The sun., 1891-05-02
THE DEMOCRATIC RECORD.
REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE LEG
IsIATURE OF 1891.

REVIEW OF THE WORK OF TIE LEG
IsIATURE OF 1891.
TIE Shortest sessso. Z. Seventeen Years.
and che Lowest Tax rate Since 1885
Inpert.st RMS that Were Passed sy ths
Democratic Assembly a.A s.etheres IN
the Senate on Account or the Deadlock.
ALBANY. May THE address to the people.
authorized yesterday at the Joint caucus Of
Democratic Senators and Assemblymen. was
issued to-day. It presents the record Of the
session, and shows by comparison the differ
snce between the Democratic Assembly and
the Republican Senate In the Transaction OF
business and in the care for the interests OF
the people. The address says:
For the frat time since 1883 one branch Of
the Legislature. the Assembly. has had ma
jority OF Democrats In its membership. Tho
Senate is still controlled by Republicans.
The record OF tho party 10 therefore largely the
record OF the Democratic Assembly. What
that body has effected in the way Of desired
legislation. assisted BY its Democratic col-
leagues in the Senate. and how It has dis
charged the trust imposed upon 1t By the pso-
pie at last falls election. must form the report
OF the Democratic Stewardship which the peo-
ple will pass upon next November. We re-
spectfully invite your attention to the results
Of our efforts. hnmpered though the lstter
were by no controlling voice In the proceed
Tugs OF the Senate.
I'VE have given the people the shortest
legislative session In seventeen years. This
We have done In the interest OF economy and
GOOD legislation. believing that By industry
the necessary work OF the session could be
compressed into q short space OF time. thereby
best subscribing public interests and respect
ing the popular wish. Had the Senate &C.
cspted the original proposition Of the Assem-.
bly,. to adjourn sine die on April II. the session
would have been the shortest In thirty years.
Every days session OF the Legislature costs
the people between four and i've thousand
dollars. and every unnecessary day not only
creates an unnecessary expense. but increases
the danger Of questionable LEGISLATION.
I'VE have given the people the lowest tax
rate since 1855. We have avoided the neces-
sity Of levyinR tax for the general purposes
OF government for the first time In genera
tion. The tsx-rsts this year is one and thirty.
seven and one-hnlf hundrsdths mills. Last
year 1t was two and thirty-four hundredths
mills The tax rate for canal purposes last
oniy, three sishts q, . %ili: a reduction 81
% tons aeareaasins % q ting hearty Million oi dol-
Ses Senate nS uss ssa b assn9 or
tax rate. the lowest in thirty six years We have
0?Rs Psscsi w ss
funded TO 70 the State BY the Federal Govern
heissiter direct. The low rs!s Of lax is due
to economy on the part Of the Legislatpre and
commended repeatedly By the Democratic
Governor and Comptroller. the most Important
law Of this year. was not snsctsd until aiter
the installation Of q Dem mocratIc Assembly"
nd '
deadlock q that body. These arc the Emu
tntienSi Gonyen,ion. @ the Xnti.Pinkerton Bill.
the bill providing for a reapportionmen Of the
peops tho S rsdaeins II. legal rate
to bill
county ofilees: the revision q the Exeiss laws;
he hS 5 eeaes
Srss s Of nj nu6ic importance among them Tho
ballot reform :, amendments. =, tending to
and rsdnSs the
The last two weeks Of the session. were
fusal OF the Republican majority IN the sen ate
to transact any necessary public businsss; Ok
@ new
until 1t had secured the appointment Of q par
tisan H. c9mnittee I'll to % S9ndust a. drag-net In
to the election next fall The arbitrary
and persistent, rejection By the majority
~ IL .deaee sns
only =, Of the hypocrisy OF the keDgbli-
ess9ss os M rsy
Iorcins a desdiosf in order t. escape tt. EN-.
passed the Assembly and were AWAITING, the
81 had BEEN sent shs senate M beoss baoss
the DEADLOCK yet the se9as backyard
:metherlne the bills in committss. and ansliy
By y forcing g PARTISAN struggle which prevented
Ing q legislation and to test the SINCERITY OF
aiure, although not admitting the need Of an
Comm ,ssion created just as the famous Tiiden
'i which would be practically In the Choice Of
he Senate. for 1t could either confirm or reject
But this iair pronosition met the soIid opposi
vas eo1sseHlp,uously 4. rejected by the Republi-
Another proposition. namely. that the Sem
lte itself name this non -partison Commission.
gas also rejected; And still another nroposI-
,omposed @ @ Of the Canal commftiess iee Of bota I'll
was treated with the same contempt
This partisan and d!screditable attitude OF
cave no doubt in the public mind where the
responsibility for the two weeks' deadlock
ystemalc attempts at political blaokmsil.
Ike the Fassett investigating committee and
Il mischief ought to be numbered"