New-York tribune., 1906-07-06
cts CENSURE S0L0NS
Can Legislators Neglected City's Ia
.srssts-Praise Senator Page.

..,ion with review Of the last leglsla-
y oo .o, ~ Albany, giving much praise 10 the
rss 4-,5 Assembly under Speaker WadswOrth.
io' s,sl report OF The committee on legislation
iss ,,iaens Union. issued yesterday, contains
q .n sesre OF the legislators from this city for
s--tP ,s disregard of the city's interests. A
ues.eS- -,cial and private bills salary increases
fooa ,5- ans pension bills were introduced and
caiN a., NJ committee bysthese legislators, the
hoas bv the useful Legislative courtesy 70
s..rr,snt Of the city. Many OF these measures
y. .,.,oea By Governor Higgins
Vtle -s,o,t which is signed by the entire com
~ - which Julius Henry Cohen is chairman
NJ --.,is H. whitney. the Albany representative
az g-s,izens Union, secretary, treats in detail
q - ,,ous important measures affecting New
~ ~. -.bich were presented at Albany. Senator
~. 4, commended highly for obtaining the pas
PAS ,sa so-cent Gas bill. as also is Senator Els
- - r. pressing TO :,assage against much opposi-
p"s -. Papid Transit bill The committee e2-
" = much regret that an adequate ballot reform
-. was not passed. though several were in-
n.s,.,s and considered by the committees The
-. s-snley Eleventh Avenue bill flls a long felt
-. on The west Side. The Fowler Compromise
go bnl guaranteeing Indirect damages TO prop
-. suners deprived OF their rights to afford this
-sfer supply, Will be OF much service 60 the
-. the report says. but should have been supple
.,,ea by TIE passage of other bills repeating the
80 and Burr acts excluding the city from
11-sebess and Suffolk counties as a water supply.
,rncb cessure is expressed because OF the pas
- ~ certain Objectionable charter extension
- among which the report classes the Rhine
- rbiDepeck Railroad bill Failure to pass the
ss.7ansn Anti-Hoding Company measure is la
,1,sa while Senator Cooper. OF Brooklyn, is
- ro,ndlv for his Ferry bill ana his Salary
Increase ana Pension bills
ogtbe Legislature in general the report says
Tbe record Of the Senate was, practically, bet
ie than las5 year us leT%Sonnel % vas, WIN m @ 5w9
gee n The records OF individual Senators over
~ wear, Ihey may he ascribed 10 the hopes and
.--s Of the forthcoming election.
ne Assembly radically different from last
car borh In personnel ard organization, though
n 10th years its record 10 the defeat of bad
lsgislation commendable and practically undis-
.fs1uishahle The causes for this however were
-5fsly different Last year an autocratlc power,
"a reasons Of its own. kept the Assembly record
Jsan This year Speaker elected. who
s---ointed for his committee chairmen men, as a
-ae Of individuality and independent principles.
s5of lsrEely To influence the action Of the Assem-
sy This house was. as it has not been for years.
legislative body that was left TO express its own
mind Il is very unfortunate, however, that its
through. after the hour OF nnal adjournment had
gcusily been passed. of the judiciary Increase bill
fof the sth District
The city members are criticised in this fashion;
great deal is heard about legislative interfer--
snce with the city and .hayseed" legislation, yet
sn examination shows that city members intro
duced practically all the legislation that affects the
city. and that they could stop it if they SO desired
This year the Cities Committee OF the Assembly
greater city yet the surprising thing was that al
most any special or private bill could be Teporteo
city members had great mass Of special and pri.
rsis bills and that they iog-roled them out Of
committee. On one day more than twenty bills
were passed by the Assembly OF special application
STATE member called public attention to the fact
ihsi they all by city members, had met no
ihst upstate members had had nothing actively TO
Do with the pills On another day a number of
again public attention was called by an upstate
ben spoken ny any representatives OF the city.
This seems TO be the evil that most needs cor
sad iIi-considered charter amendments that are
annually poured upon the Legislature by members
brief statement OF various classes Of these bills
nay 6s q @ neTes - Many any OF them are for re re-
laVe been properly and legally disciplined. 1t
nan is dismissed for him TO seek reriai through
the courts or II by chance the trial commissioner
s then appeai IS had to te Iegslsture Id Ia fe
dIba rehearing or retrial. Such of these bills as
Governor Higgins. Another class comprises salary
Increases both ss TO offices now under the control
ne Board of Estimate as 10 fixing Of salaries as
vel as 70 the county oftices where the board now
senate Cities Committee introduced a bill giving
me city complete authority over all salaries paid
By the city. This bin has met the determined
gpauon or the Brooklyn Republican members.
who Seem 10 think that home rule for Brooklyn is
class Of bis These relate generaliy to claims
sgainst the city for supplies furnished under inn
tFoduced near the close of the session. after the
rms for hearings has passed, and are rushed
through. Such Of them passed this year were
$50 vetoed by Governor Higgins. Another large
class is Of bills which provide for the performance
q duties which already entirely within the
discretion Of the city within the power of
9me city board 10 direct. It is particularly to
oe regretted that there should be such resort 10
Aioany al the present time when the present Board
@ Aldermen has indicated a readiness TO take ad-
vantage OF the extraordinary grant Of power given
] py the charter. Mandatory bills also form
1fge class but Mayor Mcclellan has adopted the
We excellent rule of vetong mandatory meas
ueE. hoNeNer excellent they NAV