New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-08
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
LEGISLATION BY PROXY.
DANGERS FROM THE PRESENT METHOD OF
TREATING BILLS At ALBANY.

DANGERS FROM THE PRESENT METHOD OF
TREATING BILLS AT ALBANY.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir A dispotch from Albany printed In The Tribune
few DAYS ago, giving What was apparently an
authorized version" Of visit TO the Executive
Chamber by the Mayor and the Corporation ,o"'''',
affords useful and interesting text for reelection and
comment unon the methods OF legislation prevalent
at the recent session.
II seems that one bin which the Mayor stoutly
"put his foot on" providing for park ad]ao'h' 10
the new speedway was I'M roduccd In the last honrs
OF the session. and readily passed. Dy DOM "o"SeS.
Not having been printed. lis provisions were "",
known TO the public or TO the press ana We are no"
told that they were unknown also to til" city anthon-
ties. II seems that Mr. Webster, the chairman Of the
Committee on Cities who had been the spokesman
Of the New York City municipal officers Throughout
the session. introduced the bill. He says tla' h' ~
ceivcd II from Mr.. Blandy the Assistant 'orP'a''"
Counsel who has spent the last two winters III NioN
rs the representative Of the heads Of IN" city de-
pariments. Mr.. Blandy Is reported 10 nave sal"
that while IT is true that Mr.. Webster received IL
from him. It was originally handed to him by Mr.
Webster so that each Of these gentlemen seems To
have received II from the other The only r'as"hab"
Interpretation Of this situation Is tiat WEBSTER hI
justified In promoting the passage OF the pi Dch"N'
llandy either approved did not oppose IL, ana '''
Elandy did not oppose the bill because 1t came from
Of the same authorities whom Mr. Blandy rcpesch'cu
outside the legislative chambers.
The public however not much interested In
the operations OF Mr. BlandyS mind upon the subject
rs they are In the motives and purposes Of MI Web
ster ~ the supposed representative OF the people or
In the motives and purposes oil the hundred ana
twenty seven other members Of the Assembly AID the
tbirtytwo Senator'S who either voted for or did not
oppose the bill
While a visit TO Albany during the last session.
discovered species development Of the princpl"
Of local option In the deliberations and actions q"
the Legislature which cannot bat b" destructive oi
all efforts at sound legislation and Of the individual
responsibility Of members Of the Legislature. bill
affecting locality. having the support OF the mag
mates OF that locality was onSdcrd by the senators
members from other localities none Of their
business; and 1t sufficient that n bill was -
supported arouse this feeling that representatives
OF other localities should not oppose the bill, and
that. In turn, they entitled 10 the same conSd
Grafton for bills affecting their own localities. sup
ported by their own local auhorties. This senli-
ment was plainly avOwcd by leading members Of the
Legislature. and pronounced by them 10 be- "A rll'
OF action by which the members were guided 30
far did this sentiment prevail that our legislators
seemed quite willing TO apply the maxim In such cases
which a well -known statesman is said TO hay"
given expression by saying that "the Constitution
should not stand between friends"
The above referred 10. Of tho Fort Gcor-e
Park. seems TO b. typical Of tbs View Mr.. Web
.ter felt Justified in introducing and supporting the
measure because Mr.. Blandy, rs the rcprcsenaiiv.
Of The city authorities. did not veto II. and In"
Assembly were equally willing 10 pass il because b.
Mr. Webster advocacy Of ii II WAS STAMPED With
the approval Of tie municipal authorities II Mr.
Bandy acted In excess OF hi. authority III uils
matter. the Mayor OF cours" had night 10 ~
pndat. his action. and appear - uaV" doh" :"
In season 10 prevent the approval ol ne ~ bv
the Governor. on the other hand, II Mr. ElhhuV
did not act without authority from hiS principals
but the latter for some reason underwent a "cnangr
OF heart" on the subject OF III" bill, the MAYOR
was equally potent 10 in"rpo,r bis veto ~ Nh'pi
The taxpayers would undoubtedly wis., mat Si'n
veto had been interpOsed I'm Tx" manner rohc'rnih-
that the legislation of the session affecting artcu
lar localities has been the work. mol oi tlc wv
houses Of the Legislature. but 81 ia. r'prrSrhln-
tive, OF the Respective localities. who. In lrl' nav
acted not upon their individual Judgment ana r.
sponslbitv. but In accordance With IN" VirW>' W
sr,s interests Of IN" municipal an'ho''"'' W
their r,.sDcctive constituencies. 49,,
Now that the Legislature has adloirnt We ar
naturally curious to know whether The Govern"
10 act upon the principle. ana Wh'IIcI ~" ~.
functions under the Constitution "f app,pSlns "a
yctouc bill, l. 10 be delegated Z" "a" MhNotS ~, -"
the various cities and their legal hdVl.,i1, ~,
visit OF Mayor t;ilrov and Mr. Clark 10 Albany ana
tLe vlsli nOw annnNnCNi VI tr bro"kNn 'N
officials upon Ike GRAND. ar" chl'ul""Ti :"
cause rs 10 hold our breath IN Suspehsr ms 10
whether the Governors action upon hlllS Htcnhs
those localities + TO hc simply the performance I"
a clerical duty ms the factotum of local maSnatcs
Shonld not some remedy by IA" assertion 81 puhh,
opinion BE- applied TO put 80 10 I'M,
by proxy 2" 400, i1'' b"'>' ~ "Li'"'
a.