New-York tribune., 1896-05-01
A3 Chambers St.
WintOn
Bicycles
Ro11 - ~
Ballard Rubber Co.

| become
a law. but all bills involving appointments had,
wherever practicable, clause inserted removing
from the Civil Service the appointments to be
made
The Conetitution also provided for uniform
charters for cities of the second class Such
charters were submitted by Commissions which
had deberated upon them for year or more.
No attempt to pass the bills In which the char
ters were Incorporated was made, and the work
Of the Commissions stands at nought.
A special committee reported four bills for the
Improvement Of the roads Of the State. None Of
these was acted upon save an insignificant one
abolishing the lay labor system Of paying the
road tax. Governor Morton. In his message, had
urged that action looking to the improvement OF
| tho roads be effected, but his recommendation
J was ignored.
FEW LABOR MEASURES PASSED.
OF the labor measures before the Legislature
few successfully escaped death In the committee
room-a particularly fatal place for good meas
ures during the session-or upon the floor But
four measures OF this nature deserve special
mention. These are the amendment TO the Me-
chanic's Lien law. which gives the mechanic ad-
ditional protection: the Mercantile Establishment
law regulating the employment OF women ana
children: the Bakeshop Inspection law proViu-
ing better sanitary conditions In bakery sh"ps'
and the Sweatshop law. The Conspiracy law
has also been amended to the benefit OF the
workingman
Great corporations have suffered some from the
legislation Of the year They have in the aesre-
gate however proved the gamers In this Leg
islatuie, as In others The Coal Trust bills. the
Bicycle Baggage bill and that compelling the
lighting Of the elevated roads with other
illuminants than poor oil will be felt by certain
corporations but the death OF the bills or the
specbal committee to investigate the railroads OF
the state will be cheerfully received by the
street railroads of the State. The Railroad law
has been variously amended In minor particu-
lars.
PROVIDING PATRONAGE FOR PLATT.
The Legislature has humby carried out the
orders OF Mr. Platt and his leutenants In their
grabs for patronage In all parts of the state.
Under the pretence OF codifying the Insanity
laws. a bill has passed both branches OF the Leg
islature placing the patronage of the trustees OF
the HOSPITALS for the insane in Mr.. Platts hands.
Democrats trustees are to be removed and Re
publican successors to them named. as we'll as 20
any Republicans now on the Boards OF trustees
Of any of the hospitals who are not willing TO
wear the yoke.
The demands Of local Platt leutenants have
| heen answered In various cities and villages OF
the State. The principles of home rule have
been more grossly violated by the last Legis-
lature than by any other Legislature In the MS
tory Of the State. Young Willie" Barnes. or
| Albany demanded that the Legislature ana Gov
ernor Morton name him as the ver'table heao OF
the Albany Police Department IN order that ne
might receive the patronage derived from that
nosit,on DESPITE the vetoes Of the city au-
tfr,ca cd
Albany Police Reorganization bill. and although
Governor Morton does not wish to sign the Dill.
the threat Of Barnes that failure to do so means
a still more broken Morton delegation at St.
| louis Is believed TO have brought the Governor
into line and his approval Of the bill is ex-
pected
Lansingburg Greenbush and other localities
have also had their rights Of home rule trampled
upon by the Legislature OF 1896. by having their
Police Departments reorganized for the benefit
Of local machine men.
One OF the most vicious grab bills passed. ana
one which affects all parts OF the state IL that
which allows the Inspector OF Gas Meters MI
Stewart to appoint Deputy Gas Meter inepec-
tors In every town. village. city and county OF
the State. The inspector so appointed can IN
spect all meters attach a seal thereto and re-
ceive 10 cents for each seal attached. This VIII
create an army Of gas meter inspectors through
out the State owing their allegiance to Mr..
Stewart who is well known as servile Plat
! follower
FEW sPURTs OF VIRTUE
Occasional spurts OF virtue are noticeable In the
work of the year These. however were spas
modic and Of extremely short duration In no
instance does the good work done stand out more
distinctly from the background OF Infamous leg
slation than In the passage or the New-forK
CITY School Reform bill This measure abolishes
the present system Of school mismanagement py
irresponsible Boards Of Trustees and substitutes
! therefor system OF management by capable
Educational Board. The credit for the passage
of this measure should however. hardly go
to either the Legislature or the Governor. but
II placed where 1t belongs would rather 80 to
Mrs Morton. who. by persistent efforts. and In
spite OF the opposition Of Mrs. Edward Lauter-
bach, placed the bill upon the statute books.
Another measure, the passage OF which created
surprise. Is that known as the Andrews DILL
which compels the elevated railroads to snbst-
tute electricity gas for the dingy oil lamps
now ueed on the roads in NewYork City.
Upon the recommen ndaton Of the Rapid Tran
sit Commission the Rapid Transit act has been
variously amended whereby powers additional
10 those conferred bv the original act are granted
to the Commission
Two OF the bills submitted by the Rheinhart
Investigating Committee have passed the Legfs-
Iature. One Of these. relating to the employ
ment Of women and children In mercantile es-
tablishments has already secured the approval OF
the Governor. The other bill. providing for four
additional factory inspectors In order that sweat
shons ma be more thoroughly investigated. Is
now In the Governors possession.
The Percy Gray law Of last year establishing
State Racing Commission has been amended by
the passage of a bill submitted by the state
Racing Commission. allowing the setting apart
of a building where private wagers may De
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