New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-09
OPPOSE QUICK ROLLCALL.
COMMITTEES Too Poscerfm, Legis-
lathe :7Oters' Association Thinks.

ALBANY Aue S-Tbe report Of the Legislative
Voters Association % the state OF New York. set
ting forth the events Of the legislative session
and the individual service Of legislators. for the
information Of every legislative constituency in the
state. is the press and will be issued 10 the
public next week. The report contains criticism
Of the method Of legislative procedure IN force IN
this state This section Of the report advance
copies Of which were made public to-day, is in part
follows:
Attention must b. called n the loose methods by
which statutes made and TO the faulty legs-
spirit Of the constitution. fragrant disregard Of
the merits Of measures is an almost inevitable re-
Control over the fate Of important legislation is
pes o S the Ro H peonred by the consiit
ton rendered purely perfunctory Except ~
the senagars domnss hs o
latve business in the last DAYS If the session In
argued that it facilitates the work ~ the IL. Legs
nature This Il certainly accompshes Al the eA-
pense of consideration on the merits. . .,,-
Business is facilitated by the method OF qu nTs
the names Of three four and records the bill
passed by an arbitrary vote .,o : .o,s,o,,,rA
TO make record time in disposne Of bills nut ~
regsr5ing their votes II is only technical COM
pliance with Article III, Second 10 or the
entered on the journal contemplating no doubt
that the yeas AMI nays shaii actualiY ne IS 5
hoN tbey are recorded on the majority Of hills in
oiuding as rule those not particularly affecting
their districts ....,..s
The only real consideration Of most measures
takes place in the committees whose tavorsele re-
ports are usually eouyalept 70 fasoraole sooh ps
the houses In the committees tht S ~ a,
general control ~ the calendars. and such innu.
enoe that they are rsreiy ~ these Committee
chairmen. Who under ordinary conditions are the
In he last DAYS OF the session the Rules Com
mittee takes charge Of en- matters IN me ,o%T
t ~ ~ ,ba Assambv 5iscbsrsing The committee
force 3 hill out of Rules" The Rules Committee
consists Of the Speaker. the majority leader and
minority leader and one other member Of ne
cost 81 oentring in these six men the control or
legislation. -. -,
ness AZ the end ~ the session is different but has
nearly the same effect Of placing fev men in
continue their work until the end. but bills are
reported from committee and received from the
Assembly in such number that only those ad-
vsnced cut Of their order can he passed. This ad-
yancement may Re secured by unanimous Co a
but n one member objects the hill goes lnt" 50,
eral orders Since general orders is not reached
before adjournment. the bill is dead unless the
Rules Committee takes action The Rules con-
mitee consists i'm this case OF the majority leader
Finance Gommittee II can AZ anv time report
a rule drafted in such form as 20 take bill
Thus. Indirectly in the senate as directly in the
Assembly. the Rues Committee decide the
fate Of hills in the last end Of the session. when
the largest amount Of business is transacted in
II is quite true that the fate Of measure ~
great public importance is frequently settled by
the Lieutenant Governor In making his committee
assignments In the Senate and the Speaker I'm
ma king his Assembly assignments The Leuten-
ant Governor is expected 10 consult the majority
leader in making these assignments, and ordinarily
this custom has the support 81 the oreaniza ton
az the majority party. II centres in the majority
leader q wellugh impTARnahle power. The make
up 81 the committees may. IN the main, determine
the general character Of the legislation 10 he
passed during the session.
Altogether LIS hills introduced in the As
senbly and LIS hills in the Senate There we're
Sls duplcstes-that is bills introduced IN one house
which identical With bills introduced 10 the
other house in the same house by other mem
hers This reduces 1885 the total number ~
measures actually presented 10 the Legisla ture
II must he recognized that II Is physically inn
possible for every member give proper detailed
consideration tn each ~ these bills. The work
he divided among committees Committees
must have cha'rmen. IN more Jess responsible
control ~ their calendars Considerable reliance
must be placed upon the reports Of these commit
tees So much is in justification ~ the established
procedure