New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-16
LEGISLATURES RECORD.
FREE FROM scandal.
Much CreditQbIc Work Accom-
plishcd, SagS Lieutenant Governor.

Albany. APRIL 10 CSpeciaD.-Lieutenant Gov
e-nor Higgins. whose standing g. citizen and
Republican is such as TO give his utterances
great weight said tonight that the work or the
legislature had been creditable and that the
session had been as free from scandal as any
In his legislative experience. In an interview
with a correspondent OF The Tribune he spoke
as follows
With ell due respect for the trustworthiness
and soundness of Judgment Of the gentlemen
representing the Democratic press, am II ~
say that the record OF the session has been
credita BILE TO the Senators, and. for that matter
to the Assemblymen. too.
have been a member or the Senate for sew
eral years and am glad to say that the senate
whose session is just finished compares very
favorably I'm point of ability ana hohest Ze go,
for the welfare OF the commonwealth with any
of fits predecessors. large number or useIui
bills have been passed and most or them VIII
become laws. The Governor can be depended
upon TO discriminate between good and pau
bills, and the people can rest assured that no
crooked bill viii receive his approval There
has been considerable unjustifiable criticism OF
bills that were introduced. There are always
had hills Sometimes they are intended as SIM
pie strikes and sometimes they are backed Dy
such influential interests that defeating them Is
difficult
do not at ell agree with the gentlemen who
denounced the Smith water bill as bad meas
ure It's merits were fully discussed. and the
people IN favor OF the measure believed INA,
the claims Of the Duchess people outweighed
the interests Of the city OF New-1 ork. fet-
haps by the time the water is needed the city
officials will be able to make an equitable ar
rangement. whereby New-YOrk Will get all the
drinking water that should be spared by the
residents OF Dutchess County
EPIOREs PASSAGE OF NIAGARA Bill.
The passage Of the Niagara Water Power bin
IN its present shape Is 10 he deplored Nhlie II
IS less harmful than its enemies think. sim
think the States interests are not sufficiently
protected.
he read carefully before il Is severely con-
temned. There certainly must be great ad-
vantage to the people of the city IN getting me
gasworks across the East River. II may De
that the city's interests are not sufficiently
guarded. Il should be borne In mind that all
important legislation IS a sort of compromise.
We seldom get law just exactly right. Where
large corporate interests are involved rational
men expect trouble in compelling n recognition
OF the public's rights. The Senators and AS
semblymen do not always get all that they de-
sire IN the shape Of law. Ordinarily they do
the best they cam and the net result is a com
promise I referred the Remsen bill TO the
Cities Committee The Senate transferred IT to
Miscellaneous Corporations. II the Governor
finds that the bill all things considered. is detri-
mental 10 the city's interests, doubtless he VIII
veto IT,
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION BILLS.
I do not at all indorse the violent and denun-
ciatory attitude OF Messrs. King and Dumont
on account Of their failure to get passed their
Railroad Commission bills Their disappoint-
ment does not warrant an eXtravagant abuse
Of the Legislature. BY using harsh epithets the
gentlemen in charge or the ASSOCIATIONS Legls-
lattye affairs do not help matters any. and at
the sarne time they arouse passions and prc1u-
dices that may prove detrimental to good gov
eminent at some future time. me power OF
Tnandamus asked for by the Merchants Associa-
ton certainly is a good deal out Of the ordinary.
The question Of the constitutionality or a law
giving this mower would AT once be questioned,
ana until the law was passed upon by the court
Of last resort the association would not be able
to do much OF anything under sIch an act-
while the critics are scodng the legislature
for its short couinEs why not, in a spirit OF far
play look al the vast amount OF really eihclent
work done- Even a casual inspection OF the rec
ord will snow that the legislators have done n
large amount Of work in "A short time, and that
there has been no waste Of public moneys. The
finances of the state are in good shape, and as
for the bills which are dangerous. as said be-
fore they are with the Governor, and he can
be depended on 10 make proper disposition OF
them.