The sun., 1909-02-21
.SEN. G. ON Law BREAKING
CHOOK FULL OF HORSE LORE
NOW, HE SAYS,

Thanks to an Instructive Senate Session
He Yearns for . Government OF
just Average Men whom Keep Plug.
Eing Along for Their Own Districts.
The Fordham Club, celebrating its
twenty-irst anniversary last night with
dinner IN its clubhouse at Fordham road
and Morris avenue. had as speakers T. T.
Ansberry, Congressman from Ohio; Wal
ter NJ Chandler. Senator Thomas +.
Grady and Comptroller Herman A. Metz.
Senator Grady was down for the toast,
Our Lawmakers,' but he said he had
misread it and was going TO respond to the
toast -0ur Lawbreakers
Il have heard about the three depart
ments OF government he said THE
Executive-I supposed that his time was
to be taken up with the administration Of
the law. The Judges-they are some
punkins; and then comes the Legislature.
Recently It has appeared as II we could
get on without this department. Now
adays We are having official conferences
instead. called at Washington and Albany
to hear what the President and the Gov
ernor think ought TO be the law, an d
then we have little ratification meeting
afterward.
Il can't tel you the terrible possibilities
which may come from the legislation at
Albany. Iwant to put the responsibility
where IL belongs. There are thirty-six
men up at Albany that can't speak for.
put the emphasis on the thirty-six. They
are the responsible party, but they are
responsible as accessories after the fact.
They have misunderstood the Gov
ernors instructions once or twice. but
don't think they will misunderstood
them again
Senator Grady then proceeded TO have
fun with the matter Of the racetrack
bills. He said he didn't know much about
horses when he entered the Senate, but
that now he was full of the subject. He
reviewed the history of the racetrack
legislation. and then switched of to the
matter OF transportation problems in
New York city.
THE time was he said. when the
transportation wasn't such burning
question. The legislators used to go to
the railroad Offices and any question was
not settled-it was adjusted. Then a
man without the fear Of God in his heart
came along and put 1t into the State Con-
stitution that every lawmaker should pay
his own fare. That's why transportation
is burning subject now.
Mr.. Grady then proceeded to enunciate
what may be regarded as his ideal OF
government.
-I'll be sorry.' he said, when com
munities want the best lawyers for Judges
and the best fnanoier for a Comptroller.
IL wouldn't be a comfortable kind of gov
ernment TO live under. What We we're
intended to have was just an average
government. with lawmakers common
men with some Of the virtues and many
of the failings of the human race and who
will stand for what their district wants
regardless Of outside influences
Comptroller Metz gave one of his debt
limit talks with variations.
We've got what's good In this city |
now he said. Lets not change 1t. Talk |
ing about bosses and reformers don't
do any good. want an average admins
tration. have said before that refomer |
is boss with bellyache.'
Mr.. Metz repeated his arguments
against municipal ownership, Of subways. |
Others present besides the speakers
were James Butler. owner OF the Empire |
City track; William G. Bergen, who ts
known as the millionaire cop. former
Deputy Fire Commissioner Thomas W.
Churchill, John p. Dunn. 7. Joseph Dunn.
Ashbel Fitch, Thomas j. Higgins. p. II. |
II opkins. j. Fairfax Mclaughlin, Jr.,
Thomas J. McAianus, John j. Murray,
Thomas W. Whittle, secretary OF the Re
publican county committee. and Fer
nando Wood