New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-17
THE CLOSING SESSION.

The Legislature has still TO act upon the most
important measures Of the session which IS
drawing to a close. Several Of these 1t must
pass or forfeit to Il large extent the respect or
the people: several others it must refuse to pass
or incur the indignant ccnsure Of every honest
and intelligent citizen. Thus far the Rcpubll-
can ma iorities in the Senate and Assembly nave
actually completed a comparatively small part
of the work they were intrustci with Inc
Ballot Reform bill. the bill to prev cnt TAM
many from stealing elections in this ci;y through
the agency Of subscrvicnt partisan follce
Board the bill to put the Sheriff on reason
able salary and turn his fees into the treasury
the Rapid Transit bill Of the Chamber of Com
merce the Corrupt Practices bill and the Dili
giving the Mayor of NcwYork power TO remove
heads of departments are not yet in the Gov
errors hands, while several conspicuous JOBS
have still life enough in them 10 encourage
their promoters to hope that they may be saved
If the Legislatures record is thus in doubt
as the end of the session approaches II -
nevertheless gratifying - believe that Whch II
has been finally made up ii Will show lhuch
good and little evil accomplished. p 10 lHlS
time though n few members OF IN" majority
have cvinccd n surprising and diScrcdl'hp"
tenderness for Tammany schemes, ana nave
occasionally been refractory when thrir COZ
leagues had every reason to expect ihclr h'ar'!
support no scandalous Job Of large proportions
has been put through by their assistance II
the bills which every member knows 10 De
needed and demanded by the people shall be
passed before adjournment, and every coniem-
Mated outrage buried out Of sight, there VIII
be a large balance TO the credit OF TINS hcpuph-
can LEGISLATURE There is time enough for all
that Is essential in the way OF enactment anu
rejection but there Is no margin 10 be- wasted
and there is no possibility of too great VlsI-
lance From this time forward the promoters
Of base interests will swarm around the CAPT
toll and whatever their ample resources or
various kinds are capable Of accomplishing VIII
be accomplished.
A striking example Of the pcrils 10 which
the community is subjected through It's repre-
sentatives at Albany is seen in the 1act mat
the Tammany- Manhattan scheme or rapid tran
sit passed the Assembly without observation
and was lust slipping through the Senate Wheh
its character was exposed. \ large number
of perfectly honest members were Woiully mis-
led on that occasion, and some Of them. we
fear. may be equally careless during the com
Ing fortnight if they are not constantly watched
and warned Another bill Of the same general
nature is that which the managers OF the
| broadway cable road hoped 10 push brskly
| along-that IS. the bill permitting them 10 run
| line in Fifth-avc below TwcntytilirdSt.
Fortunately this proposition did not long eyade
| public notice, and we do not believe thal
| either aulacity or insinuation can now aval to
overcome the force of public opinion.
Although It is obvious that while the Lcgs-
lature is still in a position to earn the gratitude
| and praise Of the people who elected 1t win Il
very clear and definite understanding Of what
| they meant it TO do, ii is at the same time In
some danger of mourning ccnsurc, and even
execration All but very few Of the Rcpubli-
can members are incorruptibly honest; of that
we have no doubt. But the Legislature viii
not be judged according 10 the standard OF
their personal character, but by the things
which az a body Of lawmakers it does and
| leaves undone. They must be not only honest
| but efficient They must make up majority
for every good bill and against every bad one