The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-06
The Governors Message to the Legis-
lature.

lature.
| Governor Tilden's first Message to the
Legislature is characteristic document
sound in principle, elaborate in style, and, in
parts, somewhat liable to the charge Of alb
struseness. The opinions Of the Governor on
some Of the main points which he argues in
detail have been SO frequently and SO fully ex-
pressed that the people will be in great
measure prepared for what he now says.
Thus, there will be found bu. little that Is
new and startling in the Message, notwith-
standing its length. It lacks the crispness,
the directness, and, we may say, the boldness
Of Mayor Wickhams first communication to
the Common Council; but this may be &C
counted for by the fact that the affairs of the
State are of less stirring interest than the
affairs OF the metropolis, and that Governor
Tilden succeeds q respectable, even-toned adj
ministration, while Mayor Wickham takes
charge of previously abused, unpopular and
inefficient government
The State finances appear to be in sound
condition. The total funded debt on Sep
TENDER 80 last amounted to little over
thirty million dollars, showing reduction
during the year Of six millions. The unap-
piled balance of the sinking funds on Sep
TENDER 80, 1873, was nearly thirteen millions.
After setting forth the financial exhibit in
detail the Governor reminds the Legislature
that it will be necessary to make an approprl-
alton for tho census which, under the
constitution, is to be- taken this year.
and which he says will be proceeded with at
an early day. He touches the question Of
pauperism to call attention to the importance
Of revision and amendment of existing laws
on the subject, and advises the appointment
OF commission to report upon the manage
ment and relief of the poor and to propose
desirable legislation. He also favors an ap-
preparation to pay the necessary expenses of
the Centennial Exhibition Commission, so as
to enable us to testify our sense Of the great
ness Of the event commemorated in manner
suitable to the dignity of Our Commonwealth.
The Governor then takes up the subject of the
recent amendments to the constitution, and
points out such of them as, in his judgment
render legislation at this session necessary or
desirable to carry them into full effect.
Considerable space is devoted to the discus
sion Of the importance of such change in
existing civil and criminal laws as will insure
to the people better protection against frauds
and malversation by public officers. This is
subject in which the Governors feelings
are warmly enlisted and upon which he
is entitled to speak freely. Foremost in
bringing to practical available point
the evidence that fixed upon the unfaithful
Tammany rulers the offences with which
they stood charged, thus accomplishing
their overthrow, Governor Tilden saw the
labor he had performed absolutely thrown
away, SO far as the adequate punishment of
the guilty parties or the recovery of the plum
der was concerned. The criminal statutes
failed to recognize forgery and robbery when
committed by public officers as anything but
misdemeanors. The civil statutes were pow
erless to prevent the culprits from disposing
Of the stolen property and taking themselves
and their money out of the reach Of the law.
Actions brought in the name of the people of
the State were set aside by the Court of APP
peals as not maintained. Individual tax
payers could not seek redress on their own
behalf And SO, says the Governor, no per-
son was found competent to sue "except some
Corporation Counsel who was on appointee of
the accused parties" These evils Governor
Tilden insists should be remedied at once
by legislation. He does not appear
to take the decision of the Court of
Appeals altogether with good temper,
and insists that in similar cases for the
future the power to sustain an action for the
people of county or municipality should be
vested in the people of the State acting through
their Attorney General.
Probably the portion Of the Message that
will be looked for with the greatest interest by
the citizens of New York is that in which ref
erence is made to local self-government. The
Governors remarks, although somewhat vague,
prove that he recognizes the importance of
the subject and are strong arguments in favor
Of the democratic principle of ''home rule"
He maintains that the pretended reforms
prepared in Albany for the city government
1.-Two DcCA VI Illc IlRuIS VI CQe
people to choose their own rulers and to man
age their own affairs-a practical denial of
self-government for the last twenty years."
The great municipal trusts have been made
'the traffic of the lobbies," and the conse-
quence has been, says the Governor, that no
Mayor elected by the people has for many
years possessed the power to change the heads
of departments SO as to give practical effect to
the popular will This system, he truthfully
says, ENSURES bad government of the city
and tends to corrupt the legislative bodies of
the State It is fortunate that the Governor
has it in his power to aid in removing in a
great degree the evil of which he justly COM
plains, and of yielding to the newly elected
Mayor the power to rule the city and regulate
the executive departments in such manner as
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