New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-16
ryn OF THE LEGisLATITE SESSION.

session to-day, before the hour OF final adjourn
ment. not much can be done either to improve
| or impair the good record already made. Fort
unately all of the really important reform
| measures are now in the Governors hands.
| And that has been accomplished without any
of The disgraceful scenes that married the
| closing DAYS Of the session last year, when
the Democrats were in power. There
| has been no unseemly wrangle for spos,
no forcing through of partisan measures
under a suspension of the rules; and
iobbing bills have not been advanced so that
they can be taken up and passed at the last
moment. Under the watchful eye of the
Speaker, assisted by others equally regardfui
of the public interests, the session Will un-
| doubtedly end to-day i'll manner credita6le to
the party in control.
The record of the present session stands out
| in shining contrast with that of 1883 or OF
1882, in both of which years the Democrats
we're in the majority. Before the Legislature
adjourned last year the Democratic Gov
ernor had sent in 3S vetoes, and had
returned 46 bills for correction OF
amendment And he disapproved 81
of the bills awaiting his action at the close OF
| the session besides large number of items in
the Supply bill This year only about dozen
| bills have been vetoed, and only one OF those
| that relating to the Arcade Railway-was
measure that attracted more than local interest.
| Of the bills awaiting consideration, only few
| of them will be likely to meet with Executive
| disapprova. Hence, judged by the standard
| set up by a Democratic Governor, the present
session has been a remarkably clean one.
The reform measures that have been passed
| speak for themselves. For the City OF New
York, which pays nearly one-half the State
tax. more has been done than at any previous
session in many years. A long step was taken
| toward loosening the hold of the politicians on
the municipal treasury by the passage of the
| bill depriving the Aldermen of any voice in
naming the heads of departments. That was
supplemented by passing the amendments to the
| Civil Service bill, applying the law to all
cities with more than 20, 900 population. This
nrovision in the bill last year was defeated by
the Democrats. This last act, if honestly
enforced Will do more to improve the
government of cities in this State than any
| law on the statute books, as it will take from
politicians the power to use the subordinate
places to reward favOrites. The Board OF
Estimate will not hereafter be so much under
| the power of one man, as IN addition 10 the
Mayor two of its members the Controller ana
| the President of the Board of Aldermen Will be
elected Oh general ticket. n great opp0r-
| tunity has been opened to the voters OF this
city. at the next election, tOpurify the municipal
| administration in the choice of good and fear
less man for Mayor. lie will appoint successor to
| the present Commissioner of Public Works and
can by that act alone save the city large sum
| of money. and end the career of political boss
| who has exercised an evil influence over the
city government second only to that exerted
by Tweed The next Mayor has also been
given the power to name the Corporation COun-
sci, besides many other department heads.
| Hence, by the action of the Legislature the
voters have for once fair opportunity to put
an end to corruption and waste in the city gov
| ernment. And the municipal taxes weigh
heavier on the rich and poor alike than those
LEVIED in any other way by both the State and
Federal Governments.
A great work Of reform was accomplished in
the passage of the bills relating to the Offices OF
the County Clerk Sheriff, Surrogate and Reg
lister. They will not only save the city good
deal of money, but they will deprive the Demo-
| cratic "hallsr of the source of great part of
the corruption fund used to influence elections.
In the passage of the bill to compel telegraph
wires to 90 under ground after November !,
1885, another good work was accomplished.
That bill was defeated in the last two
Democratic Legislatures. They also defeated
the amendments to the Building law, and the
bill to lessen the burdens on commerce by the
reduction of pilotage fees. But no lobby, even
with the assistance of Democratic Senator's
was able this year to defeat those measures.
Notwithstanding the increased appropriations
made necessary by the acts of the last Demo
cratic Legislature, in creating new offices for
partisan purposes the State tax will be 81, 0O0,-
600 less this year than last Every farmer will
appreciate such reform as that. But he will
have still greater reason to remember kindly
this Legislature, which has taken measures
effectually to end the trade in OleOmar-
garine and other limitations and authorizations
of dairy products. Every municipality i'll the
State in need of increased surface railroad ia
cilities will be benefited by the passage Of the
General Street Railroad Act The last and
previous Legislatures passed bills on that
question, but they were such bad ones
as always TO merit the Governors
disapproval. The passage OF a proposed
Constitutional amendment, TO restrict the
| indebtedness of cities, which will no doubt
be approved by the voters at the next election,
was still another wise piece of legislation. The
bill to improve the City Sinking Fund, the
creation of tenement-house commission, and
other similar acts are all Creditable to the Leg
islature.
The investigations have given good re-
suits, in the way of immediate or promised re-
forms. There have been some questions which
have not been disposed of in a manner en-
tirely satisfactory. An Adirondack bill
| nffnctunll1r Get no do md