The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-23

Our Republican Legislature Adjourned.
The Republican Legislature which adj
journed yesterday will bc remembered as
one OF the most inefficient and useless
that ever met in the State capital. With
more than two-thirds Of the Assembly and
an overwhelming majority in the Senate,
the Republicans had the power to do rs
they pleased, and must be held respon-
sible for the work Of the session. It Is
true that this Legislature has not been ne
corrupt as some OF its predecessors. The
amended Constitution and the stringency OF
the times doubtless had much TO do with
preserving the virtue Of the average mem
Der Of the Legislatures; yet cheap lobby
has been maintained in Albany all winter,
with T. Il. PHELPS at its head. The no.
torhus king OF the lobby, A. ID. BARBER,
half brother Of Judge NOAH DAVIS, has also
hung about the Legislature during the en-
tire session. but 1t is said that he was there
10 protect old interests rather than TO trans
act new business
The session has been one OF the longest
on record, and the number OF bills passed
is much larger than last year. Nine-tenths OF
these bills attempted TO secure local and
special legislation in defiance OF the Con-
stitution by amending and passing general
laws whose application could only be local
or special. The reckless and inconsideratc
manner in which this Legislature has done
It's work is fully shown by the number of
bills which have been vetoed by the Gov
ernor, and the still larger number which
have been recalled from the Executive
chamber TO save them from n similar fate.
4. 30, 10, TOD e., . l. 90,
which was serving the last year OF its term,
and had already disgraced itself by white
washing SMYTH, the incompetent and cor
rupt Insurance Superintendent, and by defy
ing the command OF the Constitution In the
matter OF reapportioning the state. But
from the Assembly the people had right TO
expect something better. That body was
freshly elected and contained a sprinkling
OF young men whose names had in them a
sound Of promise. 1t counted among its men,
bers a WADswoRTH, a VARNUM, a PRESDER-
CAST, WHEELER, and MANN, all Just en-
tering upon political life, besides the more
experienced but still youthful HAMILTON
FISH Jr. Among its older members were
Gen. GEORGE II. SHARPE, GEORGE b. SLOAN,
A. BARTON HEPBURN ROBERT II. STRAHAN
and many others from whom the people had
n right to expect n new departure. The loud
boasts made In the early days Of the session
OF what was 90 be done for the relief OF the
taxpayers and for retrenchment and re-
form, encouraged good antcpations.
One thing promised WAS the passage Of
n new assessment and tax law that should
equalize the public burdens and make
corporations pay their just share Of the
taxes Early in the session rcsolu-
ton was adop'ed directing the Ways and
Means Committee, of which Mr.. SLOAN was
Chairman, to prepare such a bill With a
flourish of trumpets the Committee went TO
work. Experts were summoned from vari-
GUS parts of the State to aid the Commit
toe in preparing the measure Daily bull
letins were sent out announcing that the
Committee was making good progress,
and that perfect and just bill would
soon be ready. After more than three
months a bill was finally reported by this
Committee. In the mean time Messrs.
HARRIS and PoMERoY and other Senators,
friends OF the corporations, had not been
idle, and three or four tax bills we're in
cubated In that body. Then, in the last
weeks OF the session, there was a COM
pairing Of notes between Mr.. SLOAN and Mr..
HARRIS, and it was announced that there
was hopeless disagreement between the
two, and that 1t would be useless to attempt
TO pass tax and assessment bill this year
The public was coolly informed that the
subject was so important that 1t would be
impossible for the Legislature to do it JUS
tce. Mr. HARRIS and Mr.. SLOAN, and a
majority Of both Houses, thought that the
proper thing would be TO appoint a commits
sion Of experts TO examine into this whole
question and report TO the next Legislature.
By this manpuvre it is believed that a
great danger TO the Republican party this
fall has been avoided; but how about
the interests Of the people Had the Legls-
lature passed bill displeasing to the cor
poratons, they would have been found OPP
posing certain Republican candidates, both
In the conventions and at the polls AS the
matter stands, the corporations are salts
fed, while it is hoped that the people gen
orally will be blinded by the dust that
has been raised in agitatng this ques-
ton and the promise that something
shall be done for their relief next
year, when this new Commission that
they are TO pay for makes its report O
the same stripe is the action Of this Legis
Iature IN tho matter OF discrimination
against citizens Of the State by the railroad
companies carrying freight. A committed
which will cost the taxpayers thousands o.
dollars Is to investigate the subject and tC
report 10 the next Legislature.
How badly the Legislature has kept It's
promise Of retrenchment is shown by The
fact that its appropriations Of money 10 b'
raised by taxation this year are nearly
double those OF 1873 Included in the enor
nous budget is another round million fol-
the new Capitol. The Canal Appropriation
bill was loaded down with items fol
bridges, dams, and so forth, all designed t.
help Senators and Assemblymen In theil
districts, and to such an extent that
It swamped every dollar Of the reserve
canal fund. 1t is true that a large sum was
stricken from these bills by Gov. ROBINSON
but that does not go TO the credit OF tn,
Legislature.
This Legislature must, however, be cred
tied with the passage Of an Apportlonmen
bill, although by no means a fair one. SIN