New-York tribune., 1922-08-01
Citizens Union
Attacks s Silent
Ones at Albany
Insists Legislators Should
Stand Up and Fight Bad
Measures and Not Be
Rubber Stamp Members
Party Roll Call Misused
Statement Declares That
Miller, Not Lusk, Was
Real Majority Leader

| New York City members of the Legis-
lature, made public yesterday, was pre-
| faced by an attack on the growing
habit of legislators to sit silent while
| measures they knew to be bad are be-
ing jammed through on short roll
calls.
"The whole hearted and persistent
refusal of members to be used as mere
rubber stamps would effectually elm
mate the growing tendency to pass
legislation by party vote irrespective
of it's merits" the report read. at is
only where q member is courageous
enough to stand up and tell his fellow
| members why he cannot vote for bill
that his negative vote amounts to any
! thing.
| "An analysis of the tables of test
votes this year brings into strong light
the evil effects of the misuse of the
party roll call and the overindulgence
Of these test roll calls with previous
years discloses the fact that even in
the years 1011'13, when the Democratic
control Of one or both houses and TIE
existence of a militant progressive
group induced political white heat in
the legislative halls, there was more
satisfactory consideration of bills on
their merits and less recourse to party
conferences on all sorts Of legislation
on which there could be no logical
reason for party division"
In commenting on the poor showing
of the Democratic members the Citl-
Io;N J,,1 -,
servile acceptance of the impractical
and obstructive Hearst-Hylan legisla-
tive program, which entailed blind op-
position to many excellent bills and
equally blind swallowing of a group
of fantastic propaganda measures.
Take Up Lusk Silver
After declaring that Governor Mil
ler's theory Of party responsibility,
which he applied to himself as state
leader of the party, had the natural
result of making him the real majority
leader of both houses of the Legisla-
ture," the Citizens Union referred to
Senator Clayton r. Lusk and the silver
service the New York City detectives
gave him.
"In the Senate" said the report,
Senator Lusk began the session under
a heavy handicap with the knowledge
that very considerable number of the
Senators of his own party would have
supplanted him in the leadership if
they had not been fearful Of its effect
on the party"
The report then adds that before the
session ended Senator Lusk had TO
some extent alleviated the feeling
against him, but never was able to win
and hold the confidenc of the majority.
"This was q factor which contrib
| %o CIT 11hi ifh ms RI Ho
it sometimes appear that the majority
party was without responsible leader
on the Senate foor," the report con-
tinued "It likewise resulted in some
apparent misunderstandin as to the
attitude of the Governor, who appar-
emily is less closely in touch with Sen
ator Lusk than formerly"
Had Assembly Well in Hand
Speaker H. Edmund Machold, the
! Citizens Union observed, had the AS
sembly we'll in hand during his second
year as leader of the lower house.
Only the summaries Of the records
of the Assemblymen from Manhattan
and the Bronx were made public in
yesterdays instalment. Assemblyman
Joseph Steinberg, George n. Jesse and
Sol Ullman, on the Republican side,
and Assemblymen Joseph V. Mckee,
John J. O'Connor, Maurice Bloch and
Minority Leader Charles D. Donohue,
on the Democratic side, were singled
out for special praise. So, too, was the
lone Socialist in the lower house, AS
semblyman August Claessens.
The summaries follow:
MANHATTAN
Bernard Aronson, Republican, 10th
District. Capable legislator, who made
good record of votes.
Maurice Bloch, Dem ocrat, 10th Dis
trict. Active, aggressive and expert
enced One Of the ablest minority
members.
Thomas F. Burchill, Democrat, Sd
District. Record Of votes above low
minority average.
August Claessens, Socialist, 17th Dis
trict. Clever and active in debate
Good record Of votes.
Louis A. Cuvillier, Democrat, goth
neutrality-suspicious. and eccentric
member. One of the most attentive
followers Of legislation. Uusually
bothersome, but frequently useful.
Samuel Dickstein, Democrat, 4th Dis
trict--Keen and capable legislator. Es-
pecially useful in committee. Often
recorded against bad special legi sla-
ton.
Charles D. Donohue, Democrat, 5th
District-An able member of expert
ence, who as minority leader contribu-
ted much of value in the public in
terest. Introduced some bad bills for
party reasons.
Frank R. Galgano, Democrat, &c
District-lntelligent and alert. Espe-
c;ally helpful in committee work.
Frederick l.. Hackcnburg, Democrat
14th District-Courageous and intelli.
gent legislator. An increasingly use.
ful member.
Peter j. Hamill, Democrat, 1st Dis.
trict-An experiency and capable party
wheelhorse of some usefulness.
George N. Jesse, Republican, 23d
District Capable and experienced
member, who introduced and handled
much important legislation success.
fully. Good record of votes on impor-
tant city bills.
Henry 0. Kahan, Democrat, 9th Dis
trict-New member with mediocre rec
ord
Victor r. Kaufman, Republican, 7th
District-First year member, who made
record above the average and gave dis
tinct promise of future usefulness.
Owen M. Herman, Democrat, 18th
District--An old-time party "rubbe,
stamp" whose impression on legisla-
tion grows more blurred as time passes
James Male, Democrat, 10th Dis.
trict-First year member who success
fully demonstrated his lack of fitness
for legislative Office.