The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-05
Governor RobInson's Duty I'm Rela-
tion TO the Omnibus Bill.

ceives to be the merits of the Omnibus bill,
and asking the HERALD to urge Governor
Robinson to sign it, We decline to do any
thing of the kind, although we willingly
print this gentleman's communication. Our
attitude toward measures pending In
the Legislature and toward bills IN the
hands of the Governor must generally be
very different. Our experience has taught
rs to have but little confidence in the intel
ligence, Judgment or motives of m average
Legislature; but most Of our Governors have
been upright, experienced men, well versed
in the affairs Of the State, and few OF them
have entered their Office with better titles to
respect than Governor Robinson. We think
him quite competent to form correct esti-
mate Of the merits and dement's OF this
municipal bill, and he will belle an honor
able record if he signs or vetoes it from any
other motive than the public welfare.
While an important bill is pending in the
| Legislature we feel no such confidence. So
large proportion Of the members are raw
| and ignorant, so many of them are the tools
and puppets of party leaders. so many are
subject to the influence of n scheming, mer
cenary lobby. that we consider it the indis-
pensable duty OF the press to watch their
proceedings with vigilance, to detect and
expose their plots, and to bring the
influence of sound public opinion to
bear upon their proceedings. There
is no reason for the same solicitude
respecting the action of the Governor
He is competent judge of the merits
of bills, and he cannot, in case so impor-
tant as the present, refuse his signature
without fully stating his reasons. by the
soundness of these he must be judged he
cannot afford to assign finisy reasons for the
veto of SO important an act. When respon-
sibility is narrowed to one able man who
has a character to protect we feel no call to
be his tutor; we expect to acquiesce IN
whatever action he may take on this bill.
While it was pending in the Legislature we
warmly supported its good provisions and
hoped that its defects might be remedied by
amendments. When it passes into the
hands of the Governor we are willing to
trust his judgment of it's character as whole.
Our correspondent must not understand
us to deny that the bill has several good and
some excellent features. Indeed, two Of
the principal changes it proposes have been
strenuously advocated by the HERALD for a
long period. We refer, of course, to spring
elections, which tend to divorce municipal
from State politics, and the giving of single
instead of plural heads to departments,
which is conducive to economy and to eff
cheney of administration. The first of these
two reforms is one of whose necessity we
have long been convinced, and whose merits
we have taken unwearied pains to set forth
and enforce. Immediately after the election
Of the last Legislature we sent correspond
ents to interview all its members on this
question, and had the satisfaction Of finding
| our own views Endorsed by very large
majority of the Senators and Assemblymen
elect Of both political parties. We then
began to hope that we had secured the sue
cess of this important reform in that Legis-
lature We had got the unbiased opinions
of the members and had put them all on
record, with majority of three or four to one
in favor of q spring election. But when they
assembled at Albany they were too much
occupied with other questions to give atten-
ton to this. The uppermost topic in all
minds was the approaching Presidential
contest, and nothing was done for NUM-
cipal reform. In the present Legislature,
however, the affairs of this city have been
leading object Of attention and discussion.
There has been an epidemic eruption Of
crude proposals and dsjointed efforts but
among the multitude of bills presented there
Quite the best of the batch was the
so-called Omnibus bill as originally
drafted and before it had been mutt
lated with amendments. Even in the
form in which it passed the Assembly it re-
tains several valuable features which we
should be glad to see put into a new bill
and passed if the Governor should think it
his duty to veto the Omnibus.
On the question of o veto we do not wish
to influence his action one way or the other.
We have confidence in his good judgment,
and do not believe that he will act in so i'm
portant matter from mere party motives.
If he vetoes the bill we do not
doubt that he will state cogent rea-
sons; if he approves it we shall
rejoice that, in his judgment, it's defects
are not SO fatal as to deprive the city of the
important reforms which the bill unques-
tionably embodies. We discredit the rumors
that Governor Robinson is already commit
ted to veto. These rumors are put in cir
culation by democratic politicians whose
wish is father to the thought" We give
them as meaning that democratic politicians
will bring a strong pressure to bear upon the
Governor to induce him to interpose his
negative. That he has given any assurances,
or even any limitations, that he will do
SO we utterly disbclieve. 1t would be a