New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-13
FINAL ADJOURNMENT at ALBANY.


The Republican members of the Senate
Finance Committee at Albany apparently do not
realize the responsibility that rests upon the'r
shoulders for an early adjournment OF the
Legislature. For two weeks and more they
have smothered a resolution adopted by the
Assembly, fixing upon April % as the date OF
final adjournment. There was no good reason
why the Senate should not have concurred III
that decision. Every bill fit to 20 upon the
statute books which has any chance al becoming
law could have been passed by that time. bu'
even now. after the waste of much valuable
time, there is not shadow of excuse why the
session should be prolonged beyond the last OF
this month. A resolution TO that effect shonld
be passed at once. 1t is of the highest
inheritance to the interests Of the Republican
party. as well as of the people of the entire
State, that such action should be taken.
1t is true that after session of nearly four
months not one of the really important
measures has been passed. The DlllS To
preserve the Adirondack forests, the Niagara
Reservation bill, the Census bill, the Gas bill,
the Appropriation bills, and other measures OF
public Importance still await final action. But
they are well enough advanced to admit OF
their cary passage, providing the majority III
both houses care more for the public interests
than for their own private jobs. The public
measures have been thoroughly discussed. If
it is the intention to Kill them by offering
specious amendments, as in the case of the
Adirondack bills that have come up IN the
Senate, that might well and much better be
done now than at later date. Much time has
been wasted in demagOgic speeches on the
Freedom of W orship and Prison Labor bills.
The Legislature cannot afford to waste any
more time on the former measure. Through
the united opposition of the Democrats, with
two exceptions, aided by few Republicans. the
Prison Labor bill has already been killed. 1t
onlv remains now to make the necessary
appropriation and to give the State account
system fair trial.
The Cities Committees in both houses have
been steadily at work reporting the most
absurd measures, for which the Repnblican
party can in wise Afford to assume any
responsibility. Breaking down the Civil Service
and Excise laws, providing for the sale OF liquor
on Sunday, and making a general rad on the
treasury of this city covers good part OF the
work of these two committees. 1t makes not
the slightest difference that such bills were
introduced by Democrats and are supported
by that party. The people are watching these
measures, and will repudiate the men respons-
IDLE for their passage.
Do the Republicans forget that most
important election takes place in this State next
fall Do they forget that the combined
Federal, State and City administrations will be
arrayed on one side in that contest3 II would
seem as though the Republicans who support
bills greatly to enlarge the powers OF
Commissioner Squire, Mayor Grace and other
Democratic officials, and to permit them to
make unrestricted demands upon the city
treasury, must be troubled with defective
memories or something worse. While the
people may forget the record of the enormously
extensive and do-nothing Democratic
Congress, they are not so apt to forget the
work of their own State Legislature. Let
the Republicans remember this, and rapidly
push through those measures which are OF
public benefit and kill the Others by adjouining
sine die within the next two weeks. The
strikers and lobbyists who seek to prolonS the
session should he sOundly Tebukcd.