New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-11

The Assembly Committee on CcnSuS has asked
the Attorney General if the Legislature has the
mower 10 take an enumeration Of the inhabitants
Of the state this year II is an interesting queS-
ton. \ mandate of the Constitution expressly
proyideS that an enumeration shall be taken
under the direction of the Legislature at the end
of every ten years from 1880. In obedience
70 this mandate the Legislature of 1883 passed
a constitutional Enumeration bill corresponding
10 the one 10 which Samuel J. 1ilden affixed
his signature when he was Governor in 1879.
This measure was vetoed by David Is. Hill
vetoed. TOO. as every politician in the State is
aware, solely on partisan grounds. II gave
considerable patronage to the Secretary OF state
and in 1855 a Republican held that Office.
Rather than permit the Republican party to
gain any incidental advantage through the ap-
pointmcnt of enumcrators by Republican olll-
cjal Governor Hill did not hesitate 10 bring the
Constitution 10 naught. And by bringing the
Constitution TO naugh' he committed an outrage
upon the people. since he prevented new ap-
portonmcnt from being made.
The fact that the question referred TO has
been submitted to the A,torncy-GoncraI proves
that in the opinion Of some of the members Of
the Assembly, IN enumeration not having been
taken in 1883, the Legislature Will have no
power in the premises until 1895. This con
tcnton is not now made for the first time. II
ha, been made by members Of both houses ever
since the Governor vetoed the bill Of 1855.
There is little prospect, however OF an
Enumeration bill passing both houses this SEES
| sion. The Governor in his annual message re-
turned 10 the subject and in effect served notice
! upon the Legislature that in case an Ennmera-
! ton bill was passed AT this session he would
kill il. provided it was modelled after the bill
| of 1855 But if he has not altered his mind
since 1885. why should he expect that the Re
publican position has been altered since then
He could not cocrce the Republicans of 1885
into passing IN Enumeration bill which reflected
his rather than their own ideas; why should he
expect to be moro successful with the Repub-
lcans of 1891? 1t is likely that the Demo-
cratic majority Of the Assembly will pass pre-
ciscly the sort Of bill which he favors but
the Republicans do not propose TO allow him
TO do their lawmaIdng for them.
The vauItinC ambition which o'crlcaps itself
has been signalIy illustrated by Governor Hills
treatment Of this subject. He thought he was
acting the part of a Shrcwd politician in 1885
when he disregarded the Constitution. He rca-
Soned that he was taking care of his party'S in
tcrests by standing in the way Of enumeration.
But ever since then the most saglcious Demo
cratic managers have been shaking their heads
at him. arguing that his veto was a stupcndous
bmndcr. They maintain that in order to keep
some patronage from falling into the hands of
his political opponents he stood in the way Of
I. Il. L,, L., a.
far more to the Democracy than all that the
Republicans could have gained by that patron
age. No wonder that the Governor is dread
fully anxious to get out Of this bad hole into
which he put himself.