New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-22
LEGISLATURE HARD HIT
Bracket and Merritt Score
Work Of Session.
FRISBIE IN ITS DEFENCE
Assembly Speaker Points to Con
servation Law and Income Tax
as Best Acts of 1911.

Albany. July 2.-Condemnation OF the
Legislatures work was made to-day by
Senator z. T. Bracket, minority leader in
the Senate, and Edwin Merritt, jr, who
holds a similar position in the Assembly.
The rush 70 get office, failure to keep
pledges Of economy. approval OF the In
come tax amendment and the many pri-
vate bills put through were the principal
points OF the Republican leaders attacks.
Daniel D. Frisbie. Speaker OF the Assem-
bly,. in his review Of legislative action, laid
stress on the conservation law as a piece
OF constructive legislation. He said the
Democrats had redeemed the pledges made
in the Rochester convention The new in
heritance tax measure. the cold storage
bill. insurance legislation and rchool bills
passed were other features Of the session
praised by the Speaker.
1t is not possible At this time" Nr.
Bracket said. TO speak in detail OF the
work Of this Democratic Legislature. An
analysis OF IT'S various acts undoubtedly
will be made afterward. Broadly stated,
but very truthfully stated. the great bulk
of the session has been occupied IN wild
scramble for the places. II ever party
was afflicted with hunger madness for o.
iceholding. IL is the present day Der1oc-
racy, and 40 We have had a session nearly
seven months long to enable them 70 pass
the legislation necessary 70 make the
changes"
Mr. Bracket then referred 70 the aboli-
ton of the state Highway Commission, the
State Water Supply Commission and the
Court Of Claims. all Of which bodies, ne
said, had been doing good work.
Compared to Van Buren's Day.
NO precedent for such political vandal-
ism can De found in the history OF the
state" Mr. Bracket said. certainly not
since the early reign Of Martin Van Buren,.
II IS a situation with which every Re-
publican may be satisfied from a party
point OF view. II he can only forget the
plight in which the poor old state is put
by such action. In platform and pre-elec-
ton pledges made by the Governor, a
promise Of the most rigid economy was
made When the footings are completed 1t
will be found that the promise has not
been made good" He continued:
Time would fail me 70 toll ot the food
of measures 10 render less erecuFe lne
LIQUOR tax law and 20 break down us re-
stralnts A word would fully describe any
attempts 10 make II more effective. L0ca,
Salaries everywhere have been equalzed
and always upward. Inc addluonaI pdt ,
dens imposed on the taxpayers OF the dlI-
ferent localities will aggregate an enormous
amount 49,, 4,
self on a suffering public nearly seven long
and weary months The expense OF Iills.
additional to that or session OF ptoPel
length will total tens Of thousands or DOL
lars But the expense is insignificant com
pared with the harm that has been wrought
In working out their plans Tor place anu
greed II may well be said the Legislature
Of 1911 will pass ont Of existence, II indeed
10 is allowed 70 ever DO that except Dy
the lapse OF the year, unwept unhonoreH
and unsung.
Merritt Raps Administration.
"-rbe Democratic administration Of 1911
has failed substantially IN every material
respect in fulfilling the just expectations
Of the people OF the state, without REGARD
10 party, that II would be an adminlstra-
ton conducted or sound business principles
and in the interests OF the taxpayers ana
the people Of the state" was the assertion
to-day Of Edwin Merritt, tr.. minority lead
ar OF the Assembly He said.
During the campaign preceding the cleo
ton of 1910. which gave the Democrats
mower IL WAS CndTRNl lUdA l44F cAPriANA
lures for state government under Repun-
Ican rule had been extravagant ana I'M
necessary and for objects not authorized
by the interests OF the people OF me stats
and reductions were promised. heSe
auctions were prOHi sed either for the pur
pose OF misleading the people or through
! Ignorance. The fact that the approprl-
alton and supply bills and almost al the
special bills are still IN the hands OF the
Governor makes ~ impossible 70 state
what the total appropriations Tor the cur
rent year will be. but u Is certain tney
will BE- substantially that or the preced-
ing year. notwithstanding all that has
been said about extravaganza and waste
by Republican administrations,
No irnproverent has appeared anywhere
IN the business methods or the Democrauc
administration, although much mas been
said in the way Of claim 70 superior nusl-
ness intelligence on the part of the pres
ent executive or the state.
During no time IN the history OF tne
state has party power been so ruthlessly
used for the purpose solely Of securing
Office and OF taking advantage or the eX-
istence Of temporary political power Tor
the purpose Of securing places and con
trolling the financial operations or the
state Legislating Republican, out If Of
five without regard 70 their efficiency ana
siuoplv for the purpose of making places
for Democrats has been carried on with
out regard 70 decency or the people IN
rerests
The Democratic party has pledged the
state 70 4 federal income TAX. o. Nu4|A
tax when levied by the federal government
The State OF New York will pay az least p
per cent Of the whole amount. This is not
so important as the fact that when TINS
amendment 70 the federal Constitution pc
comes operative the State OF New York
will have surrendered a considerable share
OF its independence and sovereign power
which II has possessed since the foundation
Of the Republic THIS was done following
the example Of the states in the Far West
and South Of smaller population and untnn-
portant from a business standpoint
Defending the Legislatures work. the
Speaker II the Assembly, Daniel D. FRS
bic. laid emphasis on the passage Of resolu-
tons favoring direct election OF United
States Senator's. ratifying OF the income
tax and passage Of the modified direct
primary bill. Mr.. Frisbie said.
One OF The greatest pieces OF construc-
tive legislation N the history Of the state
is known as the conservation law, passed
BY the Legislature on the strong recon-
u1euds-ion OF the Governor. and which FOL
lows the line Of the advanced Legislation
recently passed by Congress. New YORK
leads the way among all the states In us
determination 10 conserve, 10 protect ana
10 develop the water powers OF the state
70 derive therefron hundreds Of thousands
OF power units for the development OF me
industries OF the state whlcn IN turn VIII
bring into the treasury, az time goes on.
a vast revenue annually and VIII cut OF
a portion OF the tremendous tribute which
New York is paying 70 other states for
fuel II means rapid increase IN the
number 81 our productive industries and
the employment OF thousands OF additional
workmen.
The inheritance tax amendments which
were passed last year have resulted in
great loss IN revenue and have driven tax
abl. property from the state 20 the ex-
tent OF hundreds OF millions Of dollars
/ This Legislature has passed certain amend
ments which restore reasonable and Just
rates OF taxa don upon Inheritance and will