New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-22
prR11n RrSLYESs At ALBAYY.

Last winter the insecure condition of tho
ceiling over their heads caused the members Of
Assembly to lose a good deal Of time. This
session n ceiling similarly situated, although
not the same ceiling, is engrossng so much
attention that there is danger that the con-
sideration of measures OF great general interest
will be delayed. The Senate is not embarrassed
by its ceiling but Of late il has shown an un-
fortunate disposition TO pay more attention to
politics than to legislation. February will be
almost gone when the Legislature reconvenes
on Monday evening next, after the usual week
" adjournment and as yet little has been ac-
complished
1t is high time that our lawmakers at Al
bauy set resolutely TO work II the important
legislation Of the session is to be disposed Of
ntelligently, without unseemly haste, and still
in time to admit OF reasonably early final adj
journment. The fact that n number of con-
yicts rendered crazy by idleness have lately
been transferred to an asylum for insane Grim
inals demonstrates that no time is to be lost
in passing a prison law to take the place Of
the unfortunate one under which our penal in
stitutions now are suffering Mr.. Saxton has
reintroduced his Ballot-Reform bill, dividing
IL into two measures. One Of these contains
all the provisions OF the original act save that
il does not prohibit the use Of any ballots ex-
cept the official ones, and does not require that
the election clerks shall place their initials
upon the ballots. The other bill contains these
two excellent excluded provisions Now the
FIRST Of these measures is calculated to go
through without opposition and receive the
Governors signature. Let It be promptly
placed upon its passage, and then let the other
one be vigorously pushed. So, too the Excise
committees Of the two houses ought 10 be
ready to make forward movement. The
pros and cons Of the pending bills have been
pretty thoroughly discussed, and It is difficult
to sec what is to be gained by delay. And
how about the Compulsory Education bill
That there is crying need for the passage Of
some practical working measure TO supersede
the dead letter which now encumbers the
statufe-book would seem TO be conceded by all
the educators Of the State. Last year bin
prepared by "a committee OF city school superin-
tendents was reported fayorably by the Com
mittee on Education in the Assembly, but was
among the measures cleft oyer' at final adj
journment. The mistake must not be repeated
this year. ID will not BIO If the members bear
In mind this statement, which appears in tho
last annual report Of the Superintendent Of
Public instruction: "The total attendance
upon the schools when compared with the
whole number Of children OF school acc has
grown less and less with strange unformity.D
There arc number Of other bills on tho
calendar Of the two houses which ara Of only
less public interest than those mentioned, indie
pendent Of the great annual fiscal bills which
have yet TO be reported. But it is clear with
cut further specification that unless this Legis-
latute proposes to shirk some Of the duties
which the people have imposed upon IL. Il must
needs be very industrious during the rest Of
the session. And since tho Republicans are in
the majority the responsibility rests with them