New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-13
THE LAST WEEK AT ALBANY
WILL THE GOVERNOR CALL AN EXTRA
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATUREa
SEVERAL IMPORTANT BILLS YET AWAITING rHH
ACTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.

OF the meeting Of the Legislature this year, unless
Governor Hill should call extra session Of that
oody Tor the ostensble purpose Of securing action
on Mayor Grants Rapid Transit bill AS for an
extra session, the Governor would undoubtedly
call 1t Immediately, probably to meet next week.
Some members Of the Legislature dispute the right
OF the Governor to call an extra session solely
for the purpose Of having a Rapid Transit bill
for New-York considered, on the ground that the
Constitution does not intend that the members
of the Legislature shall be summoned from all over
the State TO Albany simply to legislate for ono
locality and that the trainers Of the Constitution
Purposed tEat the Legislature should only be called
together with the object Of having general laws
passed affecting the entire State. IL was clear
that Governor Hill recognized this intention II the
Constitution year ago, when he summoned the
Legislature to Albany to meet in extraordinary
session TO consider the prison-labor question Oh
viously, The idleness of the State Prison conyicts
concerned the whole State.
If the Governor does call special session it
will be the third time that he has used this
power Of his office. The first occasion was In
1885, when he had vetoed the bill passed by
the Republican Legislature providing for Gen.
Of the inhabitants of the State No census
had been taken since 1875 and the need of ons
was apparent. The Governor was a candidate
Carr, the Republican Secretary of State, had the
appointment OF enumerators, these men would
be so many workers for the Republican ticket
Accordingly, on the pretext that the Constitution
required only an enumeration OF the inhabitants
Of the State, and not census he
vetoed the bill and thus defeated the intention
Of the census When the Legislature met in its
extra session, it again passed census bill and
Governor Hill again vetoed it. By thus pre-
venting the taking Of census the Governor also
prevented the reapportionment Of the Senate
and Assembly Districts OF the State. Much
fault has been found with him by Democrats
for this action, a reappOrtonment OF the
legislative districts would undoubtedly increase
the representation OF the Democratic party In
the Legislature.
One of the main objects Of the Governor,
therefore in the tremendous effort he will make
this fall TO carry the Legislature for the Demo
Gratis, will be to have census taken at once, and
thus to have the legislative districts reappor-
tened.
The second extra session OF the Legislature
during Governor Hills administration was marked,
as is well known, by the passage OF the Yates
IdleneSs law, providing, substantially, that only
800 OF the 3, 900 State Prison COnvicts should be
made to do profitable work. The taxpayers OF tho
State will pay bill OF 100000 this year, con-
tracted by the idle State Prison convcts, as the
result Of that extra sessions work. 1t Is rather
singular that one of the chief measures of the
present Legislature which yet remains TO be acted
upon Is Senator Fassett'S Prison Labor bill. That
measure will give the Superintendent Of Prisons
authority TO put the State prisoners at work, either
under the pricc.piece system or the Stateaccount
system The bill has been passed once by both
the Senate and Assembly,, but last week some
-t,,C inh
will make necessary the appointment Of com.
promise committee. 1t is to be hoped that an
agreement will be reached on it by the Senate
and the Assembly, and that it may not again
be the victim of special session.
There remain several important bills before
the Legislature for its action, although some OF
the more important. such as the Ballot Reform
bill. the Excise Commission BILL and the bill
against bucket shops, passed last week
The Ycddcr Liquor Tax bill has been passed
by the Senate, and is down the list in the
Assembly TO be passed tomorrow night.
Among the chief bills in the Senate Is Assem-
blyman Cooks Compulsory Education bill This
bill has passed the Assembly and is now in order
of third reading in the Senate. 1t was drawn up
by one Of the leading educators OF the State and
il deserves 10 be pas >cd.
A bill in this line which should be watched
kecnly and not be permitted TO pass in the confu.
ASoemblyman Thomas Smith, ir:, providing for the
election Of the members OF the Board of Education
Of Ncw-lork City in the various Assembly dis
trictS This bill has been " laid aside by the
Assembly. but 1t is on the order OF third reading
and Mr.. Smith can call it up at any moment: Some
friend OF the schools Of New-York should move
that il be killed, and thus prevent Mr.. Smith
from slyly and quietly moving that another vote
be taken upon 1t.
The Assembly still has both of Mayor Grants
Rapid Transit bills.
There arc ON the order Of third reading in that
body these measures: Mr. Connellys bill provid-
ing for five State assessors two to represent New
in the sale of lard; Mr. Blumcnthars General
Escheat Law: Mr.. Ainsworth's bill providing that
savings banks shall yearly forward to me me Sapee sS
of those who have had dormant accounts Tor
twenty two years previously; senator Lewiss 9iII
prohibiting the sale Of liquor TO children under
sixteen wears of age: Mr. RhOdes's bill giving the
Superintendent OF Buildings the right to super
wise many Western mortgage companiies now
doing business in this State, and requiring re,
portS from them: Senator OConnors Dill
rescrving certain parts Of Prospect Park, Brook
Iyn for site for public MUSEUMS % M Assem- d,H.s
beef; Mr.. Husted's bill incorporatlng the New
York School OF Anatomy; Mr. Newschafer's bill to
prevent fraud in the sale Of coal; MIR, liagans bill
FOR a museum at Thirty-ffth-St. and Broadway;
Mr. Rhodes's hill amending the lialf,Holday law
so as 10 provide that there shall he whole holidays
in June July and August, and no half-holldays IN
the other months OF the year; Senator Van Colts
bin for a police relief fund, taxing each member
Of the police department. one dollar month TO
the employment of padr0De or coolie labor; Mr..
Crosby's bill, providing that Ncw-York shall have
control of the expenditures Of the Dock Depart
ment Of that city; Mr.. Haves's bill. increasing the
nav of the precinct detectives Of Ncw-York 10
81 800: Mr.. Andrus's General Vaccination bill;
Mr. Curtiss bill TO prevent the adulteration Of
wine ale and beer; the bill OF the Judiciary Com
mittee aimed at the Police Department OF New
York prohibiting any police officer from being
Roeschs bill lengthen!ng the term of office of the
successor OF the present Surrogate Of New York to
fourteen years; Senator Slolns bill prohibiting any
through the State lands and Mr. Saxton's bill
providing that no Union veteran in the employ of
q city or town shall be removed without cause and
before trial