New-York tribune., 1901-02-11
CITY BILLS BACKWARD.
,rraY N IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
AFFECTING NETWORK.
SENATOR sTRANAHAN PROMISES TO STIR
Up ACTION OK CHARTER MEASURES
LOCAL MEMBERS DISAGREE OK
VARIOUS QUESTIONS

Albany Feb. 10 jspeciaD.-Little New-York
,i-y legislation OF importance is thus far well
under way, although at the beginning Of the
s.ssion many measures pertaining to the me-
.,onolis were expected to be introduced early
nough 10 insure enactment. a lenethened ses-
s,cn. therefore. lasting at least until the latter
nsr, OF April or the first OF May, now appears
,ronerative TO complete the task In spite of the
,sr. that the Legislature has been sitting more
than G month. not a single bill has been intro
sucea following out the recommendations Of the
charter Revision Commission and little infor-
nation is 10 be obtained as to what legislation
VIII follow the labors Of this body. The New
York Senators and Assemblymeu who have
been holding secret caucuses on Tuesday even
,nrs have thus far confined their attention
merely 20 the Police and Bureau of Elections
hills, and il is learned that the question of
school legislation is not to be discussed at all
Evidence Of the discord OF sentiment on school
nuestions between the Manhattan and Brook
1yn Republicans is TO be seen in the introduc-
tion OF a school bill by Senator Audett. OF Kings
countv This measure providing for borough
vule in public education. is directly counter 10
-he opinions of the Manhattan contingent. The
Audett bill Is bound. therefore, 10 give rise TO
spirited controversy in the Senate Cities Com
-nIttee 10 which il has been referred. Some
that the bin has little il any chance OF passage.
Another 'csuse Of war" between the Man
haitian and Brooklyn contingents is the ques-
tion Of economy in the government Of New
yorl, The Manhattan men have been heard
10 announce that the legislation most needed
by the greater city is that OF retrenchnlent' the
cutting down Of long payrolls, the checking or
salary grab" bills. the consolidation Of depart
rnents and the discharge OF useless and ezpen-
sive employees The Brooklyn men for the most
part voice no such sentiment. They appear 10
think that II there is any extravagance II is all
bounded by the North and East rivers. Many
Of them are so Independent CT the caucuses that
they have introduced bills counter 10 the spirit
Of economy. thus increasing salaries Of Kings
County officials, authorizing claims Of en-
ployes against the city. establishing new courts
end providing for extensive street improve
rents al the expense Of the municipality
BILLS FOR BIG OUTLAWS.
Striking examples Of such legislation are the
hills OF Assenblymen Weber and De Graw. OF
Pings Coun-v one rroviding for new court
in that county with annual salary list Of
$4,000, and the other authorizing claims 70 the
amount Of S26. .6S6 20 for sixteen tax assessors
az the old city Of Brooklyn Mr.. De Graw also
IS pushing a bin which viii compel the city to
vacate all buildings now rented for judicial
purposes and erect new structures at cost con-
servatively placed al 81 500 oao Assemblyman
Remsen has several pills for street i:nprove-
,nsnts and parks in Brooklyn. The one for the
improvement Of Bedtord-ave. is now being rap
idly advanced
The only important New-York bills which have
been advanced with any great degree Of dis
patch are the Police bill. which passed the As
ssmbly last Tuesday. and which the Mayor
gives a hearing tomorrow; the Bureau OF Elec-
fions bill which the Senate Judiciary Commit
tee win report on Tuesday; the Morgan bill, en-
abling New-York 70 obtain water supply. and
the bill abolishing the Special Jury system. The
last two bills viii pass the Assembly and be sent
70 the Senate this week OF these four meas
ures, the Bureau Of Elections bill has occasioned
the greatest amount Of work in its framing. II
has been reoast several times and its newest and
latest form was only agreed upon after a long
caucus Of the New-York delegation. Even now
81 is not acceptable TO many because Il places
what IS considered too great and arbitrary
power in the hands of Tammany Mayor. The
bill now provides for bipartisan bureau Of four
members, each at a salary of $1,000. 10 be ap-
pointed by the Mayor. and TO hold Office for two
years The appointments are TO be made from
2 list presented by the chairman OF the Repub-
iican and Democratic parties. two being from
each party. a commissioner can be removed
by the Governor on charges. The bin aboshing
vigorous opposition OF the Democratic minority
and OF some Republicans, although recommend
I'd by Governor Odell, who said that its passage
would net the city annual saving Of S17,500.
j is expected that Senator Grady will attempt
10 kin the bin in the Senate. The bill viii prob
ably pass nevertheless
sTRANAHAN PROMISES ACTION
The concurrent resolution OF Mr.. Morgan.
which is closely associated with HIS Municipal
Water Supply bill. and which provides that debts
incurred by New-York City in obtaining water
supply shall not be included in the debt limit.
viii also be passed by the Assembly and sent to
the Senate this week
Because OF the tardiness with which charter
revision legislation is being prepared for intro
nucuon, II has been said that IL is the purpose
of the Republican p-rty leaders To adjourn
without the enactment Of any important bills
Members of the minority have frequently been
heard 10 say that the Republicans were so sure
az winning at the next Mayoralty election that
they were not going 10 lop of the branches Of
patronage in advance by any economy measures
such statements are lstly denied by Senator
Grammar and Assemblyman Kelsey chairmen
of the Cities committees in the upper and
lower houses, which will have the consideration
OF al charter revision bills Senator Stranahan
SAID on Friday in reference 10 such legislation:
myself have been too busy 70 study the
chaTter revision questions vet but will attend
20 ms work as soon as possible. which will be
York and Buffalo Police bills are out Of the
way, there viii be no further delay"
Assembyman Kelsey said that the charter re-
VISION problems would be studied with all due
care, and that improper haste in their consider
auon would be unwise. He intimated also that
the session would not adjourn until Suitable
legislation was secured. Since an these hills
must go 10 the Mayor IL IS reasona BILE 70 eynect
MAT the Legislature, 10 secure their enactu1ent
VIII not adjourn until comparatively late date
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.