New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-05
TILE CLOSE or TIE SESSION.

IHE CLOcA VI I'M bL''tN~''
Fortunately for the State Democratic Leg
islauire is not inflicted on it every year The
experience of the last two sessions ought to be
sufficient to make the recurrence Of the disaster
even less frequent. The Legislature that passed
out of existence yesterday has been chiefly re-
markable for narrow partisanship and indit-
ference to public sentiment. In the sense OF
redeeming the promises of reform made Tor IL
in the last canvass it has been conspicuous
failure, from the Leutenant-Goyernor and
the Speaker down almost to the page boys.
BEGINNING its work with chase for spoils,
il followed that course 10 the end. 1t was
a fitting sequence that the hunt should break
up in quarrel among. the Democratic leaders
over the division of tlieir prey.
The characteristic feature of the work of the
session has been the amount Of patronage that
has been gained for the Democratic party. In
that pursuit some good has been accom-
nlished; but what little credit is due
to the Democrats for that belongs to the
Governor, and not to any virtuous intention
OH the part of the Legislature. For instance,
a State Civil Service Commission has been
created, which may prove to be a great gam
but if some of the men recommended to the
Governor by Democratic legislators for ap-
pointment on that Commission had been
chosen, it would have proved mere partisan
affair. That measure was introduced by
Republican, and its passage was wholly due TO
it's persistent advocacy by the minority, in OPP
position to leading Democrats in the Legis-
lature. The anmus of the majority was evil
dent in defeating a Civil Service Reform bill
which applied specially to this city and another
one that would have governed appointments
in Brooklyn. bill for this city would have
affected q larger number of appointments, and
could have been more readily carried into
effect than the one which is applicable to the
State service alone. But the city patronage is
controlled altogether by the Democrats; hence
the defeat OF the local Civil Service Reform
bill.
Among the Offices that have been created
are CommmissiOner of the New Capitol, Court
of Claims, 4 Bureau of Statistics, an lmmigra-
ton Commissioner, Niagara Park Commission
ers Aqueduct Commissioners, besides numer-
Gus Others of minor Importance. The changes
in the control of the State buildings and
in the Emigration Commission were undoubt-
edly inspired by partisan motives. so FAR az
the New Capitol is concerned, the change may
prove to be a benefit; but the quarrel over
the spols has postponed for eight months at
least the operation of the law abOlishing the
Board of Emigration Commissioners. The
nromisnl reforms in the HarbOr Masters, Port
Wardens and Quarantine offices have not been
fulfilled. If the need were as great as repre-
seDted by the Democratic leaders, then there
is no excuse for the failure to bring it about
1t is easy to tell what the Legislature has
, agnally failed TO accomplish TO mention any
good that it has done is q difficult under
taking II passed an emasculated act in regard
to political assessments the Niagara Falls
Park bill; receivership measure bill
to prevent "baby farming" and various local
laws OF more or less usefulness. What it did
that merits condemnation would fill volume.
1t passed an ubiquitous gerrymandeting Appor-
tionment bill; and jobbing Aqueduct bill in
defiance of the public sentiment OF this city. 1t
trifled with the shipowners in their demand for
a reduction of unjust pilotage fees, and created
monopoly in the pawnbroking business. lt
refused to allow the people the privilege of
voting on the question OF prohibiting the liquor
traffic, and passed an Excise bill In the interest
of the rum shop prOpIIetOrs A General Street
Railway bill was passed to revive old jobs, and
a clause to allow the franchises to be sold was
stricken ont of the act. IL assumed the respOn-
siblity of permitting death traps to exist IN
this city by refusing to amend the Buildings
law. The expenses of the State prisons were
increased 800, 900 year by tho interference
with contract labor; and $75O,000 per annum
was added to the tax burdens of this city by
the passage of bills increasing the pay OF city
employees. The urgent public demand for
municipal reform was ignored, as was that for
equitable distribution of the burdens of taxa
ton. The commendable measure to provide
biennial sessions of the Legisla ture was de-
feated. There was NO attempt TO furnish more