New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-21
THE LEGISLATU RE OF 1850

The Legislature which. adjourned sine d'e
Yesterday on the whole made an excellent
record. There never has been and there never
will be q Senate or an Assembly that will meet
the best expectations at all points. This latest
body of lawmakers left undone things it
ought to have done and did things it ought not
to have done. THE TRIBUNE has already
pointed OUT its sins of omission and commission
such as the defeat of the prohibition amend
ment and the success of the measure giving the
mower to name the Excise Commissioners to
the President of our Board Of Aldermen. In
these and a few other instances the majority
made serious blunders.
Bnt when all reasonable criticisms have been
passed upon it, the fact remains that il was one
of the best and most useful sessions OF recent
years. The appropriation bills were framed
with an eye single to necessary and economical
expenditures of the public money. David s..
Hill is q witness to the truth of this assertion.
The Democratic Governor, eager to make per-
sonal and political party capital, found the
Supply bill so judicious and clean that, prac-
tically speaking, there was nothing for him to
veto. The items to which he objected amounted
to only $4,000, while his immediate prede-
CcSSOr, (icNtIdlltl, 5tIuCh ONtI yuan ''i VI I"
million of dollars ont of Supply bill passed by
a Democratic Legislature. AS a result-a great
tangible result--of the wise financial policy OF
the session the tax rate for the ensuing year
will be lower than that of last. The existing
rate is 2.96 mills. The rate for next year will
be 2.S3 mills. Taxpayers can be counted upon
to remember these figures when next they come
to the ballot-boX.
Equally worthy of commentator was the
course of the Legislature on most OF the I'M
portant measures relating to the metropolis. II
annullcd the fraud tainted charter OF the
Broadway Railroad it made repetition of the
great scandal impossible by dcprying the
Board of Aldermen of their power to grant
franchises it responded to the demands for
purer government by providing for the election
of Aldermen on general ticket and for minor
ity representation it came to the relief Of gas
consumers and struck the gas monopoly fatal
blow. Nor we're the other measures of general
public interest neglected. The prise question
as we explained in detail yesterday was wisely
disposed Of The friends of the canals were
made glad by the passage of the bill for the
enlargement of locks on the Erie and the Oswego.
A tax was placed upon new corporations which
bids fair to yield large revenue to the State
Several laws were passed that directly benefit
the INDEPENDENTLY those providing fol-
arbitration and the regulation of the labor Of
children. In a word, volume OF wholesome
legislation has been enacted which is fairly re-
sponsive to the varying necessities of tins great
commonwealth.
1t is a record upon which the majority and
the party that stands behind them can conf
IDENTITY go before the people. A Republican
Legislature that reduced taxation, took the
Broadway Railroad robbers by the throat and
starved out the lobby has a right to feel that 1t
has rendered good and faithful public service.