New-York tribune., 1882-04-22
THE PRESENT LEGISLATURE.

Mr. Erastns Brooks is cOncededly one or inc
ablest legislators at Albany this year. 1t Is
interesting, therefore, to know what so IN
telligent and experienced an observer thinks or
the present Senate and Assembly. He casually ex-
pressed his opinion in regard to them on lhurs-
day during the course of the debate In the House
on the resolution providing for final ADJOURN
ment the middle of May. Mr. Brooks thinks
well of the Legislature of 1852. lie compl-
mented his fellow members, telling them that
such had been the diligence with which busi-
ness had been carried on that the time lost by
the deadlock had been made good.
If this tribute is really deserved, then the
Democratic majority is entitled to great praise.
True. the deadlock was one Of the most DIS
graceful and inexcusable proceedings in the
legislative history of the State. The Assembly
scarcely did a stroke of legitimate work during
the first six weeks of the session, the Demo-
Gratis being too busy quarrcllng over the Ill
vision of the spOils to have any time Tor those
public duties which they had sworn to dis
charge to the best of their ability. But
all the same, if it be true, as Mr.
Brooks asserts, that since the dead
lock ended the majority has worked so hard
lock. then they should be given their due by
the general recognition of that Fact But the
trouble is that Mr.. Brooks speaks without
vouchers. We respectfully submit that 1t Is
not true that this Legislature has been excep-
tionally industrious that it is not true
that to-day finds its work so far ad-
vanccd as it would have been had
there been no deadlock that it is not true
that the quality of its service since 1t began to
serve after six weeks of fooling has been such
as to commend it to the people as a brlnger
forth of fruits meet for repentance. We hold
that this Legislature has not been more than
ordinarily Industrious There has been no Omis-
sion of the weekly adjournment from Friday
noon until Monday evening. The consequence
has been that only three days in the week, Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday, have been
available for committee meetings. Some OF the
committees may have met on other days,
but it is safe to say that the major
itv have not If the authors and fin
ishers of the deadlock had been honestly
desirous of making amends for their want0n
waste of time they could have dispensed with
the weekly recess altogether, or reduced Its
length so as TO gain Saturday or Monday. But
in the absence of any variation from the ordl-
nary rule of weekly adjournment it is idle to
talk about this Legislature having been unusu-
ally Industrious. Or will Mr.. Brooks claim that
although the weekly vacation has been taken,
such has been the close and unremitting at
tention given to business on the days when
sessions have been held that the deadlock dis
grace has been wiped outP This proposition
is as untenable as the other IF it is not, how
does it happen that the Committee on APP
portionment has not yet submitted its report !;
that 10 adequate tax bill has yet been intro
duced that a number of the timely recon-
mendations made by the Governor i'll his an
nual message, all of which were referred to
appropriate committees remain unacted upOn9
MIR. Brooks has the floor.