New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14

course. All bills are arranged in the order in
which they are received. and in like manner re-
been created by Governor Black. who sends All
bills relating department affairs to the depart
ment which they would affect for consideration
and approval before he signs them
All sorts Of tactics are resorted to by members
who hav. pet schemes which they desire to fur
thor and a system of reciprocity exists in each
legislative body which the country member de-
scrhes as a You-scratch-my back -and-lll-
scrat ch- yours system" Legislators frequently
allow bills in which they md their constituents
are Interested to lie dormant in committee or on
the desk after they come from the committee for
weeks in order 10 accumulate iund Of gratltud"
against which they hope 10 draw when their pet
bin comes up for final action Will" one mem
her may find delay advantageous. another may
he equally anxious to rush his bill ana frequent
~ members make use Of the privilege which al
lows hill 10 be- introduced from the member
Mace ON the floor and without making use of the
lin box. \ measure introduced in that way may
be advanced To- a second and third reading in
short order but only by unanimous consent; hut
II cannot lee acted upon until il has been printed.
and has been tho desk of the members at least
| three days.
massage Of the bill 1t has the right 10 take bill
| from any committee at any time and to bring it
! before the house for action and during the last
ton DAYS Of the session this privilege is made us"
| Of frequently To relieve congestion. ana I" tax"
bills from committees where they are kept pur-
| posely sometimes. to delay action BINS 50
| taken our Of committee are placed on the kutS
| calendar which has precedence over all others
| by thai means neglected bills are forced To a
! third reading. and members who. for political
/ reasons and in order to be eVerybOdy's friend.
wished to dodge and abstain from voting are
| frequently forced "off the fence" and compelled
| TO be recorded on side Of the measure.
THE PRINTERS POWER.
\ member in speaking Of tn" difficulties
which arise and the obstacles which bes"t the
conscientious legislator. said "Thc mistakes
Of the printer may do man more injury than
In. votes Of his enemies The printer may delay
matters by making AN and by transposing
| 4 letter or a figure or 10y making any kind of
| 4 slight typographical error. Who can say
! that the error was made with malice afore-
| thought? The printer may say, and he does.
that IT is Impossible 10 print without making
mistakes and if H. is told that it is strargc
that mistakes should occur more frequently oA
the bills that are being pushed by people foi
! WHOM he does not care. n may smile and say
that it is simply coincidence
There are outside persons no are as deeply
Interested in the bills as the public, and an
agency is kept busy here which has no other
object than t. watch bills in the interest of GER
tain large corporations and companies. Every
! amendment made in committee. every change IN
| the wording of the measure. - care ullN hot'd
and reported To the companies which the bill
might affect. and 10y this method the great con
Germs are Kept informed as To the smallest de-
tail in the progress of the bills
ON the desk of the CLERK Of the Assembly lies
"A book which is accessible to any person who
| has the privilege of the floor, containing a
complete and authentic record of every bill
originating in the house. The various stages OF
the bill are recorded in the book Besides thf
name of the member who introduced II. are when
introduccdr printers number second reading.
third reading first reference. when advanced
to a second reading. when advanced to third
reading when passed. when delivered to the
Senate. when returned from the Senate amended
when returned To Senate, when returned from
Senate. when delivered To city Clerk, when re-
turned by Mayor, when passed over objections.
when delivered to Governor and when recalled
from the Governor.