Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-08
&ailp 5eIrr1tbtr Journal.
Aueasts, Tuesday Morning, Nay 8
A Reform Legislature.

journed last week, was elected on .
reform platform. The election was
considered q success by the REFORM
ers. The republican party was turned
ont of power in the State to give
place to the rule of the reform element.
The legislature having completedits work
and adjourned there is fair opportunity
to see what it has done and judge it by its
acts. There appears to be but one voice
among the newspapers not bound to the
reformers. They agree that it was one
of the worst legislatures ever seen in the
State. The Tribune says:
1T is easy to tell what the Legislature
has sigpally failed to accomplish to mem
ton any good that it has done is difficult
undertaking. 1t passed an emasculated
act in regard to political assessments; the
Niagara Falls Park bill; a receivership
measure; bill to prevent baby farm
ing and various local laws of more or
less usefulness. What it did that merits
condemnation would fill volume. 1t
passed an Ubiquitous gerrymandering Ap-
portionment bill; and jcbbing Aqueduct
bill in defiance OF the public sentiment of
this city. It trified with the shipowners
in their demand for q reduction OF unjust
pilotage fees, and created monopoly in
the pawnbroking business. 1t 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 pro-
prietors A General Street Railway
bill was passed to revive old jobs. and
clause to allow the franchises to be sold
WIS stricken out of the act II assumed the
responsibility of permitting death traps to
exist in this city by refusing to amend the
Buildings law. The expenses of the State
prisons were increased 100000 a year
by the interference with contract labor !;
and $3.50, 900 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 equit-
able distribution of the burdens of taxation.
The cemmendable measure to provide
biennial sessions of the legislature was
defeated. There was no attempt to fur
nish more than an excuse for not passing
primary election law. Partisanship was
carried to the extreme of seating a man
who was never elected member of the
legislature.
When the disgraceful session of 1882
was brought to close the democrats tried
to excuse it by laying the blame on the
independent action OF the Tammany Hall
members. This year there has been a
homogeneous democratic majority. and
the session has proved to be as grievous
disappointment as was the one of last
year. No great measures of public utili-
ty have been passed. but many inisuitous
ones have found their way to the Govern
or. All the evil for which the demo cratic
majority is accountable will not be known
until the numerous tricks, the theft of bills
and the smuggling in of Objectionable
provisions have been exposed
The Mail and Express passes the toll
lowing condemnatory judgment upon it :
ITO review the sins of omission and
commission that are chargeable to the late
Reform legislature would require too
much space and would be a needless in
Fiction on the patience of the intelligent
readers of the Mail and Express. A body
more defiant Of the best public opinion !;
more viciously partisan; more inclined to
be guided by jobbers, blackmailers and
lunatics, has never exercised legislative
functions in this State
The history OF the past session should
be lasting warning against the folly of
associating the high and holy name of
Reform with the hates, prejudices and
revenges Of disappointed politicians !;
with the selfish schemes of ambitious
demagogues; with the vindictive pas
sions of men in positions of power or in
iluence. or with anything that is not pure.
sincere, disinterested and sensible in poll
tics"
Such is the upshot of the reform move
ment in New York. But bad as this is, it
is far better than the result in Maine fol-
lowing the election of Garcelon as Gov
ernor. The New York Legislature turned
tonly one republican and gave his place
to democrat. while the Garcelon admin
istration counted out thirty-seven republic
cans who were elected to the legislature
and counted in as many fusionists who
were never elected. The Garcelon re-
formers have never yet been matched for
fraud and rascality and probably never
will be.
The movement in Pennsylvania to har-
monte and reunite the republican party
in Pennsylvania is going on successfully.