New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-22

THO THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE
The Aqueduct job must be killed, and the
Hendricks IIigh-LccnSc bill must be passed. In
the name OF the Republican party, we call upon
IFS representatives in the Legislature at Albany
TO do these two things. If they fail, then the
session, which thus far has been conducted so
creditably, will end in disgrace, and the Re-
publican masses will be warranted in charging
that they were betrayed by the men whom they
sent to Albany to represent them in 1880.
Plain words are best. The Aqucduct bill is
not entitled to the support of any legislator
who honestly desires to serve the public well
fare. 1t has been denounced by every news
paper of any standing in this city. Public
sentiment is overwhelmingly against it. Who
asks for its passage? No one except the un-
scrupulous contractors in whose interest it was
framed. The fact that such a measure has
made so much progress at Albany Is only TO
be accounted for on the assumption that tho
reputable members of the Senate and Assem-
bly, were grossly deceived as to its true char
acter. 1t proposes to grant to an unsaVory
gang of would-be taX-eaters an extraordinary
favor at the expense of the taxpayers. 1t Is
special legislation of the most vicious sort a
lob without rcdeemablc feature. and the cit
liens of Nev-York as one man demand its de-
feat. a short cut TO the public treasury must
not be opened for the benefit Of Aqueduct
contractors whose tainted bills aggregate
SO, 600, 900.
EQUALLY unfortunate from any point OF view
would be the defeat of the Hendricks High
License bill. Every man in the state who
1oe rpfprm demands
its passage While it does not 90 aS far as
they wish it meets with the approval OF many
of the members OF the Third party. 1t has the
Endorsement OF the Citizens Committee ON
High License and of all the related organiza-
tons which are enlisted for the improvement
of our excise laws. Politically speaking. 1t
is the Republican bin Of the session-the Re
publican response to the partys solemn pledge
made in the platform adopted by It's last state
Convention, that "nO steps backward Will be
taken" on high license by the Republicans Of
New-Yorll How comes it that this excellent,
practical High-Liccnse bill. which passed IN"
scnarc several weeks ago. has not yet been re-
ported TO the Assembly? What is the rs
sembly going to do about il? Does II propose
to allow one Of its committees faerntly 10
publican party? Speaker Hustled was report
ed as remarking a few days ago: " guess
made mistake in appointing my Excise Com
mittee" 1t will be costly mistake for the
party if it results in the defeat Of the pending
High-License bill. 1t is high time that the
Assembly asserted itself and got right on the
record Let the Excise Committee be dis
charged from the further consideration OF the
bill and let the Assembly promptly pass IT.
"That way safety lies
Democrats view the present crisis at Albany
with unaloyed satisfaction. They are per
suaded that the Republicans are going 70 make
shipwrec1 of their opportunities, and By 50
doing arc bound to pave the way for the cleo
ton of a Democratic Assembly next fall and a
Democratic United States Senator next winter.
Our friends at Albany have only 10 brace up
and act together in the direction which Is clear
" indicated by public and party sentiment TO
bring all such Democratic anticipations TO
| naught. We believe they intend to do so.