The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-01
Governor Robfnson's Veto OF the
Bonded Indebtedness Bill.

The feeling awakened by the veto OF this
bill is natural enough, but we reprobate the
exulting tone in which the veto IS APP
plarided and the fierce rancor with which IL
is denounced. There is no sense in making
Comptroller Kelly tho hinge Of the dis
cussion; it ought to turn entirely on the IN
terest and convenience Of the city taxpay-
ers. The disagreement between the Gov
ernor and the Legislature does not relate to
substance, but to methods. Nothing could
be more unwise than the exasperating re-
ordinations which tend to prevent any
accommodation and to cause sac
rifce Of the taxpayers to the AMI
mosities Of political factions. The veto
having been sent in, and the chance being
slender Of the passage Of the bill over the
veto, we wish the debate might be con-
Quoted in such spirit Ps would not OBJ
struct relief to the owners of taxable city
property.
What renders something equivalent to
the vetoed bill matter Of urgency is the
fact that about four and o half millions OF
city bonds in excess of those which are pay
-
1879. 1t will be great hardship upon our
citizens if so large an addition has to be
made TO the annual burden Of taxation,
which is heavy at best and falls with
especial severity in period Of business de-
preston. The popularity of the bill in the
city rested upon the expectation OF relief,
not upon the details to which Governor
Robinson objects. If the same relief can be
obtained by a different method majority
of our citizens win be as we'll satisfied as If
this particular bill had been signed. The
attention Of the taxpaying community has
been concentrated upon the main feature OF
the measure, which deserves heartiest APP
prevail it's minor features having escaped
critical attention because they were deemed!
of less consequence. Now, the Governor
comedies the importance Of the pro-
fessed object of the bill and declares
his willingness to sign simpler
bill for attaining the same object by differ
ent means. II the needed relief cannot be
found by ono method there is no reason why
it should be rejected when offered by
another method. The Governor says that
he came to the examination of the vetoed
bill with strong prejudice in its favor, and
although scrutiny of its details compelled
him to withhold his signature he says, II
would promptly give my assent to any bill
which would secure with certainty simpler
and better condition Of the city finances"
and he proceeds to specify what he thinks
such bill should contain. We are
persuaded that our citizens are COM
parativcly Indifferent whether the great
burden Of 1879 is lightened by the
o majority of the Legislature But the dis
cussion of the veto has begun in SO provok-
ing o spirit that neither side is likely to
yield. The taxpayers are in danger of
being ground between the upper and neither
milestone of the Kelly and anti-Kelly fac
tions. 1t is pitiful quarrel about details
when both factions, and the whole commu-
nifty with them, agree respecting the sub
stance.
II the bill passes over the veto the tax
payers Of the city will be more than con-
tent, because some Of the Governors OBJ
jections are captious and the others
are not vital, while the relief the
bill would bring is neither doubtful nor
unimportant. But it is unlikely that the
veto can be overborne. The two-thirds re-
quired for that purpose is not merely two
thirds Of the members who may happen to
be present when the vote is taken, as in
Congress, but two-thirds of all the members
=
overcome O veto in the Legislature of New
York. The danger is that in the discussio
of the veto it will be denounced with SO
much rancor as to prevent acceptance of
the Governors alternative.
The misfortune is that while the bill
it is also political measure. Neither fac
ton is willing that the other should have
the credit Of SO important measure Of re-
lief, whose necessity cannot be denied. Had
the bill become law it would have been
feather in Mr.. Kclly's cap, because he is
really its author, and the relief would have
been credited to him. The other demo-
cratic faction is unwilling that he should
DO strengthened, and some of the Govern
or's objections to the bill are SO strained as
to disclose set purpose to find fault.
Still he is willing that the taxpayers shall
be relieved provided it is not done by Mr..
Ke1ly's methods. On the other hand the
Kelly faction will withstand the Govern
or's offers and suggestions because
capital can be made against him by
holding him responsible for the enormous
weight Of taxation which will fall on the
city in 1879. when Mr.. Robinson will be q
candidate for reelection. This miserable
strife of democratic factions is therefore the
main obstruction to the alienation of city
burdens.
Of the two proposed methods Of accom-
plishing the same thing il is possible that
Governor Robinson's may be the best. He