New-York tribune., 1899-06-14
"p4PTy UEISTRES."

An interesting item is going the rounds to the
effect that Assemblyman Frank Bulkley. Repup-
lican leader Of the NXIXth Assembly Distrlct, Ii
70 be turned down" by the organization. 1t IS
said that Mr. Quigg has decided that the Assem-
hlvman must be disciplined. retired from the
LEGISLATURE and that another will take his lead
crship. The reason aleged'is that Mr.. Bulkley
displeased the organization by voting against
the Astoria Gas bill at the last session.
Now we have no interest in Mr.. Bulkleys
legislative career and nothing at stake In his
leadership 1t makes no difference to us whether
Mr.. Ouigg's particular friend or Mr.. lauter-
bach's particular friend is ION top In the
NXIXth District But II Is a matter OF interest
end importance TO know what party obligation
is and what offence justlfes party leaders in dis
ciplining legislators The Astoria Gas bill was
measure TO confer valuable franchise on pri-
vate corporation in which influential Republi-
cans were Interested Whatever merits the bill
had. they were of purely business character for
those who owned the company. We do not say
II did not have merits, but it was fercely at
tackled as comforting a valuable right without
adequate compensation, as opening the door Tor
unknown and gigantic operations under cover OF
assurances that all the company desired was
permission 10 lay pipes under the East River.
The counsel of the company was profuse In de-
claring that nothing more was required out the
hill was never amended to declare that 1t should
be construed TO confer no other rights, and many
thought it's terms did confer much more ex'en
sve privileges.
Whether they were right or wrong we do not
pretend to say. but the question at issue was AT
least on the side Of passing the bill. entirely one
Of private business. We can understand party
saying that such measure was against pubic
policy. and urging It's Assemblymen to vote
against il; but il Is a new development OF Ke
publican party responsibility" to turn down
n man because he fails 10 vote to confer ny
legislation a valuable property right on private
individuals who may happen TO have the FAVOR
of party leaders Mr. Croker avows that as the
Tammany theory Of government. He bosses the
party TO make money for himself and his friends
and he sets up and pulls down office holders ac-
cordIng as they are useful or not 10 his auction
business his bonding business his freproofing
business his ice business. Is the Republican
organization going TO take a leaf out OF his
books and make il party crime not to support
some Republicans gas business?
The Astoria Gas bill WAS in no sense n legiti-
mate party measure II had no more connec-
ton with Republican policies than a bill to
settle some private claim pushed by some mem
ber for a constituent. 1t Is a perversion of party
machinery TO make 1t the pusher of private
| financial schemes, be they good or bad The
tendency so TO make illegitimate drafts on party
loyalty seems to be growing Of late and 1t has
created some surprise and not little talk TO see
eminent lawyers conspicuous as party leaders,
and reform leaders at that, mixing politics and
business turning high-toned party influence into
lobbying power and striving to foreclose polti-
cal mortgages upon legislators at the retainer OF
| private corporations. Can 1t be that the Repub-
lcan organization is going to indorse that prac-
tice and punish Assemblymen who do not vote
in the interests Of corporations with eminent Re
publican advocates!