New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-03
DEMOCRATIC PLAN At ALBANY.
DELAY AND OBSTRUCTION DICTATED BY
CROKER AND HILL.
WORK IN THE COMMITTEES PRACTICALLY NOT
YET BEGUN - EFFORTS TO EYADE
BALLOT REFORM
[FRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE

Albany Feb. IA grave situation in the Legislature
has been revealed by the sensational happenings OF
the last week. Indifferent observers describe as a
"pretty game" the conspiracy between the Democrats
in both TO saddle the Republican Senators
the responsibility for the delay in the Worlds Fair
bill But those who have the welfare Of the people
at heart and who believe that the object OF legislation
is to legisate, have watched with concern the
apparent success of the Tammany plot which was
limited at in The Tribune several days ago. This plot
involves not merely the Worlds Fair BILL or any other
bill of great import. 1t is designed with special
reference to every act large or small which originates
on the Republican side and can in any way benefit
the people and therefore reflect credit on its in
troducer Mr. Cantor in the Senate and Mr.. Sheehan
I'm the Assembly are the leaders In the movement,
which was counseled by Richard Croker and has been
approved in the Executive Chamber. The Republic
cans congratulated themselves after the last election
on their majority in the Legislature, and voters were
naturally led TO make this fact the basis for future
criticisms II is therefore, important that they should
know as Mr. Vedder declared in the Senate yesterday.
that I'm the present contest at least the minority in
the House the real and ruling majority. In the
Senate the Republicans numerically preponderatc'
But unfortunately, the rules Of that body make no
provision for moving the previous question that use
full and effective device for checking bustering and
shutting off talk against time. Consequently, every
important measure introduced in the Senate can
be made the subject Of endless examination and
objection by the industrious Mr.. Cantor
and his jealous associates before lts
submission to the Assembly. In the House the ma
iOrlty minority" play fast and loose with It's pro
visions and amend it out Of all recognition Then
on It's return the senate, the refusal Of its sponsors
10 submit to this distortion Will bring several vouDic
Tammany men to their feet. The time of the Senate
will be consumed in childish and impertnent obiec
TONS under the hypocritical pretence OF desire to
guard the public interest In every case where eX-
petition is necessary desirable the killing OF
measure thus be easily accomplished; and as the
numerical weakness of the minority is shown by a
vote the people will be invited 10 blame the Repub-
leans for Democratic misdeeds.
The outlook for futcss legislation, thanks to the
obstruction conspiracy is this year unusually good
The session is already a month old, and the number
of bills introduced is above the average. Practically
nothing has been done in committee, and when the
Legislature adjourns more bills will doubtless be
thrown suddenly into the Governors hands than was
the case last year, and greater opportunities afforded
him of defeating Republican by conveniently
allowing them TO lapse.
Next to the Worlds Fair bill, ballot reform, which
received so much attention in Mr. HIPS message,
will excite the widest interest at this session. 1t
Is doubtful whether any similar subject ever wrought
up so many Of the population at one time. People
who ordinarily take little heed OF what is done at
Albany are besegng their representatives with sug-
restons and requests for information Physicians
turn from their patients tlergymcn from their pull
pits and clerks from their desks, to write long let
ters about the desirabty Of an exclusive 0clal bal
lot and there is more discussion Just now AROUND
farmers fresides the merits OF the SaAtcn ana
Iinson bills than over any other topic of legislation.
Mr. saxtons mail is nearly as heavy as the Presi-
dents Some OF his correspondents seem to nave
developed a sort Of mOnomania on the subject, ana
they write long letters often and persstenty as
the late A. N Cole, whose hobby was saltwater
irrigation. The most novel feature OF the discussion
so far is the part taken In 1t by young norton
Chase "Boss" Herrlcks bondnan, who, his opponent
saws was elected by fraud and is therefore not entitled
70 his seat That he should have been instructed to
father an Act OF registration" and TO file minority
report Directing TO the adoption Of either Of the two
hills now under consideration Is amusing AS II Boss
Murphy should instruct his bondman senator Collins,
~ troy TO Introduce all act for the detection and
punishment OF Tepeaters. What Mr. Chase says lie
must have Is electoral IeformDot mere ballot reform
and he proposes TO get II, II IL costs him his seat
Those familiar with Albany methods at elections VIII
apDreeiate the hnmor Of the situation. $3.50
Aeh editdT Sf The North American Review
whose untimey death last May, after his appointment
us Minister 10 Russia was so wiacy uep9Iv1
a share OF whatever praise may belong 70 the author
of a successful BallotReiorm bill in TINS state on
this Mr. saxton generously m'',; ,cs ' Gronn s d.
trjet Mr. Rice, as is well known started "a DoId ana
uncompromsinG warfare upon hee'ers" ana "s,rhers,
which continued after Crcgan5 death, ana began re-
Searches into tie subject of electoral reform when
ended only when he died himself These researches
Mr. saxton has perfected, and the measure which beas
his name Is the result. Mr.. Rice originally drafted
the first eectoralreform bin That ne was ei1pns,
icaly opposed 10 unofficial ballots Is well enemDecu
In an article printed in The Review" shortly before
his death he said - ,, g., a an
force the secret marking OF ballots furnished by tne
state. No one but the voter would be allowed 10
enter the compartment provided for marking MS Dal
lots and the arrangement would preclude supervision
by the present class Of votc-buyers or Their dePie
sentatiyes. In these cir: umstahccf, no cana
coud be induced to for votes. the casting o. Which
must be accepted on faith. Having disposed
OF secrecy, the next best safeguard lies IN the printing
and distribution of ballots at public expense
An electrical voting machine has been on tA-
hbitOn for weeks In Of the corridors 0f the
Capitol This registers votes by the pressing OF knobs
on vertical frame IN secret compartment, the knobs
corresponding 10 the Of the candidates. These
names printed on cards, cOl0red so as 10 dis
tnguish the respective parties. and the difficulties In
the way OF Governor HIPS army OF iiterate voters
are thus ingenously smootIed away. This provision,
However. would naturally fail in the case OF the color