New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-22
Nv TRANSFERABLE INDICTMENT.

The address "to the electors OF the state OF
New-lork,' which is printed upon anothef
Iage. is document as timely as 1t is welSh'!.
II ought to be attentivcly read by every CIT
izcn who desires to conserve the welfare OF
our Commonwealth. Ii is a well-consldered
review of the course pursued by the respon-
sible majority at Albany last winter by
committee of the minority which was appolnteg
Immediately after the final adjournment The
committee has done its work well, thereby rem
dering the public a valuable service
The record of the Democratic Legislature
of 1893 was one of extravaganza, neglect OF
needed legislation. and invasion of the funda-
mental rights of cities. That is the grave III
dctment which the committee draws against
the majority and which it makes good Dy
counts that cannot be successfully assaiied.
L. was a fraudulent majority. Three Demo
Gratis sat in the Senate all of whom had been
defeated at the pOs-sat there not III accord
ance with but in palpable defiance OF the VIII
Of the people plainly declared 80 too seven
teen Democrats sat in the Assembly under an
apportionment which was branded as dishonest
and unconstitutional by the Court OF Appeals
It was a reckless and imprOvdent majority
II increased the tax rate from 3-S mills
in 1891 when the Senate was Republican, to
o5S mills in 1898. The increase appears the
more ndefensible in view Of the facts that
there was a surplus of $4,000 600 in the Treas
urv in 1891. that the receipts from the cor
poration and Inheritance tax laws have steadily
increased, and that appropriations made by
the Legislature of 1898 amounting to some
s.. 900, 900 will have to be provided for by
the next Legislature.
1t was grossly incompetent and IN
faithful Legislature. One of the most press
ing duties which confronted it when
it met last January was the revision OF the
tax laws From every section Of the state
came the cry for more equitable adjustment
of taxes. The Legislature of 1892. III re-
spouse to this demand appointed Tax Com
mission. This commission. which cost the state
5000. reported a carefully prepared law
What did the Legislature of 1898 do with 1t?
Did nothing with it-treated il as though it
was so much waste paper. The Legislature OF
1892 also appointed Joint Committee on
Taxation of its own members. This commits
sion. whose counsel were paid the exorbitant
sum of $4,000. reported SIX bills What did
the Legislature Of 1893 do with them? Snf-
fered all of them TO die in committee. since
1892. Democratic commission and committee
expenses ostcnsibly looking to taxation reform
have taken $4,000 from the Treasury, but
no reform has been accomplished. On the con-
trary an important tax measure recommended
by Controller Campbell was considered, only
TO be defeated. while bill was pushed pro-
.yiding for the exemption of personal property
from taxation.
+ Ii was notorionsly an anti-home rule
Legislature. There i, no need to enlarge
on that grave point. Every intelligent
citizen of NewYork is familiar with the
history of the repeated raids which the last
Legislature made upon city charters. II was
a Legislature which demonstrated lis hostility
TO fair election methods. 1t refused t, pass
manifesiy Just and equitable measure. assign
ing an equal number Of election inspectors 10
the two parties at all polling places; and ii
made base and cowardly attempt aiming at
the Acknowledgement Of rural voters by an I'M
warrantabe extension Of the law for personal
registration. These are the chief counts OF this
crushing Indictment No Legislature since the
DAYS when Tweed was in control at Albany ever
made worse or weaker Use OF IFS oppOr-
tuniies. From the beginning TO the end OF
the session it steadily betrayed the public veal
in order TO play into the hands OF a gang Of
interruptions partsans. The remedy OF
course. is in the voter, hands. They can wipe
out the disgrace Of 1893 at the capital by
sending the Democracy to the rear and elect
ing a Republican Legislature. They owe it
to themselves TO their state, to the cause Of
good government, to make "a radical change.