New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-15
TTCJT At ALBANY.

The closing weeks of legislative session are
generally regarded by the public with appre-
hension The cOmmendable desire of the mem
bers to hasten the final adjournment offers op-
pOrtunitics for dangerous mistakes. Bills are
passed without much consideration and Ill that
wav bad as well as good measures reach the
Governors hands. The anxiety TO pass blll
often leads to the acceptance of vicious amend
ments. the effects of which are not appreciated
until disclosed by a veto message or from the
actual operation of the law. These mistakes
frequently mar the entire work of Legislature.
In fact the record is largely made up by the
work done in the last two or three weeks of u
session. This critical period i'll the history of
the present Legislature at Albany has been
reached. The unseemly exhibition the lobby
made on the floor of the Assembly last week, re-
curing the strict enforcement of the rules to
eXDel them from the room, emphasizes the need
for the members to proceed with great caution.
So far the Legislature has ma le an excellent
record. 1t has passed measures, such as the
Pilotage BILL that have been repeatedly defeated
in previous years by the lobby. 1t has relent-
lcssly exposed the abuses existing in the city
government and initiated remedial measures,
some of which have already passed. But il is OF
the utmost Importance to the Republican party,
which is responsible for legislation this year,
that the good record made far shall be con-
tinued to the end. To accomplish this will re-
quire vigilance on the part of the experienced
members in both houses. They should see that
no bad measures arc allowed to slip through.
Early adjournment will not strengthen the
party, if accomplished at the expense of score
-. r ln,,i. 10
ton. Last year the Democratic Legislature in
the closing weeks of the session passed so many
bad measures that the Governor allowed ninety
one of them to die on his hands, and.during the
session be sent in thirty eight vetOes. The YER
dict of the people on sach work was a complete
reversal of the party majority in the Legisla-
ture.
1t is folly to pass bills that the Governor is al
most sure to veto. But a number of measures
such as those increasing the pay of tiremen and
policemen, which failed to secure Executive ap-
proval last year, are again on their passage.
number of bills introduced by Democrats fOI
apparently good purposes, but drawn so as tC
permit of jObbery, have been unwisely sup
ported by Republicans. The Fifth Avenue
Paving bill was such "a measure. The Demo
cratic member who introduced that bill, Senator
Murphy, has secured favorable report on an
other one equally vicious, which requires the
city to pay the demands Of the private counsel
of Commissioner Thompson and other city
officers who have endeavOred to impede investi-
CATION into their official acts. Senator Campbell
has been permitted to push forward bill to pay
the salary of "a court jauitor whom he illegally
appointed, and another bill to take money from
the City Treasury, under the gu'se of equalizing
the salaries of the Justices of the Civil District
Courts during his own term Senior Plunktt
has secured approval for the clause in the new
Park bill which makes it mandatory upon the
city TO pay ut once an unknown price for 3, SOC
acres of land in his district-a clause that is de-
cidedly Objectionable. Another bad measure
proyides for the election of new civil justice.
Such legislation may easily destroy the gooc
record of the session. While guarding against il
there should be equal vigilance In securing thu
massage before adjournment of wise measures
which the public welfare demands. The Clvl
Service bill shOuld be passed in its original form
The measures reported by the Roosevelt Com
mittee to remedy evils in the city government
Senator Gibbs's bin to enable the next Mayor u
apnoint the heads of certain departments
and the one introduced by Mr.. Mccarthy
to stop unbalanced bids, and other New
York measures should become law. 1t u
Of great importance that satisfactory Dill u
preserve the Adirondack forests should pas
at this session; and that proper provision shoui'
be made to equalizc the burdens OF s@i'
and municipal taxation. There arc numeroii
good measures in regard to these and other SUD