New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-24
LEGISLATIVE REFORM.
soccrsrIoNs BY SENATOR THOMAS.

Wo,w,cH. N, Y, Aug. Ex-senator Edward
. r,,os WIN "a n candidate for the Republican nom'
for Attorney General and who has been hempci
:, ,ha Judiciary Committee Of the senate 'no P"'' w.
ars ,s residenl of this place. lie mas III omce noio
1he counties Of Chenango. Broome anu pei""o'
90 his Senate District and he lie therefore cohsta Wy
..o.,vpr IN his Journeys information about pouucai
.,, In central New York. There Is at the present
.oa a GOOD deal OF dissatisfaction among Democrats
v,,h the Civil Service law. To-day TRIBUNE co'ie-
snondent visited Senator Thomas and asked MN us
opuiop of the law and whether no thous"' "0"" ~
enforced. Senator Thomas replica; .o.
aWbateyer his subordinates may nave done a' LINES
,I President Cleveland has not trihed with the CiV
sa and that t at least his personal policy 10
,ha r,,ss ue would, of course, be very much en-
.o,raved ia this direction II the forthcoming
convention should make Civil Service Reform a ssieh'
mar, Of the platforn aud heartily indorse 'ne
duct In this particular In any case apprehehu 'a'
49, PRESIDENT will not bo diverted from adherence 10 MS
ssent resolution unless the existing system snouiu pe
.horourhy denounced by his party, and even thch u
sonuon emphasis will be needed TO disturb MS equa
Nv think the Democratic party likely 10 aec'mno
date itself to the situation and accept the oces a
nav descend to 1t according to law In my view' ONu
. pa,orn as a svstem has earned Its continuance
=, ,donbtedly capable Of growth and oorrection pu'
g. ,ucc,n0 IT, we must recall the system 1t dspacea Is
a. beter or worse that In the county oi
there are possibly fifty 2ostnasters- iew-pei""po
tlrae-
aa.n NJ r.sgnatons think, as most OF tnem couu w
90. or unmade at the will OF the Post-0ince Depart
ont The continuance OF Republicans thuS iar 10 NV
nroaucIng such ecstasy In certain quarters us 10
the conclusion that private station is 'no Poo' "
honor, It Is generally thought, however that IL
changes should be made Democrats would proo"oiy 10
given the preference = ,,..,., sona,or
.s a,,o,,a,s and ptervie with eminent Repuohcahs
,,ror,ny legislative reform-what would you Suggest
said the correspondent.
~You may exhaust all expedients ior insulting WHO
,aoislation" said Senator Thomas, ana there yo'
remains but single effective method-the eiectioh VI
persons who viii serve with fidelity. All niihoi uo
will hiring hardly perceptibe aid. An ENLARGEMENT 0,
tha Senate would provide more working mempers-hnu
thew arc much neededand would somewhat lessen 'na'
close personal intimacy that often makes 'isoiou'
opno.iiion TO O fellow members Dill o'sasrcoaD'o
antv On the other hand, IL would renuor tno ooS
more cumbersome and the public examination vi oii'
loss convenient The responsibility Of BODY Is 10 soe
asrree I'm inverse proportion to its Size Rather 'nah
ant, would preter to make the Assembly the original
and only source OF legislation with senate oonPVSou
NJ .ay dozen members, chosen by the olae ~ so VI
h- dlstrcts This body should sit with the dignity Vi
court during the year, need be- to listen 10 the
siam Of bills presented by the Assembly ana shonin
exercise simply veto approal after prVa'e eohsui
49,, al aec,sion In such case the Governor would
n danrved OF his veto ower the Assembly should ana
would be composed OF our ADLER men, ana tne senate
would command best ability OF the State III ono
the most interesting interviews In THE TRIBUNE PRIMO"
this snmmer notice one suggestion from which dissent
II IA 10 the effect that seventeen men In the senate are
,,u,selv intrlsted With power TO thwart the VIII OF
q 600 600 people and that the Assembly Is more than
the Senate susceptible 10 reform measures ~ goes
without saving seventeen men shona not deeaI inc
penera wish neither should thirty four nor any otnor
number 1t not apparent however that this lis KeH
ut
thirty II the proposition be true that seventeen
men sboud not have determining vote, the reason Is
times as strong why tine Governor should not
axereise the veto power at all The Senate mas some
times but not often not sufficiently often INDUCED he
ssnicion that measures Endorsed por popb we're not
quite unanimously demanded. and has waited with
exa,perating composure to ascertain the fact Nor DO
tbok that reforms come less easily from the Senate
although measures may be mora carefully scrutinizod
and their effect thoroughly considered During tue
las, winter ak Of the eight bills believe recommended
bv the Railroad Commissioners passed the Senate
which one passed the Assembly, The Gas bill was
REGARDED as reform II passed the Senate with
,n, one d,ssentine vote In the Assembly some good
man voted for it, and equally good against IT, yet
1t was not approved
.Would YOU favor biennial sessions OF the Leslslat
urer
slam growing to the conclusion. replied the Senator
that there Is too frequent opportunity for legislation
and that biennial sessions OF longer continuance wouo
nswer all necessary purposes. There are two general
classes OF legislation:
First measures embodying no broad principle such
M escheat bills. corrections OF procedure ike Code
amendments formal emendaton OF statutes, village
charters charters trust companies social cluos ETC
etc These bills very numerous ana require oiusIy
legal ability and NOTORIOUS drusey s%u ' one mus. or
should hear no more than the applause OF DIS oW
eosciepse %SsI session ons EScheat Ills and hey are
many should referred TO the Court OF olhns anu
charters sona DC granted hSr but hps not to the
present time ,,, ,,,,. ...-.o..a q,
ha snnportrd by souo broad policy principle. such
forestry IAws canal and railroad measures provisions
tSs aoyeTnmeut OF ciiies etc Such bills require
than technical knowedge and something Or much OF
and extended consideration why should such measures
be spboed into law during three months Occupied ~
they arc frequently forced abruptly upon the attention
Of the Iessa,9re and prseas aS nS so3o Of the
press or political unto sometimes eni0rees Ie atten
ZION y. suyrssons as TO his after fate Tow
inclined 10 their Jugnent above tine possipy OF
no with most undisnhed and unwise sacrity
There ia the proposed Constitutional Amendment TO
brought In and sought to be pushed to adoption The
people you'd prSssS give ae or prstrnsea t.
whore all this power oedaced FROM the legislature,
Should be II Af Common n1 w SSs' There ere
should be more time alio.ed by pabhc opinion ,.ni
10 wo'e' hroad oomureheison OF the subject
might demand. In connection with this subject the
ress has mast important duty. Legislators all respect
opinion and members sometimes regard IL as
revelation. / think the biennial sessions would
icrsse tho efcisnoy Of such legislation, a. II would
detctminc Of temper spasrnodio popular opinion ana
enable subjects DO considered from larger number OF
points Of Wow. -. -. ..,..,,ouo,.
svsfsIns ut p~stt the rotation OF experienced and
tyn.IsorLy men out the Legislature. Assembymen
are an 70 change year. and mon usually WIN no
peeuliar training come aud go IN rapid succession
al. I'M
iamentary action catches imperfect view OF pubic
measure, and 10 just darling to be useful when MS
T an pears to the course. and 50 ON year
In aud yeaf out the continuity Of legislative thought ana
action Is hundred TINES broken In tho senate ana
ailv fnrU IA vel