New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-03
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1882.

The Legislature which passed into history
Yesterday was controlled by Democrats III both
its branches, and was a disgrace III both Its
branches from the beginning to the end OF the
session. 1t began with deadlock occasloned
by the inability of Tammany and An1-Iam-
many to agree as to the parcelling out OF the
spoils. The first six weeks of its time were
wasted in this vulgar quarrel to the entire
neglect of public business. No more shame
ful disregard of the claims of duty was ever
witnessed. These Democratic Legislators had
taken an oath faithfully to discharge the
"duties of their Office according to the best OF
"their ability but that consideration did not
have the slightest weight with them. Con-
science was laid on the table and appetite
given the floor until an agreement was
reached in regard to a division of the august
offices from clerk to fourth assistant door
keeper.
Nor did the record Of the two Houses i'm
proye after the deadlock was broken. Mar
row. rancorous partisanship still continued to
dominate. Democracy instead of the public
interests was still at the fore. Business was
conducted in a reckless, slipshod manner
| A serious blunder was made in draft
ing the constitutional amendment providing
| for free canals which made necessary It's
double passage in the Assembly. A serious
| hinder was also made in drafting the AppOr-
| tionment bill, two entire counties being wholly
| IGNORED. These are samples of the general
| ineffciency and infdelity that characterized
| tbe entire session. But when we come to in
ouire what this Legislature has actually ac-
comDlshed then we discover its phenomena
worthlessness The great question now agi-
tating the people of this State is reform il
taxation. Recognizing this fact the last
| Democratic State Convention placed a plank
in its platform calling for assessment
and taxation REFORM" But what has
the Democratic Legislature done in re-
| gard to assessment and taXatiOn2 Practically
nothing. 1t neglected to appoint special
committee on the subject. 1t failed to pass
anv comprehensive bill which, by reaching
personal property, would relieve real estate
from the undue burden of taxation now rest
ing upon it. In his last annual report, pre-
sented in January, Controller WadswOrth re-
marked that "if the Legislature will enact
| Unto statutes some of the recommendations
| "made by the Tax Commission of 1881, 1t
| "will be but few years before the entire
"amount necessary for the proper mainte-
"nance of the State Government can
abe collected without levying any
"tax on the several counties" But
| the Democratic Legislature of 1882 dis
| regarded this most sensible suggestion of the
| Controller, disregarded like recommendation
| in Governor COrnelps message, disregarded the
taxation plank in its own party platform, dis
regarded the popular demand for a revision of
the tax laws, and actually left the subject
severely alone. This fragrant and inexcusable
omission, even if it had committed no other
serious fault, would be enough to condemn
| this Legislature in the eyes of all thoughtful
people.
| 1t is not our purpose to take up the success
sive chapters of its unsavory career. The dis
nal failure to pass an Apportonment bill, the
miserable botch that was made of the Railroad
| Commission bill, the revolutionary attempt
of the regular Democrats of the Senate to
coerce the majority Of that body-each one oil
| these things is count in the indictment
against these preposterous Democratic law
makers who shaped the course of the session
Looking back to January, it is nice question
| which are the most numerous, its sins of Omis
sion OF of commission. 1t did, indeed, pass {
few good bills, but they are only as the small
dust of the balance in comparison with til,
| rest of its work.
Its fit epitaph can be compressed in a sen
tence The Legislature of 1882 was worthy o.
the Legislature of 1871. And to appreciate
the force of this compliment it is only neces.
sary to remember the statesmen who controlled
| that earlier Legislature and the character o.