New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-02
The Wreckage at Albany.

the present Republican controlled Legis-
Iat,,re. II has been not alone futile. Many
of its acts have been vicious. 1t has
heaped up a reckoning which the party
will find little pleasure in meeting in cam
paign time.
For three months the lawmakers have
devoted themselves TO careful scrutiny
of the state payrolls and the civil list, not
In praiseworthy efforts TO achieve econ
omy, but to make sure that no Job, how
ever remote, escaped their clutches. They
have passed ripper bills" as crude rs
anything "Murphy's boys" ever undertook.
Forgetful Of the fate which overlook
Tammany for its job grabbing, the Re-
publican Legislature has duplicated the
Democratic record in that respect. Yet
while Tammany stole the Court of Claims
for the patronage, it passed the work
mems compensation act. While Tammsny
foisted on the state, for the sake Of the
Jobs and allied political considerations, a
ponderous, disreputable, extravagantly
EXPENSIVE elections system, 1t also placed
on the statute books statewide direct
primary law and Massachusetts, ballot
law. Tammany gave New York modern,
enlightened labor code. even if Tammany's
bosses did take advantage of the oppor-
tunty to load the bureaus with heelers.
Having offended the intelligence and
sense of propriety of every independent
voter. Of every young man willing to be.
Republican but not willing to be politi-
cal spokesman. the Republicans now IN
charge at Albany have not had the fore
SIGHT to seek to balance their machine &C
tivities by real service to the community.
After having caucussed on repeal of
the full crew law the majority has aban-
doncd that position for '"compromise"
which will not be satisfactory either to
the labor union lobbyists who first placed
that i'll -advised law on the statute books or
to the railroads and the public suffering
under its operations.
The majority has passed, in spite Of
charges of scandalous import, and the
Governor has signed direct settle
ment" amendments to the workmen's
compensation law, the effect Of which
will be practically to emasculate that
splendid statute. That is the Republican
party in the Legislature, for the benefit, 1t
has openly been charged, Of the casualty
companies now writing compensation in
surance, has adopted a policy likely to
restore dickering between employers and
employes-to bring back the worst evils
Of the days Of the ambulance chaser and
the settlement out of court" Challenged
70 investigate the origin and backing of
the chic' bill, the legislative leaders,
placing discretion far ahead Of valor,
SYSTEMATICALLY refused to do So
Hand and hand with this must 90 the
presentation of the notorious cannery bills
measures which for the sake Of few
greedy cannery operators would restore the
unlimited hours Of labor, days, nights and
Sundays, which used to fiji the Gamers
tills at the expense Of human sweat and
blood. Nor should various other bills to
scuttle the labor laws-bills which would
permit twelve-hour day for women fac
tory workers, bills which might help to
bring about another Triangle fre-be
overlooked Nor can New York City be
expected TO forgive, or forget, the open
and ostentatious antagonism to any meas
ure desired by the city administration, or
to any bill which would benefit the city,
even when not specifically labelled a
Mitchell bill"
Such is the record Of the Legislature up
to date Governor Whitman, looked to by
the public as a leader to be trusted in
spite of the reactonary influences which
pushed his nomination and contributed to
his election, has been Of no avail. He has
lacked the ability or the courage to take
command of the situation and bring into
it some order, some decency, some heed to
public interests and public demands. He
has lacked even the strength to save his
own lecislation-the tax reform bill, rep
resenting the sole affirmative policy ne
has enunciated so far, having been amend
ed until its passage in its present shape
will benefit the public very little.
Is this the kind Of accounting the Re
publicans desire to render to the people,
whom they profess to serve? II so, 1t is
penny-wise, pound-foolish policy. The vot-
ers want no Republicanism of this brand.
For their individual good and for the sake
90 th. oraat partv thew renresent these