New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-10
melancholy has been its demorallzing erect
upon the Governor himself
PROMOTING THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE.


The placing of the sixty special agents TO De
appointed under the Liquor Tax law on the hoh-
competitive list Of the Civil Service siShihes
Governor Morton's consent to the incorporation
of the excise establishment into the Kepuplicah
machine of this State. We dislike to peheVe
that Governor Morton gave his consent cheer
fully; it is rather to be supposed that he deemed
a spurious obligation to individuals more III
portant to himself than his obligation 10 'he
party which elected him. and the people whose
servant he Is.
The Tribune takes no satisfaction III the ac-
cumulating proofs that its estimate or Inc Liquor
Tax law was entirely accurate from the outset
We have disapproved this measure Tor reasons
which we have repeatedly set forth Not one
of them has been invalidated, but, on the con-
traly, the common belief has been conlirmed'
that the measure was devised for the purpose
of charging and terrifying despotic political
machine which is operated for selhsh purposes
and that it is crude. complicated, contradictory
and likely TO produce undesirable results largely
ofsetting il not far outweighing, Whatever pehe-
fits may be derived from its operation. lhese
clements in the case seemed to us from the be-
ginning to justify the condemnation or the DILL
but II went to the Governor additionally brand
ed with the indecent and revolutionary pro-
cedure which was found by the machine 10 be
absolutely essential TO its passage. The ny
potheses which the provisions Of The bill ana the
means employed for its enactment inevitably
suggested have already been confirmed to great
extent since II began TO be put into execution.
The Tribune was DESTROYS Of giving the law ana
its chief executive the benefit Of every possible
doubt. We pointed out the great opportunity
for distinguished public service which had been
conferred on Colonel Lyman, and expressed
hope verging on expectation. that he would
utilize IT for his own honor and the common al
vantage But already he has given various
melancholy Indications Of his intention to fall
below that standard His appointment OF
Chief Deputy Commissioner closely Identified
with the machine his selection for Special
Deputy in this county. his ready cooperation
with an insurance enterprise 10 which Messrs
Platt and Raines have each contributed son.
and his solcitudc to escape from the restrictions
which the Constitution expressly prescribes Tor
the administration Of the public service, all seem
to prove that he Is In cordial sympathy with the
purpose for which we have been compelled. mucn
against our WILL to believe the law was devised
We do not mean to predict that the Liquor
Tax law will work badly in all respects after 1t
has been brought, whether by the courts or the
Legislature, into form less dcformed than
that which IL was expected by It's authors 10 re-
tain In one way or another, 1t Is quite likely
10 become a different thing from what 1t was
designed 10 be- and far less efficient inslrn-
ment Of political chicanery. Already the Court
Of Appeals has rendered decision which. though
based upon a preceding statute. Is generally
believed to modify In an important detail the
operation Of the new law. Governor Morton has
placed the sixty agents whom the law designaies
as "confdcntal on the Ton-competitivc list
but we do not believe they will stay there. The
language Of the Constitution is precise ana IN
tcsible If il means anything, IL means the
prohibition Of precisely such manoeu'rc ~
this Tha, Interpretation has already been put
upon IL by the highest court and there Is no
reason TO suppose that ii can be avoided here
after But II. in the course of time the law Is
found TO be accomplishing desirable results ana
doing little, II any. harm. the fac VIII neyerih"-
less remain that the original intention " those
who brought II into existence and first began 10
put II into execution was 10 serve the people
i'll for their own selfish purposes.