New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-24
THr DEMOCRATS SHOULD KEEr QriE1

WY DEMOCRATS SHOULD 6EEP QyiET
The Democrats are not meeting with great
success in their efforts 10 diSpardGc the work OF
the Legislature. To 1cnOuncc the members as
corrupt, ana at the same time 10 find reasons
for the large numbcr of reform measures that
wc1r passed, is not an easy undertaking. The
work of reducing taxation. purifying the city
government driving ont of the State powerful
corporations such as those engaged in the
manufacture of bogus butter, relieving COM
mercc by the reduction of plotagc fees, ard the
investigation and exposure of abuses, were not
such work as is done at the dctation of lobby,
but rather in spite of it.
Lobbyists were not able this year. as they
were last. to secure the insertion of their jobs in
the General Street Railroad act The men
known distinctycly rs politicians, representing
both parties, were not strong enough combined
to defeat the passage of Il Civil Service bill
which takes out Of their control the municipal
patronage of every city of the State having
more than 10000 population. Instances might
be multiplied showing that neither Che power
of the lobby nor that Of the politicians was
strong enough to defeat good legislation. The
talk of the evil influences that swaycd the
action Of the Legislature during the session is
without foundation. There is not a particle of
evidence to sustain such an assertion. There
were two measures upon which the lobby made
their usual vigorous onslaught-the Street Rail
road bill and the Pilotage act Everybody
knows how they failed If they succeeded on
other bills, of which there is no evidence, 1t was
because the measures were Of apparently small
importance and thus escaped close scrutiny.
There were no scandals at the Clerks or
Speakers desks, ald there was nothing i'll the
whole course of the Legislature to warrant this
absurd talk about corruption.
1t will not be claimed that the Legislature
was perfect SO long as it is i'll the power of the
Democratic minority to combine with few
black sheep on the other side and block the
wneels of legislation, there will arise grounds
for criticism. But compared with its Demo-
cratic predecessors, the Legislature of 1891 is
especially worthy of commeudation aud.thesRc-
publican party can well afford to 90 before the
people on its record.
!. The bad bills. which have evoked criticism
We're introduced by Democrats. 1t was Senator
Murphy who tried to get through the Fifth-ave.
paving job. 1t was Senator Jacobs who used
every prctext, including that Of sickness to de-
feat tbs Pilotage bill. Ii was Senator Titus who
was able, at the close Of the session, to defeat,
in the interest of Sheriff Davidson, the bill to
abolish imprisonment for debt. Tim Camp
bells and Jimmy" divers bills to add 800
policemen to the force of this city, aud Sen ltor
Plunllitts .bill unfortunately approved by the
Governor) for a new Civil District Court, and
other ike measures, were of Democratic origin.
The combined force of that party rallied to the
support of Hubert o. Thompson on the Tenure
of ONCE bill and even after he was condemned
by a Grand Jury sitting under the influence of
his friend in the District Attorneys Office, the
Democratic Senators on The Senate Committee
cndeavored to whitcwash him. With such
record running all through the session, the wise
course for the Democrats would be to keep very
quiet about what was done this year at Albany.