New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17
THE WORK OF THE EXTRA SESSION.

The Legislature has adjourned having quick
" done the things which Governor Black sum-
moncd il TO do Two of the purposes thus ac-
complishcd are commcndable. and 1t is not i'm
probable that the new laws relating to the SOL
ders' vote and TO military expenditures will
operate successfully. though some troublesome
complications may grow out Of the former. and
the constitutonality Of the clause governing the
reception Of the votes is not beyond dispute.
As to the Metropolitan Election BILL we have
already expressed positive opinions which moth
ing has occurred TO modify. We still believe It
to be an unnecessary. ineQuitable and foolish
measure. which. even with competent man
as ex-Chief McCullagh TO enforce Il. will not
fulfil the expectations Of its honest advocates
and which is likely TO make the coming cleo
ton unsatisfactory in more ways than one.
The act is presumed TO he constitutional ny
It's authors, but 1t unQuestonably violates the
spirit il not the letter Of the Constitution, and
is morally. II not legally, discredited by its tricky
inclusion in the metropolitan district Of terri
tory within which there Is no intention Of
APPLYING II. This device for escaping the
Mayors veto Is unworthy Of the party and Of
fensve to the people. The absurd clause In
the original draft providing that the police
should be excluded from any place TO which
the superintendent chose to send his deputies,
was dropped from the bill. but an ample oppor-
tunity Is left for controversy and conflict be-
tween the regular and special forces and the
rehabilitated alliance Of Tammany and the Re-
publican Machine may be unable to keep the
peace. even after mutually satisfactory decker
for the spoils The superintendent has large
powers Of an arbitrary nature. including the
right TO add 100 deputies Of his own selection
t. the 900 nominated by the party organiza-
tons. He is liable to removal for cause. but
such liability practically amounts to nothing. as
experience shows. He is essentially an auto
crat in respect to State elections in this city.
and bad man in the office could safely COM
nit outrageous abuses.
These are some Of the main objections 10
Tire hill. They have been clearly pointed ont
In The Trbur' sld In other papers and by
Democrats in tac Legislature. They have not
been answered. and scarcely an attempt to an
sver them has been made. The measure ia
offensive not merely because Of IT'S contents
II was passed IN an offensive manner The
Legislature has given expression not to pub.
lie sentiment. or even 10 Its own Judgment.
but to n tyrannical Will. Perhaps II was suit.
able in logical sense that IN act operating
as an amendment 10 the charter should be
jammed through after the same fashion. but
II certainly Is not commended TO popular ap-
prcval by the means employed to prevent de-
libcrate action II is not In this way that the
Republican party has been accustomed to pre-
pare for victory at the polls End we are con
WINGED that It's representatives at Albany have
made success this year not less hut moro IN
certain than It would otherwise have been 1t
10 with much regret that we feel ourselves com,
PEELED to declare that Governor Black has COM