The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-19
OUTLOOK FOR LEGISLATION.
What May or May Not Be
Accomplished.
POLITICAL WIREPULLING
The Presidency, the COyernOrship, Tammany
and AGti.Tammany at the Capital.
THE OLD GUARD AND THE NEW.
ALBANY, Jan, IS. 1879.

ALBANY, Jan. Is, 1879
Tomorrow night the Senate and Assembly come
together after the for the purpose of proceed
ing with the regular business of the session. Should
Speaker Avord have concluded by that time the i'm
portant duty of appointing the various committees
then the real live work of the Legislature pro-
coed without interruption. But to-day it seems
doubtful whether not the Speaker will be able to
make his official announcement of the committees.
Such announcement must operate in bringing bitter
disappointment to several republican Assemblymen
who cannot be recognized in this important deal.
When the names of the committeeman are made
known then some idea can be had of the complexion
of the future legislation which may tend. either
disgrace elevate the character OF the session of
1879. The infamies, corruptions, negecs, misdeeds
and extravaganza of former Legislative bodies
familiar to the public. Albany has again and again
witnessed the almost open bribery by which the
votes and consciences of Senators and Assemblymen
bartered away. 1t is needless recall the days
of Tweed and his colleagues in substanaton of this
assertion. The corruptons of that period of too
recent date need EXPERIMENTATION at the present
time. Just before the hand of death had seized upon
the late "Tammany Boss" he unbosomed himself al
most fully before the New York Adermanc Committee
Us to the peculiar methods adopted by him in secur-
ing the passage of bills at Albany and the defeat
OF others. Then, however, the Legislature could pass
almost any bill, whether of local general char
scter Since that time the constitutional amend
ments of 1874 have been adopted, limit being
placed to the methods powers and responsibilities
Of the Legislature. These amendments ratified
by immense majority. People of the State were
under the impression that their passage would do
away with much of the jobbery ut Albany
and that the days of the lobby--grown fat under
the liberal provender afforded the halls Of the
old Capitol-were drawing to an ignominious close.
True. the amendments took away much of the valua-
BILE tdbits falling freely from the corporation and
private tables. The entcrprsing countryman who
wanted bridge built across the river of Squedunk
and the New York Sixth ward politician wishing to
do little business in paving Chatham street. from
Pearl to James, alike to the grinding mill at
Albany The patent pavement man. the heavy rail-
road operator. the petty striker compa-
MES. all comminged in general scramble for the
extracting of much legislation would be useful
in the public market. after the statesmen had shaken
the unholy dust of Albany their in April or
May of each year.
BETTER NOW?
Reformers claim and no doubt with some degree
pf TRUTH that things in this respect not they
nscd to be that the opportunities corruption and
bribery much less than when the immaculate
Tweed. the shrewd Squire Sweeny and the oily Dick
Connolly travelled back and forth from the State
Capitol in regal style The reformers rights the
opportunities are b. means plentiful. Public
sentiment has been aroused and the men who seven
eight years ago Haunted their diamonds, car
riagcs-ay, and loves. too-before the wondering
eyes of staid Albanians to-day keep very quiet and
only fash ont occasionally the surface of politi
cal life where particular job is in
prospect some important movement is to be
accomplished in the interest of one clique
another.s The slime of the serpent is I'M
doubtedy here still, but under different bues and
with more cautious movement. The 5000 jobs orig
mated at the opening of the legislative session have
gwen place to the 800 II looks to-day IL the
poraton anaconda-composed of railroad. insurance,
banking and other intere-ts-is about encrcle us
with its grasp, crushing out all the manhood and in
dependence Of the ordinary legislator aud binding
with deepest darkness the innocent. inexperienced
members, who come here with the best of inten.
ticns, but go away with bunted perceptions of
what really did during their stay the capitaS
of the State. Such green individuals generally
played upon by their more experienced colleagues.
Should they happen to procure places upon commit
tees where anything is 10 be made, they gen.
orally in minority. and when the time for
certain to be reported upon favorably adj
versely. they never consulted and consequently
left out in the cold. far the 'spois" CON
cerned.
THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERsHrr-rHE OLD GUARD AND
NEW.
In body composed similarly to that of our State
Legislature-thrty- Senators and hundred
and twenty eight Acknowledgements is simple matter
for three or four men of ability daring and determi-
nation To control and shape all the impor-
tant legislation. This consideration will be
msnifestly apparent at the coming session.
Speaker Alvord. will doubtless prove to be General
James W Hustled DIR. I. /. Hayes. General George H.
Sharpe and Robert H. strahan representing one wing
of the republican party the Old Guartll and George
u. Sloan, Hamilton Fish, A. Ii. Hepburn. J. g. u
Lansbein and Charles X. skinner representing the
allan hat hrut xrIt. haa
arisen in grand struggle for the mastery against
machine power and corporation dctation. At least
these are the cmblems and battle cries under which
this latest schism in republican, ranks claims
on the common enemy Their position H. I'M
doubleday strong one. Tie late little controversy
the speakershfp proves this assertion conclu-
lively. Already the keynote of warlike intent has
been signslled by one OF their number. Asscmblynan
Charles r. skinner. He has introduced resolutions
In the House looking toward the appointment OF
COMMITTEES to agree upon some plan To- cut down all
exorbitant salaries and abolish all sinecurc offices
where the Legislative pruning knife be judi
consly handled. II is understood that the fortytwo
Asscmblymcn who voted TOR George a. Sloan Inv eau.
will rally around their Osweao leader under the
cries OF rerenchment aud reform, and that the lines
Will be fairly drawn IN this way between the two
cvntcnding factions of the responsible majority" in
the lower House. II the contest IL wagcd in the
manner Indicated We are likely TO have some
closes The 'Oid Uuard"--the men who rep
resent the republican machine proper aud the
corporation interests which evidently 20 hand in
hand with i-have, of course succeeded In electing
their choice TOR speaker. They will consequently
have the organization OF the committees and the
almost absolute control of legislation, which such
power always gives The majority will then be led
by that iniintablc pariamentarian and most adroit
OF legislators, 'the gentleman from hockland,
Major General James ". Hustled. No knight Of old
carried u kcener scmitar than that yielded by
the Bald Eagle when he draws upon his mental
resources of sarcasm and metaphor. no shrewder
politician ever anglea with the quibbes ana
crooked ways ot legislative wire pulling. IL
is easy matter to determine what par
ticuar side the gentleman Is when he wishes
to hide his intentions from an nquisitive public TO
General Hustled. IL appears. will be intrsted more
than to any other man the Assembly the diibcult
task OF directing the movement of the republican
"Old Guard. Ir |. l. Hayes. who has iorsaken
his polar explorations Tor the more active Held OF
politics, must also prove power in the new As
sembly This is the Doctors fourth term at Albany
aud hc has mastered the nricaces aud needs OF To-
gisation quicker than any other gentleman who has
tor years made his bow as the state capital General
Hustled II OF the authorities for this assertion.
L. LL Il La laLll M IL.