New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-11
THE AssEnRLY coMMITTEEs.

Sneaker Wadsworth has accomplished sun
stantial and uplifting reorganization or lhe AS
sembly. The new committees announced ias'
evening betoken much more than a shuttle
They indicate new and better spirit IheS
promise the control of legislation by clean men,
in harmony with the reform leadership of Gov
erpor Higgins At the head of some or the
most important committees men who command
complete public confidence have replaced men
whose identification with disrusted measures
and methods had shaken belief in their Iallh-
full cooperation in reform work. Even WheFe,
using the material at his hand, the Speaker
has felt obliged to leave in their chairmanshlps
some men of similar reputation. he has so ar
ranged the membership OF these committees as
TO give assurance that they cannot be made
the instruments for rushing through bad bills
or sitting the demands of enlightened public
opinion.
An Assembly whose dominating spirits are
men like Mr.. Moreland, Mr.. Wainwright, Mr.
Cox Mr. Agnew, Mr.. Hooker. Mr. Prentice
and Mr.. Wadsworth himself is vast improve
ment, we may fairly say, on any preceding AS
sembly for q generation. The 'housecleaning
has been real, and it is not less effective for
good because it has been done with discretion
and with care TO preserve working organlza-
ton capable of carrying out reforms, rather
than to make merely sensational changes which
disappointment of the session. The Speaker
has made some compromises, but no large body
Of lawmakers was ever handled for good with
out compromise. The federal Constitution was
compromise. Speaker Wadsworth has made
compromises to secure harmony and efficiency
which means. not the sacrifice. but the preserVa-
ton of the essentials of reform.
AS was generally expected Mr. Moreland be
comes floor leader and chairman of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means. That is an excel
lent selection He IS able and clean. So are
Mr.. Cox of Erie who becomes head of the
Judiciary Committee, and Mr. Hooker, of Gen.
esee, who succeeds Mr.. Bedell as chairman of
the important Railroad Committee which has
long been a hospitable nursery for jobs. These
three men candidates for Speaker, and
had the choice fallen on any one of them it
would have been considered a promise of re-
form. The same thing may be said of Mr..
Wainwright, who heads the Committee on Banks
also strategic point. New-York City has rea-
son TO be gratiied at the assignment of Mr..
AGnew TO the craftsmanship of the Committee
on Water Supply Gas and Electricity. Proba-
bly, no other bills before the legislature will so
closely touch the vital interests of this city as
those which will be referred to its considera-
ton. Even the Cities Committee itself is prob
ably less important TO The Insurance Com.
mttee can be counted upon to carry to its logical
conclusion the work of the Armstrong inyestiga-
ton. Mr.. Rogers was a member of the Arm
strong committee were several of his col
leagues. Mr. Rogers was ranked as an instrtl-
ment of the old system, and the selection of Mr.
Cox would probably have been more com
mended by the general public but, as former
leader and the ranking AssembIyman on the
Armstrong committee. Mr.. Rogers had valid
claims 10 recognition. New York CITY will be
disappointed at failing to get the craftsmanship
of. the Cities Committee. but there. too, prece-
dent stood in the way. Mr. Burnett gave his
adhesion to the reform movement. and no good
parliamentary reason existed for deposing him.
natural and proper as it is for the great cities
of the state 10 desire committee of more met
ropolitan character. Mr.. Prentice on that com
mittee, however will ably defend this cty's
interests. and there is every reason TO believe
that as a whole the committee will treat New
York we'll
The all important Rules Committee is the
final evidence and safeguard of ''houseclean-
ing thoroughness and good faith. There the
Speaker has associated with himself AIR More
land Mr. Prentice and MIR Hooker for the
majority. Such a control means the death of
grab and a fair field for worthy remedial
legislation. The Speaker has performed his diff
ficult task with great tact. an eye to practical
progress and an obviously sincere determination
to insure an honest and creditable session.