New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-16
MUCH GOOD ACCOMPLISHED
CLOSE OF LEGISLATURE.
Among Important Bills Educational,
La5e's Delay and JerOme's.
GBr TELEGRAPH TO ruE rHrBUxE. ]


Albany. April 1j.-Republican leaders Of both
houses in the closing hours of the session to-day
declared that the Lewis Wainwright Educa-
tiOnal bill. unifying the work Of the Regents and
the Department of Public Instruction. and the
subsequent election of DR.. Andrew S. Draper
commissioner. would be the chief claim Of the
present legislature history. Not less striking
in it's effect on New-York City will be the many
measures passed TO remedy the cOngested con-
dition of the courts Of that city. and generally
grouped under the name Of the Laws Delay
Commission bills.
The most sensational achievement Of this ses-
sion the passage. almost entirely by Re-
publican votes. OF the Jerome Garfield Gam
bling bill. after an exciting and stormy debate
One of the important enactments Of the present
legislature is the new automobile law Senator
Hill and Assemblyman Cocks introduced a
measure. which passed both houses. which col
Iects. certifes and fOrmulates existing laws IN
this regard IN the State. the country and
I'm Europe. Speed limitations are fixed at ten
miles hour IN cities. fifteen IN less thickly
settled districts and twenty miles IN country
roads, and q fine of S1OO is fixed for violation OF
this or other portions Of the new law.
A levy contest over the custody OF the Jumel
Mansion. urged by Senator Grady for the Colo
NAL Danes and AssembIyman NewcOmb for the
Daughters OF the American Revolution. ended
in a drawn battle after exciting hearings IN
which the feminine equation a striking fac
tor. The measure as finally passed leaves It to
the Park Commissioner 10 decide the custody
of the mansion.
HOME RULE MEASURES PASSED.
The question OF home rule was one Of the
chief topics Of interest at the present session.
and three distinct measures were passed In
creasing materially the home rule powers OF tins
Board of Aldermen and commissioners Of New
vrbo asftO oS hon ruIA
was thoroughly investigated and reported on by
/ Senator EIsberg IN the OF the session.
As further evidence OF the wish Of the Cow
ernor and the Republican majority to respect
the rights and liberties Of the people OF New
| York City many measures were killed solely on
/ the request Of the Mayor. and a very consider
able number Of measures passed at his request
Bills like the Laws Delay Commission measure
were amended frequently in order 10 meet the
suggestions of the local authorities. and IN their
| final form received the votes OF all except the
Brooklyn Democrats In the Senate and their
/ upstate Democratic friends.
AS Is the usual case in every legislature, the
I list Of measures that failed is impressive. No
| single measure will be more generally regretted,
in all probability. than the Judges Pension bill.
| which occasioned the only serious division IN
| the party ranks Of tine majority at this session
Suppressed once as the result Of the vote in a
| party caucus. the bin passed the Senate in
slightly different form and perished in the As
| sembly Rules Committee. a similar fate attend
/ ed the Elsberg Rapid Transit BILL for which
/ Governor OdeI provided emergency message.
| which insured its passage through the Senate.
/ but the opposition OF the Rapid Transit Com
mission and the fact that the city administTa-
ton made no effort 70 urge it's passage in large
| measure explained the failure Of the Assembly
Rules Committee to report it. despite the urgent
| appeal Of the Citizens Union leaders. who sup
| ported il.
/ GOVERNOR HELPED KILL. BAD BILLS
Widespread criticism Of a number Of meas
| ures of various descriptions typifed by the Elm
St grab bill created considerable excitement at
| various periods during the session. but the COM
/ bined influence of the Governor and the Repub-
| rcan leaders effectuaIIy defeated the passage
| OF the larger share of the bad measures. The
| five streeo railroad bills drawn by counsel for
/ the New-York City Railroad Company never
| emerged from committee in the Senate and
/ were withdrawn second reading in the As
/ sembly. An overwhelming Republican majority
/ crushed the Voting Machine bill IN the Assem-
/ bly,. and only the concerted support Of the Tam
| many and Brooklyn Democrats made possible
/ the passage OF the East River Gas bill and the
| Niagara Power Company bill The veto by the
/ Governor Of the latter measure has been freely
predicted. and Mayer Mcclellan is wrestling with
| the former
| The only other measure which called for pro-
/ test from the representatives and the public OF
/ New-York was the J. p. Smith BILL limiting the
/ water supply of New-TOrk City by protecting
/ certain communities IN Duchess County.
/ Charges OF RamapO lodged against this
measure. but never proved. and the general
/ opinion exists here that however. evil hl its
/ effect upon New-YOrk City. the measure is
! simply one OF self-preservation with those ir-
terested in its passage and there is no charge OF
| lobby against this measure. which also awaits
thorough airing at a public hearing before the
| Governor.
Tammany opposition to an anti-policy bin IN
troduced by Assemblyman Prentice IN behalf Of
/ Captain F. Norton GOddard's society indicated
/ the attitude Of the rank and file OF Tammany
/ leaders. and the defeat by them OF the measure
! furnished striking contrast with the passage
| by Republican votes OF the Jerome bill
MORTGAGE TAX BILL FAILURE
The failure OF the Bostwick Mortgage Tax bin
was disappointment to the Neyv-York City Re-
publican members. who made determined fight
for the measure. District Attorney Jerome was
further assisted by the Republican Legislators
| by the passage of his BILL introduced by As
| semblyman Prince. and aimed to correct abuses
in the labor world revealed In the trial and con-
/ viction OF Sam Parks last summer Through
| out the session there were many ruTnors OF a
proposed legislative investigation OF the affairs
/ and methods of the United States Shipbuildins
/ Company. but. as was consistently indicated in
/ The Tribune. no serious effort was ever made to
| bring this about
Excise legislation in the Sunday opening form
was confined to two bills. the familiar Jerome