New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-09

WHAT DEMOCRATS MEAN BY HUME hoLf'
For wears the Democrats of this city haye
been making loud professions in favor oil lone
Rule. The cry is supposed to have been hlsl
waited over from the Emerald Isle. What Is
meant by Home Rule in Ireland is clear enough
but what the Democrats mean by II III thls city
has been one of those things which, as Dun
dreary SAYS, mo fellow could find out III
their platforms and speeches II has been put
forward as the only remedy for the cry ing evils
of fine city government, and one of their pas
times mas been to arlaign the Republican party
for neglecting to give this sweet boon 10 the
Democracy. g..
If this cry of Home Rule means anything IL
il that the city should have the power to regu-
late its own affairs, and that the Legislature
should not unnecessarily interfere. But evil
IDENTIFY that is not what the Democrats mean.
Their representatives in Albany last year intro
duced numerous bills for slch objects as open
ing up street by filing in part of the Last
River TO establish new ferries, to authorize sur
face railway companies to take possession oi
Broadway and other streets, and requiring the
appropriation of money from the city treasury
for yarious purposes All of these bills sought
TO accomplish ends for which ample legislative
power WAS already vested in the municipality.
It did not suit the purposes, however, OF the
Democratic legislators to leave these measures
TO the action of the Board of Apportonnent,
the Sinking Fund Commission and the Alder
men. The schemes attracted less attention AT
Albany than if brought forward under the keen
bright sunlight of Home Rule in its true sense.
A Republican Governor, however, stood like a
wall of adamant in front OF these designing
men. repellng all their assaults upon the treas
ury.
Things have changed in Albany this year.
The Democrats are in full power, pledged. from
the Governor do Nh to the page boys. to give the
city Home Rule. What Interpretation the pres
ent Governor will put upon this elastic phrase
is yet unknown. Not so, however, with Tam
many Hall and the County Democracy. The
Home Rule they want is the same this year "a
last The Legislature was in session about
two hours, and during that time enough Home
Rule bills, in the Democratic sense, were devel-
oped to prepare the taxpay ers OF this city for "A
large addition to existing burdens unless Gov
ernor Cleveland proves to be theit friend III tie
same sense that Governor Cornell was. Sen
atOr Grady, quick to act upon the suggestion
Of Mayor Edison, Introduced MI 10 add
$751; 900 to the expenses OF the city this year
by increasing the pay Of policem en- and tiremen,
and another bill to pension school teachers, and
bills for various other objects. Senator Koch
| wants to upset the present school system aud to
| have twenty-fOur new Commissioners APP
pointed Senator Boyd asked that certain
piers be set aside for canal boats. These are
merely specimens of the Home Rule bills intro
ducrd. In no case is it asked that the local
authorities be given the power to deal with
these subjects as may be deemed best, but spe-
| cial laws are wanted to accomplish purely local
and personal ends. Few persons probably
have been deceived 10y these Home Rule pro-
| LESSONS of the democracy when out OF power
| at Albany. Those who may have been ~ de-
celved will know more OF Democratic hypoc-
| risy he foie the session closes.