pendent Democrats Ice Dealer

1

ture.

OFFICE OF

THE CITY REFORM CLUB,

STOKES BUILDING,

47 Cedar Street.

NEW YORK, October, 1892.

The City Reform Club issues its seventh annual record of the representatives of New York City in the state legislaThe record is the result of careful observation of the course of the members in both houses during the past session, and of the study of official publications relating to the legislature. The statements made have been weighed with care, and the conclusions drawn rest upon well attested facts. The City Reform Club, being strictly non-partisan, has sought to make this record a faithful and impartial account of the legislative work of the thirty-one members from New York City, and to give the reader an accurate idea of the men to whom the interests of the city are entrusted, and of the manner in which these men have discharged this trust.

While a member's votes are an important part of his record, these alone do not furnish an accurate test of the value of his work as a legislator. Bad votes are sometimes the result of honest mistake; and good votes are sometimes cast from unworthy motives. Nor do the bills introduced by him furnish such a test. Many members do not introduce enough bills to constitute a test, and many introduce bills without having given them due consideration. In some

cases, therefore, the estimate of a man's ability and character may seem not to harmonize with his record in voting and in introducing bills. In such cases it is to be understood that

sources of information other than the official records have been relied upon. It has been found possible to establish in various ways the facts used in the compilation of this pamphlet, without relying upon mere rumors. Indeed, these facts. as presented make it evident that an intelligent man observing the legislature in Albany during the session, can readily form a correct opinion as to the character of individual legislators, and as to their manner of serving the people.

It is necessary to point out as explanatory of the course of the legislators who are elected by the political machines, that a system of discipline has been established which has taught the obedient to count upon favors and advancement, and the refractory to expect political death. In private conversation, the New York democratic assemblyman will occasionally give his opinion on a pending measure, but will add that he will of course vote according to instructions from Tammany Hall. This system has resulted in giving us as democratic members from this city, either young men who have concluded that their chances for political advancement lie in obedience to their political bosses, or "old war horses" who have long had the confidence of their organization.

This growing power of the managers of the political parties in controlling the legislature has been spoken of in the records of previous years. The session of 1892 marked the culmination of that control. The most alarming feature of the session was the absolute docility of the democratic members, who, finding themselves in the majority in both branches for the first time in years, proceeded to carry out the schemes of the most unprincipled of their leaders,

whether such schemes were purely partisan measures or involved merely the financial interests of their bosses.

The session was marked by the introduction of numerous measures designed to drain the treasury of the City of New York, and by grants to corporations of valuable public franchises without provision for adequate return to the public treasury, and in defiance of existing laws. It is especially noteworthy that these measures were put through under the supervision of the political lobby.

In character and intelligence the New York City delegation was above that of 1891, as that delegation was an improvement on those of previous years. But this gain was offset by the development of the system of machine control.

EXPLANATION OF THE COURSE OF BILLS

IN THE LEGISLATURE.

The City Reform Club aims to include in each issue of its record such information as will enable the reader unfamiliar with the rules and the proceedings of the legislature to form a correct idea of the manner in which business is done in that body, and of the influences surrounding senators and assemblymen.

The following statement of the manner of transacting business relating to bills in the legislature, and the sketch of that potent and persistent influence known as the lobby, will help the reader to form such an idea.

The annual session of the legislature begins upon the first Tuesday in January, and usually lasts until May.

The bills introduced in the legislature come from various sources; and members introduce them with various motives,— to obey the dictate of "boss" or party, to oblige a friend or