New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-08
POINTS For THE LEGISLATURE.

1. The Senate ought to pass the Excise Com
mission bill this week. Every member Oh Oh'so
body must be as well prepared to vote upon IL
now as he will be later The provisions OF inc
measure have been thoroughly discussed; no
corotor can need further enlightenment in
regard either to underlying principle or oeCai.s
t. has been intimated that two or three hepuo-
licans will Join hands with the democrats Ior
the purpose of killing the BILL Inc rumor
badly needs confirmation. Ii is scarcely cred-
;ble that there are Republican Senators so oent
pnon political suicide as to take the response
aBtv Of defeating this great reform measure
behind which is the public sentiment OF the
State.
2 The Assembly has resolved to consider
tbe leading prison bills this week, and there Is
M reason why the best one of them should not
ba nassed and sent to the Senate before the
yeeklv recess is taken. The Slavery BILL all
things considered, would seem to be the best
n makes adequate provision for keeping the
prisoners at work and for preventing prison
industry from coming into disastrous compeu-
ton with outside labor. The last Legislature
so poorly discharged its duty toward the prisons
that an extra session was made necessary
There must be no occasion for an extra session
this year.
3. The conference committees reported IN
favor of an appropriation of S66O,O 1of the
canals. All attempts to increase the amount
onsbt to be resisted. The radical canal men,
who hold that too much money for canal pur-
poses is Just enough, are clamor1ng Tor
81 600. 600, and an effort may be made to log
roll the appropriation through ut that figure.
The considerable sum of 81 900 has already
been appropriated in separate Dill 1or ooT
tomjng out'' the canals, and $66o,OOO Is as
much more as there is any warrant for spending
in one season-Mr. Hill being Governor and
Mr.. Shanahan Superintendent Of Public WORKS.
4. A bill is pending which appropnates
So 8 90, 900 for the completion of the Capitol.
On general principles it is the part OF ordinary
wisdom and economy to finish what has once
been begun with as little delay as possible +;
but in view Of the ceiling investigation, do
o,Ir lawmakers believe that their constituents
ara in a mood at this time to pay out that
immense sum for such purpose? To make
the appropriation is to increase the tax-rate'
Is IL we'll to increase the tax-rate this year Z
II is understood that the Governor will bend
all MS energies neA1 IAN w 'n0 WIN
ing Democratic Legislature, especially o
Democratic Senate. higher tax-rate VIII
inure to his advantage, even though the increase
is entirely legitimate.
5. The bill providing for compulsory educa-
ton has been reported, but with important
amendments. This measure was prepared by
a learned and experienced eductor, and has the
Endorsement of the Superintendent Of the Pub
lie Schools of the State, than whom no body
of men are more competent to decide what
such piece of legislation ought and ought not
to contain. It is claimed that one Of the amend
ments agreed to in committee destroys one OF
| the best features of the act as introduced
The compulsory education law now on the
statute books has remained dead letter ever
since it was enacted. 1t would be great mis-
fortune to repeat the mistake.