New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-15
darcs in the dangerous game of eoading Austria
into accepting treaty Of partition.
ryr rVo- poLLAR-A.DAY BILL.

The wo-DolIar-a-Day pihi "hi|n' eNeV1u
ing 60 the prediction of the superintendent OF
Public Works, may close the canals OF this state
during the busiest season, is Democratic meas
ure. The responsibility ought to be put just
where il belongs. The bill was introduced and
pushed In the Assembly by Thomas Smith, jr.,
a Democratic member from this city. 1t passed
the Assembly late In the session by vote of
81 to 20. Forty-o one Democrats out OF the
40 in the Assembly voted for the bill, and
only one Democratic vote was cast against
IL. In the Senate IL was passed by 10 votes
TO 10 during the last week of the session.
OF the affirmative votes IL, or about two
thirds, were given by the Democratic Senators,
every one of whom voted for 1t. All of tho
10 negative votes were given by Republicans
And then the Democratic Governor, taking his
cue from the solid support given by his party
in the Legislature TO the measure, signed 1t,
thus accepting a large share of the response
bility.
1t is to be regretted, Of course that the bill
should have passed at all IL probably would
not have done 30 II it had been fully compre-
hended, but it passed at period when there is
great confusion in both houses, and haste seems
inevitable 1t is in the power Of the minority
IN any legislative body TO secure the passage
Of unworthy bills at such time by giving them
a solid support and at the same time aiIying
with themselves a number OF either the more
careless or the more unscrupulous members Of
the majority. This Is exactly what happened
with the Two Dollar. Day BILL The Demo
crafts in both houses voted for it with the eX-
ception of a single member, and the Demo
cratic Governor signed IT, IL is unfortunate
that enough Republican votes should have been
obtained in addition 10 carry IL over the constl-
tuional Margin and for this action the mem
hers who voted in the affirmative must account
20 their constituents. But tho inception, per-
fecting and contamination Of the measure were
as we have said in the Democratic party When
Governor Hill makes his annual tour OF the
county fairs this TaIl, We imagine he will have
some difficulty In explaining to the farmers be-
fore whom he paradeS as an economist, why he
and his fellow Democrats in the Legislature
made this bill law.
II can doubtless be said for some members
that they voted for IL through inadyertencet
but no such defence can be urged in behalf OF
the Governor He has thirty days after adj
journment during which to give deliberate con
sideration 10 all measures, and in which to call
upon various public officials for information a.
10 their probable effect lie did not sign tho
bill in ignorance Of its puport, because Mr..
Shanahan warned him that II would greatly in-
crease the States expenses on the canals, in tho
construction OF the Capitol, and in public works
OF all kinds. II not repealed, this aw will, in
the opinion Of the State officers, cost the people
in the next ten years several millions OF dol
lars. Mr.. Shanahan is q Democrat, but he
knew that bis party in the Legislature had
made bad mistake, and wanted to save the
Governor from another. Yet the Governor
fastened TO sign it in the dcmagogic hope Of
currying favor with workingmen.
Meantime the farmers Of the State are not
able 10 pay their laborers at the utmost over
$50 a month, and the ordinary rate is from
SEQ to ga month. Farm laborcrs on the
line of the canals, seeing tho State labOrers
getting 50 day, will want the same wages
for themselves. These tho farmers will be
unable TO pay, and yet, at the same time, their
burdens will be increased by tho taxes mado
necessary 10 pay the State aborers the increased
rate. We hope that in his first county fair
speech the Governor viii give the farmers a
full explanation Of his course, and that Of his
party, in this matter.