi.--The AIbany sagss
and Their Work.---The Mayor aud the
Compfroller.--Pres Grap,,s T,.,..,
State Paper.
New YORK, May 6, 1876.

year on the Sd inst, and was heralded In these
words: Adjournment of the LegislatureP'
The feeling Of satisfaction which this event
produces is very much of the sort o community
would experience IT threatened plague were
stayed or wasting pestilence averted. There
is no safety for anybody as long as caprIcous
body clothed with plenary legislative powers is
exercising its functions. Besides the unhappy
tax payers, who have 60 long been regarded as
legitimate prey that their remonstrances pass
entirely unheeded, every corporation of note
and afHuence is liable TO be struck at BY the
introduction OF some fresh statute, or bill to
repeal statute, which is probably intended
and certainly interpreted as an invitation 70
come forward and negotiate for quarter The
amendments TO the constitution passed eighteen
months ago did something toward the mtiga-
tion of the evils OF special legislation, but there
are still ways enough Of annoying wealthy cor
porations The New York Central Railway
has corps of vigilants watching its interests
Throughout the session; companies having less
at stake establish signals of warning and re-
pair to the state capital when advised that
there is danger that their rights will be an
croached upon. But there is a reign Of terror
from January till May among an classes. The
sense Of it grows more acute as the weeks wear
on, and becomes intense toward the close, 80
that when the clock marks the hour of adjourn
ment there is such great sigh Of relief from
one end of the commonwealth to the other that
the public is just conscious Of It as IL IL were
actually audible to its ear.
The metropolis comes in for the main share
of these statutory interferences. The Albany
sages are never weary of tinkering with our
local affairs. If half the bills that are intro
duced every winter we're to become laws we
should be in chronic state OF revolution. As
it is there is no assurance of stability or per
manency in our municipal governments. 1t is
quite the custom of new member, particu-
larly If he is youthful and ambitious, to repair
to his post with a satchel full of bills" which
he presents in due form on the earliest occa-
sion. They are read by their titles, referred 10
committees, and most of them never emerge
from that appropriate sepulchre. They are
generally favored with good intentions, q sea-
soniDg which does not in the slightest degree
improve their chances of resuscitation. BY
and by new class of schemes make their ap
pearance, which evidently are meant to be
vigorously pressed in the interest of parties ex-
pecting to profit by them. Then the perni-
cious system of bargaining and traficking be-
gins, and its demoralzing influence soon be-
comes perceptible to such an extent as to
awaken popular alarm. After that the state
has no peace till the curtain falls upon the
scene, an the Speakers hammer relegates one
hundred and twenty y-eight assembly men 70
private life.
Among the defeated projects which will
cause regret to many of our best citizens vas the
bill extending the term of Comptroller Green.
His tenure of Office is limited to the 18th Of
November 1876. 1t is perfectly well understood
that our present Mayor, who does not retire till
the expiration OF the year will not re-appoint
Mr.. Green. The friends Of the latter therefore
conceived the idea Of continuing him In his
place, until the eventualities OF the ballot in
November next had determined whether May
or Wickham was to be reelected or superseded.
The expediency of this proceeding is debata-
BILE.
II is open to the grave objection Of being q
palpable piece of special legislation. But OH
the other hand there is self evident fairness
in investing the new Executive, whoever he
may be, with the power to make shis important
appointment The measure miscarried for
want Of time. 1t is one of the strangest things
imaginable that legislative bodies will persist
in dawdlng away all the earlier weeks Of the
session leaving so mnch to be crowded into the
closing days that it is not difficult for skillful
parliamentarians of the minority to bafie the will
of the majority. Yet it has been so from time
immemorial as well in Washington as in Al
bany, and pretty much everywhere else. Per-
haps on the whole it Is a good thing for IL ID
sometimes prevents the enactment Of good
measures it no doubt quite as frequently him
ders the adoption of bad ones.
1t is matter of serious regret that there
should be alienation between the Mayor and
Comptroller. Both are capable and upright
gentlemen, earnestly intent upon the faithful
and thorough discharge of their public duties
and equally desirous of lifting the city out of
that deep morass of debt into which it was
plunged by theii dishonest predecessors. Their
identity of purpose 10 this regard makes them
much more accordant in fact than In seeming.
They are always courteous to each other, but
both have tull average share of se)f-will, and
it Is easy to see that the mutual Difference they
manifest when they meet is inspired BY q sense
of propriety rather than by spirit of cordiali-
ty. In point Of bonhonansie aud amiability the
advantage is on the side of the Mayor, but the
Comptroller is the more cool and self-possessed
of the two. There is curious mixture OF
suavity and sternress, Of gentleness and ag-
g-essveness in Mr.. Green. He is courteous
enough, until somebody undertakes to thwart
him or to urge a doubtful claim upon the treas
4 L All L.. l..
not trace of complacency in his countenance.
If be has made any mistakes in ais manage
ment of the exchequer, they have been those
of resisting demands which were just, and in
putting off unreasonably debtors whose necess-
ties and whose rights equally eBtitled them TO
prompt liquidation OF their accounts. These
are the faults of lawyer. Gentlemen of that
profession never did, and fear never can be
made to comprehend that the principle OF
quick settlement is essential TO success in busi-
ness. If they ever should acquire that kaowl-
edge we might hope that the calendars Of our
courts would be reduced several thousands, aud
in an ordinary life time.
The Office of Comptroller is not one which
any man fit to fill it would be likely to seek
with avidity or relinquish with reluctance The
pay is less than that Of first class bank cash
ier and the labor and responsibility ten fold
greater. If the present incumbent has appeared
tenacious of it, it is rather because he is so fond
of having his own way that be would have sp-
preciated keenly the triumph OF being placed
beyond the reach of ths removing power Of the
present Executive. He certainly has shown no
disposition to conciliate or propitiate the Mayor
or any body else. Whatever else may be said
of him, it cannot be denied that he is the per-
feet embodiment of pluck and courage. He
never turns nor falters. And guess that after
five years of such laborious work as has fallen
on him, he will welcome the end of his term as
a happy release.
One other of the mutatiops which has oc-
CURED during the week is the supersession Of
Hon. Henry G.. S:ebbins as President of the
Department OF Parks. Mr.. Stebbins was ono
the original Commissioners of the Central Park.
To that great plan TOR beautifyiBg the metropo.
lis he has devoted himself with an assiduisy
and unselfishness worthy of the highest COM
mendation. He left the Board when Tweed
assumed the dictatorship of the municipality