New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-29
DECKS CLEAR FOR ACTION
RUSY ALBANY DAYS NOW.
Home Rule Programme Is Nearly
Ready-Bad Bills Up This Week.
[BI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I

By TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE-I
Albany. Feb. 2S.-With the arrangements for
the spring convention out Of the way, the edu-
cationaI unifcation measure passed and the
home rule programme fairly we'll outlined there
is every reason to believe that the next few
weeks viii be busy in legislative circles
Up to the present time the session has been no
more dilatory than preceding legislatures us
record Of bills passed exceeding that OF last
year. 1t was not until late last week that the
plans for home rule legislation assumed def
niteness which offered a prospect Of speedy ac-
ton on them by the legislature. Tomorrow
Senator Elsberg as a 'sub-sub-committee" of
the conference committee. will bring up three
home rule measures. which will probably be
introduced early in the week. One win extend
the powers Of the local authorities In regard to
increasing the number of the uniformed force in
both the Police and the Fire departments. An
other win permit the commissioners. on authori-
zatlon by the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tionment to rehear charges and reinstate MEM
bers Of their departments. an authority be-
Ieved by many to be vested In them now. but
not exercised. The third and most important
measure Will be one aimed to destroy the Ralnes
law hotel. by avoiding its evil features
The position Of the home rule friends OF the
Governor. correctly. it is conJectured rejecting
his own view is that the question OF Sunday
instance. They simply maintain that since
under the present law liquor IS sold legally on
Sunday, the legislation that is now necessary
is Of a kind that VIII remove the vicious sur
roundngs I'm which the traffic is at present con-
Quoted. The keynote Of this policy is the new
restaurant feature under consideration The
measure which Senator Elsberg will introduce
this week viii permit the selling OF liquor by
bona hde restaurants. II viii specify explicitly
what a bona fde restaurant should be, both as
to kitchen and similar details. Their position
was fairly outlined by a member OF the sub
committee last week. who said
Take an instance Of what e. Intended The Ter
race Garden Is restaurant 20 which many Ger
mans 20. 1t is entirely respectable place, and
should have 20 keen ten rooms IN order 70 sell
E4uor on sunday. When such places are able 70
hotel with all is notorious features, Will vanish
Il is now legal 90 sell liquor on sunday. and with
this Jaw the Republican party Is net intcrtsring
There is no proposition % any open sunday one
whit wider open than IL IS now.
AN INTERESTING WEEK LIKELY.
Tho present week f. sure 20 be interesting
from the fact that there VIII De hearings on
Tuesday and wednesday on many OF tho bad
bills OF the session First IN order and impor-
lance are the 1--WE measures introduced at the
request Of the New-York Street Railway Com
parry by Senator Wilcox and Assemblyman Be
dell These measures have been fully exposed
by The Tribune IN those dispatches. The Elm
50. grab IS by no means the most fragrant OF
the propositions that they contain. and tho gen
eraI alarm that has been sounded by the public
men and civic organizations Of New-Nork City
insures bitter fight against them one and all.
Then there arc two Wallace bills one introduced
by both Mr.. Wallace and Senator Wilcox. ap-
parently to revive old franchises. by remedying
certain defects or omissions IN their charters.
This measure was n small portion OF tho notori-
Gus wilcox omnibus grab bill" OF last session.
Then there is the second Wallace bill. the repa-
tiuon OF the notorious Foley Mullaney biz. de
feated largely hy the efforts OF Magistrate
Charles s. Whitman last year. This session Il
has acquired a new and additionally undesirable
provision. annulling the law with references to
overcharEe o. fare as well 20 n refusal TO give
transfer by removing the incentive 20 public
effort 10 secure redress.
The general feeling at the Capitol last week
was that the positive legislation OF the session.
substantial" was the word used all sides.
was to be expected Immediately. In substantial
legislation the first question 70 be dealt with is
the raising Of the necessary funds to pay for
the one thousand ton barge canal The Cow
ernor has I'm part outlined a method OF paying
in his message. He has not yet revealed the
method he has decided on FOR raising the money
but he has told his friends that ne knows
actly where he can put his hand on the money.
The Bostwck mortgage tax measure IS regarded
or the probable sources or ADDITIONAL IN
come. Others viii probably be revealed in the
next few weeks. With many bad bills 20 defeat.
and with certain definite legislation to accom-
plish. the remaining eight or ten weeks OF the
session promise 10 be crowded.
II IS likely that Senator Llsberg's bill. de-
signed to abolish the office OF coroner I'm New
York City, and to substitute therefor that o.
medical examiner, such exists in the New
England States. viii come up third reading
in the Senate tomorrow evening. Senator Els
berg believes that Il VIII be passed. Some OF
the features most urgently opposed last year
10y the coroners themselves have been modified.
so that the present cOroners viii hold office TO
the end OF their terms. This has mitigated some
OF the opposition.