The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-03

county Judge he require to Investigate the case
summarily, and confirm or annu the proceedings,
aud That ne be empowered, at any time. on his own
motion or on the application oil anV one Interested
case ana to conduct such rehearIng. with or with.
out the aid OF jury, as 10 him may seem best, ana
aua "a his wnsssr ay
existing laws relating 10 the State asyuns for the
be 0nna py ys be or ner
some system OF licensing by the PUBIC futhorities.
The Legislature should provide Ior their supervision
the detention OF insane persons IN such private
institutions It Is right that the same Mateniul care
as over those In our public hospitals
For the fourth time recommend an amendment
eide occur where intent to take life Is proved, but
where the facts such that the Jury are unwilling
gree. because the peculiar facts do not warrant the
extreme penalty OF death. They cannot. under our
In the second degree They are driven, therefore.
to either acquit or render verdict OF guilty OF man.
conscious that the light penalty awarded by the law
to these Two degrees OF crime Is very Inadequate.
for manslaughter In the third degree be made much
greater, or that when the degree Of generalization
the Jury. justify punishment by DEATH they be au.
tnOrzed to render verdict OF murder IN the second
degree TO be punished 6y ,S Ior LIE Or
tue Court IL Is no valid objection to the
above ae1dsnt thar !, under i uries would have
death penalty. They exercise that discretion now,
IN many Instances. and do so with the law as It
stands, al the cost OF rendering verdict not salts
factory to themselves, and or allowing q very Sc.
rious crime to 60 UNPUBLISHED except by the light
Respectfully suggest that ali bills making large
appropriations OF money be passed by you at pc.
make so that snail not be Obliged to consent to
o 81 II me as a na
sssary appr s,,r Sa Tas supply 6i as It
prevail after the Legislature had adjourned,
leaving me no alternative, but, TO approve
priations made therein go over many OF
them being required at once for the support OF the
tice has grown up OF inserting in THIS bill Items OF
appropriations OF money which have no proper con.
dlcated IN its title; many Of which items, am salts
fed would not 4 proposed In separate bills receive
the sanction OF the Legislature. This practice has
become great abuse.
recommend the Immediate repeal OF tho general
town bonding act. Without discussing the policy
or this law, | suggest That ald mas already been
given to railroads upon the credit of municipalities
TO quite as great al extent as Is wse and IN some
Mites It's early repeal is. In my, Judgment, impor.
tant to the general welfare OF our people.
| In 1870 what Is commonly called the Eight Hour
law was enacted by the Legislature and approved
by me- IL provided, among other things, THAT eight
hours should constitute legal days work upon all
the public works OF the State. ana that any public
might be removed by the Governor or by the heads
OF departments to which such onicer was attached.
promise, on behalf Of the State, to the laoorers who
might be employed on any public work that they
eGsys S s at IT n as
has not been kept; yet no case has arisen where
OF ocer inc con Legally be made
wages Of labor the State State ought not y unso dor
the forms OF law, to deceive any portion OF It's pe0
pie. It's practice should be In accord with It's pro-
LESSONS. II demands general obedience to Its
| conformity with Its own laws. While the law
stands upon the statute book the professions en-
bodied In IL should be made good BY such amend
ments to 1t rs Will reader the lulflment OF Its pur
pose certain.
TAX RE VISION.
Legislature passed April U.s. is4o, appointed David
A. Wells George W. Cuyier aud Edwin Dodge
anu collection OF taxes" which commission IN the
discharge OF its duties, presented report In Feb
haustlve In Its character ana ovel III It's sugges-
tons. that although had supplied copies thereof TO
pal bodies In TINS country and In the British
Provinces yet Notwithstanding the very large
cos e eep %est se s
mand ior II among tde general public, to Wit, once
PRINT being Issued With preface BY the Secretary
oil the British Board OF Trade, by an association or
gentlemen for dis ributlon among the people OF
In respect to personal property. the report of tho
Commissioners shows that the whole amount thereof
assessed and taxed Is not much thirty per cent
OF the real estate assessment, not In excess OF
the railroad and banking capital alone of the State
while the probable proportion or such property
assessed to its true value is not more than fifteen
per cent The Commissioners. furthermore, present
o large amount OF evidence tending to show that
not only Is such result unavoidable under existing
laws. but tnat the tendency OF things uhrOugi re-
aga inst assets and the exemption Of United States
and other securities from taxatiOn) Is to become
worse; and that at distant day the present sys-
tenn Of taxation IN this State Will DE brought down.
practically, to an exclusive tax on real estate aud
Another matter OF great Importance, to which
the commissioners call attention, Is the circum-
that dur ng the few years the legislation
Of contiguous StaIes, In respect to local taxation
has been OF much more ioeral character than that
es,s Of New York have suffered, and are likely to
continue to suffer unless remedial reciprocal legs
lati3n IS provided. Thus, for example, the states
vinces which border upon New York, have either
wholly, or for an.extended period, exempted manu-.
featuring industry from all taxation. Tue new Ter
riory OF the District OF Columbia exempts all evi.
dences OF debt, that IS bonds mortgages negotiable
instruments, &c; the state OF Maryland all bonds
and mortgages for the city and county OF Baltimore;
New Jersey, bonds and mortgages for large part
Pennsylvania proceeding much farlher In this same
direction, has exempted the machinery and capital
OF manufactures from local taXalion and, practi-
cay also IN a great degree, her banking capital,
evidences OF debt, ana all vessels engaged IN foreign
New York is soon likely to be forced, by consider
atoms OF selt.lnterest and sefdefence mo giving
this whole subec, OF state taxation careful atten.
ton.
The system recommended by the Commissioners,
ana Oh Wnicn an outline code mas been Already
submitted " the Legislature, Ia substantially as 0.
lows ...rzAo =, .. - a. ,.,...i..-. p. i.... :.
tTSt-To tax real estate In like manner az under
existing laws provisions for enforcing valuation
according 10 Z common aud well-deiined but
moderate standard, being at the same time pre-
scriDed. IL Is understood That the Commissioners
favor the creation OF an Office, whose incumbent
shal be especially charged with the enforcement OF
the laws relative 10 taxation, and be invested with
all necessary powers for accomplishing sucn object,
aud insuring, so FAR as possible, equity aud uni-
formity.
State In conformity with existing laws.
Third--An experience, and especially the expe-
Renee OF New YORK. shows that the attempt 10 tax,
directly, property other than such as - embraced
under the two before enumerated classes affords
l4ltIa In Ialari