New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-01
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
GOV. HILLS INCONSISTENT PROTEST.
HE DIsAPpRovEs SOME COUNSEL FEES. BUT APP

HE DISAPPR0VES SOME COUNSEL FEES. BUT AP
PROVES PLENTY - OTHERS.
10 the Edftor OF The TrfbHae.
Sir: Governor Hill has vetoed item in the Sup
ply Bill appropnatng $4,000 to myself as counsel TO
the Committee on General Laws. His reasons as
stated by himself are rs follows: q The Committee on
General Laws of tho Senate Of 1888 consisted of seven
members, Of whom six were lawyers by profession.
This would seem 10 have been a sufficient number OF
the legal fraternity to have conducted investigation
without the aid Of special counsel At any rate, one
special assistant was sufficient, and General Pryor
was amply competent to aid and give all necessary
advice 10 the committee In legal matters. The ex-
travagant employment Of numerous counsel, who are
not unfrcquenuy obsrctionsts to real investigation,
well a multitude of senographers, experts and
clerks by various special and standing committees OF
the Legislature has become an abuse no longer to be
tolerated without protest Such a protest desire
to make, and TO make II practically effective by
disappearing this and several other items OF like
character. The time has when It Is necessary
to cry halt in such wastefll expenditure of money
taken from the people by taxation
In substance he says no counsel necessary.
II one was needed General Pryor was sufficient, and
he the Governor, is determined to show his disap-
prevail Of these extravagant expenses. These be
brave words" but let Just how much force they
bear. In the same bill Governor Hill approves
the following appropriations for the counsel of COM
UllteeS. 10 inc counsel Oh Luc as
sett Committee, three In number, S27,-
342 TO- besides $6os2 10 for experts and sos so for
stenographers; TO the counsel OF the Assembly com
mittee who Investigated the coal handlers strike,
"a, 240, and TO counsel Of the Committee Cities
who seven years ago investigated the Department Of
Public Works, SO 900. To General Pryor, the as
sociate counsel with myself, 81 900.
AS 10 this latter item, the facts are instructive.
first selected, very Unexpectedly to myself, a.
counsel to the Senate Committee. Aterward the
Democratic members Of the Committee insisted that
they entitled TO counsel, and General Pryor was
appointed We acted together in entire harmony, but
his request ac-ed the leading counsel, did all
the preliminary work of procuring the witnes ses,
which every knows Is the chief labor In such cases.
and most of the public examinations In 1855 we
each presented a bill for &, 900. Governor Hill
vetoed al bills for counsel that year, but General
some uneXhausted appropriation. This year We each
put in bills Of 81 900 for additional services rendered
I'm 1889. Governor Hi approves General PryOrs
bill for his IL 900, that he has received his whole
"a, 900, as Governor Hill Informed.
But the eAuaVagant employment or numerous
counsel as become abuse longer 20 be tolerated
without protest" he vetoes my allow ance OF $4,000,
while he approves not only General Pryor's, but
S27 ,342 for tho counsel 10 the Fasset Committee !;
"A $40 10 the Assembly Committee $1,000 TO counsel
employed seven years ago, and $1,000 to another
counsel. Truly a vigorous and consistent protest"
He makes Il practically effective by disappearing
this and7 not several other items Of lks character
but other item. He approves $685. for counsel
Truly, a vigorous protest. can anorn 70 wall ana
the fact hat counsel who did their work In 1882 are
now paid by Governor Hill is'very encouraging
New-York June 90, 1889. GEORGE BLISS!