The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-03

when justin ion OF appeals Exscu
nsc.. p%ses or pardon 90 no. At times
where every branch of the civil power Is in a
measure ."sa effected by public opinion certainty
which the laws prescribe, be In accordance
with the prevailing sentiment OF the commuuiry.-
ishment 1t frequently operates upon juries to in
duce either an arquitta the conviction OF lesser
crime rather than verde. which will be followed by
| q punishment hey opd what the jury may deem aie-
quste However rigid the deposition OF the individual
ment strong enough find way into the jury box
will sometimes reach him. and open the door Of the
certsiSty of punishment IL thus sacrificed to the
verify OF the legal enactment this be correct, it
suggests the proprisy of abrdging in proper cases.
the terms Of imprisonment By the present laws no
be sentenced to State prison for less than
tive years. l think this minimum might be reduced
to one year. And recommend the substitution of
larger than the law prescrbss for the division
between grand and petit larceny. Our former penal
code placed The limit Of petit larceny twelve dollars
and . half but thu sxchsngeabis value Of money
recsded it Was extended to twenty Ave dollars The
zane reasons which induced this change more than
thirty years spce seem now to demand further ex-
| tension.
the enactment OF some regulations relative to the
ma ntr Of applying for pardons. In the absence of
any legislative provision this subject the appcs
lions for pardon become almost equal In number to
the convictions.
It's not within the limit of my duty to suggest the
nature OF the details Of provisions which the Con
sttution has committed to the wisdom of the Legsls
ture: but In view Of the imporsn Of restricting
|
the subject to your consideration Under proper and
judcious regulations, the number of applications for
| psroons viii be greatly diminished; while the power
can be exercised with greater discrimination and
| safety
The interests and the convenience of the public, as
we'll as regard for the rights Of property, to
call for a revision and alteration Of the laws uder
which taxes and assessments for local impro
are iDpose ed, and their payment enforced Ia the
.rcise Of the power of taxation, In delegatng 1t to
other and local bodies the Legislature should the
utn ost vigilance oonfne this severe attribute Of
sovereignty within the most rigid limits cOnsis Mt
with the public necessities. While the amount Of the
tax should be limited to the wants of the ost ecouo
mica administration Of the Cover mt the mode of
its collection should have regard to the convenience
Of those who are to pay and payment should 20
tageously combine certainty with economy aud
publicity Of notice. Sales Of lsnd for unpaid taxes
nent, at irregular periods am aware that tn ire
have been strong objections, from those whose po-
much consideration. to these ssles being male in
the counties within which the lands are situate
objections, to resist the arguments based upon the
convenience and the interest Of the parties affected
counties. Many titles have been lost, ana the hard.
earned savings of years Of toll bee swept away by
means Of 'Ale conducted at distance, and without
tie knowledge Of the party to be affected for tax i'm
posed before the title had accrued These saes q, now
conducted sure to meet the attention of the vigil
liant and Of the wealthy land owner while the induce
ments which they present Of high rate of interest,
in Gaze Of rede mption and Of s larger gains In case
of omission to redeem, attract the kse eyed and
watchful .pecustor but they are seldom brought to
the perons knowledge Of parties whose only property
con.ts OF the lot Of which they may be deprived by
that the Legislature can regulate the the
place Of holding these sales to avoid the objections
Under the pres mt laws very large amount Of per.
property entirely pes taxation Irecommsnd
such alterations ~ will distribute the burden taxa.
ton more equally and will reach personal propertv
more ehectuay and generally.
purposes ia frequently xeroised Arbitrarily and 40
oppressivey that the power Of the Legislature has
often been invoked for its arreet and limitation |
cannot doubt that the Legislature ought interfere
in favor of the Of property against the tos
there abuses are committed is derived from the Lsa.
lature, and that body is therefore in degree held
repon'ble for its exercise by those upon whom has
large number Of claims against the State for DANA
on canal contracts BROKEN BY the stat, under the
law Of 1912. remain unsdjusted The State ha. al.
ready paid TO contractors for their loss Of profits by
reason Of the suspension Of the public in 1912
the sum of S4507S8 81 and awards. amounting to up.
wards Of So 600 remain UNPAID, by reason Of the
exhaustion OF the appropriation to pay such claims
Some OF these un,etted elaims amour 20 $50 600 or
$4,000 They are decided by the Canal Board. which
also charged with the decision Of other claim. un.
der canal and Of appeals from the awards Of
canal appraisers This branch Of its business added
to the other numerous and important official duties Of
the members of this board throws upon 1t amount
OF labor beyond its ability to discharge Delay inevi
taby results and while the claimXs s thus Injured
1s
BE- authority to diruss claim in defauls Of ts being
brought to hearing on an assigned day aud there
the State the hearing of all claims for canal dana.
ses Ithar been suggested that the interests of the
State we'll as Of the claimants would be advanced
BY rei. vre the Canal Board Of this portion of their
duties and giving the decision Of all claims under
to protect the interests OF the State present the
| suggestion to your consideration
commuDi cation will be presented to you, a. I am
informed by the canal appraisers showing the awards
made by their board large amount IL yet due for
Awards made more than year since, a. well a. for
to ss. S be
Of the appraisers will ,uege.t some alterations in the
powers and duties Of their board, which will receive
| your CAREFUL copsideration
Much exct. Mt has PREVAILED during the past year
among the inhabitsnts Of Richmond county with re.
spect TO location Of the buildings For
come time past the hospital has been crowded with
patients. suffering under mslier mt diseases; and
during the last summer The yellow fever extended its
ravages among the surrounding population. The
grand jury Of the county has presented the establish
mept as putance, and has found bills of md
sgsipst the officers Of the State Who have It in charge
committee appointed BY the late legislature has been
recently engaged in the investigation of the proprsty
and feasibility Of selecting other site for these
buildings. ! am not spprssd Of the facts which they
have arrived Their report viii be laid before Won and
viii demand all the consideration due to the hesith
AID comfort Of the citizen and to the important
mercal interests vitality concerned in the proper
location Of this establishments.
The constant increase Of the commerce the port
New 2ork bSsg gwen rise to an impression that the
smsunepts Of the health officer of that port, whose
compensation IL derived from fees dependent upon
cessary to secure the most eminent services Of the
medical prof, ssion An officer charged with the i'm
poftsnt duties Of that situation should be bprally
rewarded: but the generally supposed compensation
OF this .cer be not greatly overrated the of
his emoume to Ia excessive IL reduction be proper
10 may be made to take effect from the expiration of
the term at flee Of the prese mt incumbent
Long previous to the passage OF the laws Of 1877 the
necessity was felt Of snzing our system Of legs
laon with respect to tmiRrants. and of placing tho
subject Of emigration op basis better suited ia exist
ing and prorp. ctive exge nces The great migratory
movement II the hu msu which has gone forward
under one form or another, from early period Of
hitory. equsbziDE population. owing along its path
seeds IF future strength and dominion, opening
fields for TIE arts and ciences for religion and MORALS
funding empires for freedom. and which, In our
days has bad Its chief direction from Europe to this
country, had, Of late years assumed MAGNITUDE which
made it Inject Of primary importance in the State
where ts effect is frstand most felt Wasted by cruel