New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-10
ruR 1EGLSLATERE OF 1890.

TIE LEGISLATURE OF 1890
Jawmakinc at Albany is at an end for this
wear. The session was not unreasonaoly pro-
lonced. if was fruitful of good works and COM
naratiyelv unfruitful of bad ones. Rapid tran
iii was defeated and so was high license, while
tho cable railway scheme went through. But
borr;no these two sins of omission and one OF
commission-all grave ones-the record Is hard
" omen 70 serious criticism. We do not forget
that the Aoueduct bill was passed-but in what
sbape did it reach the Governor? Not GER
tainIy as lob, but merely as mild measure
of relief The public would indeed have been
better satisfied had it been killed outright. As
it is there is great satisfaction III the renee
tion that the Aoueduct ring which had in its
employ one of the most powerful ana per-
sistent Hobbies ever seen at the Captoi hiiser-
ably failed in its well-organized conspiracy 10
loot the treasury. In the circumstances the
wonder is that the shortcomings OF the session
were so few. If the majority had presented a
solid front on all the great measures there would
have been little opportunity for evl-doerS'
But unfortunately, a few Republicans in the
Assembly under the leadership of Mr.. Fish,
who in virtue of his place as chairman OF Ways
and Means, was the recognized leader OF the
House. early in the session made combine
with Tammany Hall which lasted until final
adjournment. The effect of this ScandalouS
coalition was of course to cripple the majority
since it was only necessary that eight kepuD-
Gcans should vote with the Democrats to Sc
cure minority ruc-and among It's baleful CON
sequences was the failure of rapid transit and
high license.
But the enemies of the Republican party are
welcome TO make the most of the blemisheS OF
the record. The blemshes are of small ac-
count in comparison with its many good feat
ures Taxpayers will pardon good deal 10
Legislature which enforces an economical poi
icy which handles the peoples money as lu-
diciously as a conservative citizen manages
his private affairs. Now the Legislature OF
1890 was prominently a money saving BODY
The General Appropriation bill was so clean
that Governor Hill, who VIGOROUSLY taxes
keen delight thorough going partisan as ne Is
in vetoing Republican measures, was unable
10 find so much as single item to which ne
coud take an exception. Consequently he
stoned the bill lust as it reached him, and then
in fit of non-political generosity pubhcly eN-
toled its merits. The other great fiscal meas
ure of the year, the Supply bill, was equally
free from unnecessary appropriations Inc
! Governor after scrutinizng closely, managed
to discover one item-and only one-aeaihSt
which he could file an objection, ana that
amounted to but $1,000. The practical ont
come of This rigid economy J. a largely reduced
| +ay-rate-laSt wear it was 3 % mills while tins
veor il is only pa millS-enectng saving
of nearly four million dollars. We'll done
So too in the field OF practical reform the
Legislature of 1890 did much good and faith
ful service. II will be gratefully remembered
q, the body which gave ballot reform to New
York: which took the pauper insane ont OF
the wrctchcd county poorhouScS and placed
them in State institutions, whore they will be
| infinitely better cared for; which secured to
the people the right TO pass upon the great
vcxod question of Prohibition which protected
the admirable prison policy adopted last year
| from thc assaults Of IT, enemies. ON ahOihcr
page will be found a summary OF The work
accompS she'd during the session in when the
general public has the most interest. IL VIII
be seen that in addition 10 the excellent legs
| lation referred 10. there is much 70 which the
Republican majority can confidently point IN
maintenance Of the proposition that 1t has
worthily represented lis constituents, and there
fore has sensbly conserved the common veal
This is the record Of the responsible R"puh-
lean majority What about the Democratic
minority? As usual, il was minority which
fought reform tooth and nail Taking IT'S
orders from the saloons and faithfully eAecut-
ing them il was from the beginning to the end
of the session the implacablc foe OF good and
wholesome measures The fact that tainted
politician like papier machc Shcchan set the
step for the res, is sufficient exposition OF the
worthlcsSnrsS Of its character. II presented a
solid front against high license and the original
Ballot BILL and earnestly supported nearly
every lob which was introduced. True 1t
contained some members whose inclinatOns
were in the right direction, but they were not
allowed TO assert themselves. The people Will
not lose sigh, Of this radical difference between
the TWO parties when next they come TO vote
They will elect a Republican Assembly. They
realize that they cannot afford to do otherwise
They realize that the Republicans OF the Legs
lature of 1890 looked after their interests,
while the Democrats did little else than look
after the interests of the saloons and the bosses.