New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-22
At dLBiN J.

! AT ALBANY.
There is no fog over the situation at Albany.
| The voters of this city and of the whole state
! have perfectly clear understanding OF II.
They know that the lines are drawn; ana th'F
know Just as we'll as the men directly engaged
the precise character Of the issue what it means
to the men in the thick of the fight, and what II
means, above all. to the friends Of good govern
ment and the citizens of this roguc-rdden town.
If any Of the gentlemen at Albany 10 whom
the responsibility for reform legislation has
been intruSted for one moment suppose mat
they can obscure the issue or conceal their own
real motives and purposes by raising dust
over small details and matters of minor llipor-
lance or by creating a din with party shibbo-
lethS and war cries, they may as well undcccVe
themselves at once. The Republican party
elected a majority of both branches OF the
Legislature and the Governor and they were
the potential factors in the election OF tie
Mayor and the Reform administration in the
government of this city. There is no doubt III
the mind of any intelligent man as 10 what That
action signiiied SO far the Rcpubhcan
voters of this city are concerned, II was Inc
expression of an unmistakabc demand for mu-
nicipal reform and chiefly for radical ana
sweeping reform e police system which had
been shown TO be corrupt and rotten through
ont. They voted for that with a passionate ana
eager desire born Of a sense Of hclplessness ana
h0Delcssness without it. And that is what they
want now They expect, and have Il right 10
EXPECT. that the Republicans in the Legislature
will grant their prayer. They were elected TO
do that More for that than for anything else.
What is the straight way to answer them!
What the honest way? Is there any other
straight way, any other honest way, than by
giving them a hearing? The Committee Of
Seventy and the subcommittee Of ten, TO whom
they committed the task of putting in proper
form the legislation they desire. stand to-day
for the Republican party Of the city and county
of New York. Since this party adopted the plat
form and approved the candidates Of that com
mittec. and upon that adoption and approval
secured control of the municipal administration,
nothing has occurred TO warrant the withdrawal
Of confidence or population of the pledges ex-
pressed and implied 1t is the Republican party
Of this city and county, then, that presents 10
the Legislature on its own behalf, and on be
half of all citizens who favor municipal reform,
certain wcll-consdered and carefully prepared
bills intended to meet the demand Of the peo-
/
where n,imated that the gentlemen composing
this committee have any personal ends to serve
or that their motives are not entirely pure and
patriotic We make no comment now upon the
purposes or motives Of those who oppose the
committees plans; we suggest neither com
parson nor contrast between the character, the
reputation, the civic record Of the individual
members of the committee with the character,
sl...1
mon consent and public notorety heads the
opposition. The only inquiry we raise is
whether a Republican Legislature can afford
to deny Il hearing TO this committee, or upon
a hearing 10 go on regardless OF the views OF
men who in this extremely important matter
represent the convictions and the wishes Of the
Republican party of this city and county.
Yesterdays discussion in the Senate served
n useful purpose. 1t threw no new light TO be
sure upon the main question, which is, whether
the Police Department and police courts shall
be reformed in the interest Of the citizens and
taxpayers Of the town or for the perpctuation
of one mans power in the Republican party;
that was plain enough before. But it did dis
close the fact that the greatest pressure has
been brought to bear upon Senators to induce
them TO betray both principle and party, and
that some Of them are weak enough TO suppose
that they can trade upon the needs and the
distresses of this great city for the advance
ment of some local interest or the accomplish
ment of some petty personal end 1t appeared
during the debate that one Senator acuated,
undoubtedly, by an honest motive, but evident
ly unmndful of the improperly Of his action
had made direct inquiry Of Mayor Strong
whether the bills under discussion had his ap-
prevail A categorical answer would, OF course,
anticipate the Mayors action when the bills, II
passed. should come before him for approval or
disapproval The Mayor, as is well known, has
constantly and consistently refused to commit
himself with reference to pending or proposed
legislation. But there can be no doubt in the
mind Of any intelligent legislator as to what the
voters who elected Mayor Strong think about
these bills These voters have given commits
sion to representatives to act for them in whose
ability and integrity they trust most implicitly.
And they certainly will not be satisfied If the
/ Legislature should treat those representatives
with the contempt implied in the snap judgment
of the caucus.
The bills considered yesterday viii not be-
come laws. From present appearances they will
not pass the Legislature. They certainly will
not be approved by the Mayor and the friends
of good government may rest assured that no
bill relating to the affairs Of this city which is