New-York tribune., 1909-06-22
THEIR ALBANY RECORDS
iC. u. SITS LEGISLATORS.
Many "Inefectiue," Unfit" or
"Bad" IN City's Representation.


custom. it gave sheep and goats alike chance TO
look over rs record and enter objections 10 any
items which seemed unjust. Most Of rsOEh breeds
declined 10 bother with record but some items
were modified after those who appeared had had
their chance to give their side Of the controversy
This report presented by the committee on leg
islation. Of which J o Hammitt was secretary and
-zhe Albany representative, does not mlnce words
II finds a very fair proportion Of the city's legis
sstors Ineffective unfit bad 4 few. on
sfle other hand. took such course as TO commend
Them the legislative committee, and their rec
ords We're commended highly and they are recon-
-nen6ed for election
(To Judge from the iteTnzed records. the Citizens
Union appears have based fits estimate Of the
effectiveness Of citys representatives, chiefly on
the position Of the legislators on the direct nom
rnations and Public Service commissions legislation
the measures Of most general importance present
ed al the last session-and on the West Side grab
bin" the Grady bil giving TO the New York Cen
-ral perpetual franchise for various streets along
-7He West Side: the teachers salary bill the three
sflatcon bill and other local measures
"a few OF the important members come IN
gaor especial eKcoriation. Senator Grady. for in
-srance. who with Senator John Rafnes, engineered
ere death Of the direct nominations bill In the
tSenate blocked the confirmation of Professor COOK
szs member Of the State Highway Commission
AEsrd opposed various Hughes measures, is charac-
sszr8zed as 'nomfnaly minority leader, but in fact
"a principal in the bipartisan combine controling
trfae Senate" He continued 10 prove himself OF
great value 70 special interests. Also. he forced
massage Of the NJ York Central West Side grab
hbiil"
Senator McCarren is a -'shrewd and experienced
Legislator advocating private interests against me
rpublic- welfare This year he blocked the bill
sEtrerlethenng the Public Service commissions law.
Senator Christy Sullivan IS undesirable ana |
s5-vslueiess member" while his cousin, Big Tim
'yofed against public interest on important issues
xyssnd as in former sessions, continues 10 be one
zf the most undesirable and dangerous members
As Py and large. the Republicans from this CITY
@eeer. by The unions report 10 have made better
records than the Democrats But one Repuohcan
ssEeverlev R Robinson Assemblynan from the Zlh
-55istrict,- reused the committees ire The report
ssaid Of him:
BEVERLEY r ROBINSON t2epublican, &t5 |
stc tsT,o1 AT = te @ R5Ifsis1 Of P9bo
service corporations and active opponent OF nlIls
Vigorously supported New York Central West side
grab: opponent Of primary reform Eoteo aealII5e e
saJlle other bills Though personally honest YET
Through the power Re derives from important com
sgrittee assignments he exercises paItcHaIy PEI per-
fzrove Of public service should be abandoned
- In general the report says:
OF the Senators who have had previous expert
ence either house Of The Legislature, Senators
sfy comoe95sbIe 959 tiu and vuabe service and
Senator'S Brough. Schulz and Wagner have a5so
acter Of most Of the Democratic representatives
from this CITY recent years il is distinct gain
70 have as representatives from Democratic dis
Ericts IN Manhattan and The Bronx men Of so much
OF the new members. Senator Bayne has given
b L. icy ,, aISo ee f s9 t 81 7sIi, f Sen. Sen
aIor Grady. voted against the New York Central
West Side grab. ana Senators Burlingame and |
Stilwen deserve credit for some Of their votes.
Senators McCarren and Grady continue he
serious menace 70 good government, and there can
The Legislature the public interest viii be subordl-
AIsnus c D. suTliran and T. D. Sullivan are thor
eughly unfit The continuance in ofice Of these six
who have had experience than from new members
senators FraWley and harte measured by proper
Standafds. are clearly wanting in public usefulness
GledhiL and Kissel-have made bad records.
lower house Of the Legislature Assembymen Ben !
nett Green and Lee made the best records, and
Sargent Todd and Toonlbs made records cIearjy, |
above the average Assemblsrlen Bohan Francis |
and Hoey have each on conspicuous occasions given
valuable service; though each has at other times
stood against the public interest Assemblymen
Bates and ioodsreed are two first-year members
VINO thoueh there are serious flaws IN their rec
ords; have given promise Of future usefulness Il
tive service mas al times been ,-ausbe-I snaban
and Spielberg-should be reelected Thus New
York city would return TO the Legislature the best
OF ITS experienced representative Yet if con-
spieaousls able men Of vigorous public spirit and
l,e nominated t1ev ought 70 he sDnporta5 agsinst
Sny OF the above named. except Bennett. Green
i mig 10 Commend and ,rb - s tl5Le
Il is unfortunate that such service as tbeZ bsVa
rendered this year is about the average Of service
All the other New York City Assenbiynaen should
pubic 3 |
senhiynen De Groot Foley. Murphy. Robinson |
zn6 Smith the more dangerous because OF |
their experience and influence. Any lingering hope |
that Assemblyman Robinson would redeem his bad
record OF last year and represent the desires O
progressive and intelligent citizenship has been |
oesJroNeu by ms course thus year, and mis- official
career certainly ought be terminated Assembly |
Eaan Smith has also disappointed the expectations
q tfloSe VINO peneNed ne would make q proper |
use OF his increased influence. Assemblyman Ward |
who made good record last year. disappointed |
In the large class Of legislators who though
not themselves effective. Yet by their votes fur
Feeef efEal
reforms and pass had bills, A AssembIyren |
Brennan. Clarke Cuvillier Donnelly. Fay, tieoghe-
gan. Goldberg. HerTick. Jacob Levy. McCue. Oliver !
Senner. Schmidt. SciItts and Silberman. The !
other New York City Assemblymen- Raumann /
Brown. Csushlan. Eagleton. Farrar Gillen C;luck /
ssranbsrd, Hsckett. Joseph. f.achTnan a ] lew |
McEigott, Mckecn. ONeil, Sheridan. Stein and /
Voss-shoud retired from the Legislature for !
reasons stated In the summaries of individual rec
oros given below.
Some Of the typical analyses Of records follow.
LOUIS =. CUTILLIER Dem srh District
New AefkD- Introduced mass OF foolish bills 1
eEeenlng 20 lose interest In his legislation |
fSltef Us INTRODUCTORY hSG been published n the
lrewspapers- OF l7o bills he introduced i. two
years oily one passed and none became law Rec 4
Worthless a legislator.
WILLIAM a DE GRoOT CRep. 9Th District
s9ueensDN eJed against public interest nearly ali
important issues & In fye years Of service has de
JOHN II. DONNELI.Y Dem 18th Dtstrfc, |
kngs)-Third term: continued inactive and useless !
Except for his votes against public interest on i'm
Dortant Issues. his district virtually unrepre-
= JOHN T EAGIEToN Dem. 5th District New
year. although voted against pJblic interes, o.
several Important issues Introduced home rule
and other objectionable bills.
JOHN ) HERRICK Dem. 18Th District New
Fork)Utterlg useless as legislator. His district
,Niftnaliv unrepresent@o except by his against
nUeiic interest important
JAMES J HoEY Dem 18th District, New York
graz voted for bin strengthening Public Service {