New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-08
PROSPECTIVE Sr4TE LEGLSL1TI0N

Ii.iJNI rem + SIZE LEGINIl IIDN.
The law-pottcrng Of the approaching Demo
cratic Legislature is distinctly forcshadowcd.
From the press and politicians OF the party
have come manifold suggestions covering the
whole Field Of legislation. The programme IL
certainly large enough to be considered com
pete. The railroads, the canals, the city gov
crnmcnts, the Congressional representation, are
all to be subjected TO legislative handling.
The oveThau!ipg of so many important matter,
10y a Legislature composed mainly of new mem
bers would ordinarily cause general coustcrna-
ton. There is none. Governor Cornell has
shown himself to be a man Of such sound iudg-
ment and genuine courage that there s universal
faith in his ability TO prevent reckless lcgisla-
ton. 1t is amusing to notice that the Cover
nor's presence in the Executive Chamber has
been overlooked by the Democratic statesmen
who are busy mapping out the course of the
Legislature, and especially by those who would
gcrrymandcr at their own pleasure the Con-
gressIonal Districts of the State. They ought
to have the wit to perceive that any partisan
scheme of their own party tor mere asing the
number of Congressional Districts in the great
Democratic cities by diminishing the number
of country districts will be thrown ont by n
Governor who throughout his term has been
bitterly hostile to partisan bills even of his
own party.
AS might be expected, little inventive talent
is shown by these law-tinkcrers. Nearly all
the proposed bills have occupied frnitlessly the
attention of recent Legislatures. There have
been prolonged discussions over the various
railroad bills. The debates over single one
of these bills, that fOrhidding discrimination
in railway rates, would form huge library :;
and the railroad commission bin has ltera-
ture equally vOlumnOus. Both bills have been
buried under mountain of words vet either
one will bear considerably more dcbate-morc
we are afraid, than will be allowed in the face
of the cry of monopoly" raised against the
railways during the recent political campaign
The people do not want Granger laws. IIaSty
and ill-iudged railway legislation may fire the
oratOry Of ward politicians, but it will be ulti-
matoly condemned 10y the sober second thought
of constituencies. Legislation on kindred
subject, the canal transportation system.
should also be thoroughly digested. Is the
canal commerce worth what free canals will
cost This is "A complex problem with many
factors, and it cannot be cphered ont by Dem.
Ocratic legislators between cocktails
There are, indeed, some new ideas of lcgisla.
ton buzzng in Democratic noodles. Here is
William Purcell, for instance, who thinks that
his defeat for Secretary of State was owing 10
the absence of the canal bcatmcn from the
polls. He suggests an amendment to the Con-
permitting the boatmcn TO vote on
election day wherever they may happen to be
on the line of the canals. The repeal of laws
against fraudulent voting would be strictly in
accord with Democratic policy, and a better
method Of developing the speed Of the canal
mule could not be devised. On election day the
tow path woulu have all the charms of a race
course with the additional merit that the length
ofthe track, from poling-pace to polling place,
would prolong the pleasure CT the public.
There are measures which deserve more serious
consideration than Mr.. p Ircel's. No objection
can be made to a law which Ill eilectually pre-
vent the sale of oleomarsarine FOR butter. With