New-York tribune., 1890-01-18
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
PREPARING FOR A CRUSH AT THE END OF
THE SESSION.
LEIsURELY PROCEEDINGS AT THE BEGINNING
THAT WILL HAVE THE USUAL RESULT
-sHREwD OLD MEMBERS.

-SHREWD OLD MEMBERS.
Albany, Jan. II (spccaD.-Roth houses Of the
Legislature adjourned yesterday until Monday even
ing at 80. Since the rcassembng at the beginning
Of the week. the actual time occupied In legislative
husincss i'm each house has not exceeded seven hours
For his services so far, every member has earned
sIOO Of the peoples money. or Mt the rate "f ABOUT
s14 90 per hour. Until Monday night, house and
committee work must of course, be entirely neglected.
Moro than half the month has already elapsed, or a
considerable fraction Of the whole period of the ses
sion and preparation is thus making for the usual
block OF business at the end with its attendant evils
Of haste and inatentlon.
should have been willing to stay for one" said
a now member. ruefully, Yesterday. In fact' /
am more chagrncd at the early adjournment than
any Of my constituents can be. | spent SIX "eehs
in getting nv private affairs into such shape that !
could leave home to attend cOnscentiousy during
the session to public business. Yet am again con
demncd t. an enforced leisure Of several days for
the second time I'm two weeks, and am consequently
thoroughly unsettled. II IS argued that we need 70
be constantly at home in order to keep in touch with
our constituents. Well my district i reasonably
large but managed to inform myself before c0nllhS
here Of what my constituents desired Besides, us
absurd to contend that can get out OF touch In
the few days we are at Albany. Perhaps, If we were
more constantly employed some Of us would have
less time To plot mischief believe we should bayo
a Asslon every day Of the week except sunday
To this last opinion the new member VIII probably
not long adhere. The old hands In both houses aver
that four full days OF constant speech-maklng, com
mittcc- work letter writing and interviewing are eN
hausting to the most robust and the public interest
they say, would not be served by an extension. The
experiment of a saturday session was tried in 1871
durjnc Mr. Sloan's Spcakershp, but was soon
abandoned In the first place, many Of the members
refused To STAY those who remained were too languid
to bc of usc and people having business before CON
miticcs failed 10 appear. Moreover, thf advocates
~ Iourcr bour, are charged with undertaking inc
industry of "A truly conscientious StaltahlHI 10
read and answer a, some do sixty or seventy lcttcr'
a d,v s Of Itself no mean task. But "hcn' IN ad
dition the morning Is spent In Fiery debate ana t,'
afternoon and evening I'm tircsoue duty III d sldll
sfufy and crowded committee room, the WORKOUT
legislator feels that he needs several DAYS III Wi1rh
n recruit his debilitatcd energies, III thc sam" uc
tbe session. are not 50 long that ltlc 0VcrWorh
vnuld hc likely 10 send any member 10 the h"- pl'
The average number OF DAYS on which sc>- IONS ave
,cually lccn held during the past five years Is cgtV
nine and iu each case these nave DccH SP'''' "'''
pcriod of nearly five months.
The follv Of wasting time just now IS apparent.
The present business. perhaps would not nave war
l,utcd "A long session to-day. but the day couh wen
have been used I'm committee ~ the coh7lucri
lion of hin, not involving the attondlncc oi Wtnc',c'
A. IL t~ this consideration Will bee deferred uhtI inc
limo H. needed for something e'~'. Then the pcopir
,ill he treated the usual slcci' c OF hurry ana
rl,.h and measures Of all kinds vii be "ral'oadcd
through both houses with little o. no regard to their
fffl