New-York tribune., 1880-01-07
THE GOTERYORS MESSAGE.

In one respect at least, the first Message OF
Governor Cornell will command universal ap-
proval. Having no startl ng proposals to sub
NIT TO the Legislature and no recondite policy
TO explain at wearisOme length, he confines
himself to a few plain sentences. Superiluly
Of words is one of the vices of American states
manship, and it is refreshing to find Mgh
Dublic personage who knows when he has said
enough. and then stops
The most important of the recommended
tons of the new Governor are for the ap-
poiutment of commission to revise the TAX
laws, the adoption of a sensible excise system,
q loan for the new Capitol, the regulation OF
railway charges, an extension OF the registry
law TO all Incorporated villages, and further
safeguards against election frauds. The need
of legislation on some Of these topics has
long been recognized. The recent publication
of the personal tax-lists of this city has
called renewed attention to the inequality
of our present method of distributing public
burdens, and there can be no doubt that
thorough revision of the system must be un-
dertaken before long. The condition or the
excise trouble is standing disgrace to the State
The Governor proposes no particular plan Tor
the regulation of the railroads, but he declares
that "the public have right to demand that
"freieht tariffs shall be uniform for like service,
"without discrimination as between citizens
"or communities, and that they shall also
shave all reasonable publicity" AS a
special committee, appointed by the last
Assembly, has to report on this subject to the
nresent Legislature, precise recommendation
from the Executive would now be premature
The Governor fayors the election of women Oh
school boards, the most liberal policy in making
the higher education free to all. reform in the
administration of .jails, poOrhOuses, and insane
asyums, a revision of the pilotage laws ana
reduction of municipal expenses in the City of
New York
The voters of the State will observe in all
this one most gratifying fact-that, Tor the
first time in five years, the Message OF the
| Governor of New York is Message, and not
a campaign document. For five years the Gov
crnor's Message has been used to preach the
oosnel of Tildenism to the whole country, for
the official utterances of the Executive OF this
State inevitably attract attention in every
State. Governor Cornell evidently pro-
moses to do the business of the State
in n business-like way. He is not en-
paeed In manufacturing or keeping alive
| Presidential candidates, and there is therefore
| a conspicuous absence of rhetoric in the paper,
| which some critics may carp at as not beng
brilliant. If we are not mistaken, the people
of New-York prefer TO have the condition OF
their affairs told to them in the plain Ian
| ouage of cOmmon-sense, and will find no
| fault with Governor Cornell because he has
written his Message upon the business Of the
State of New York, aud not upon the business Of
| tbe United States. But it is not to be supposed
that Governor Cornell is not man of decided
! opinious His recommendations are positive,
and. in striking contradiction, just as the
manner of the Message is, of the recon-
mendations of his predecessors. Upon the
necessity of completing the new Capitol, the
expediency of submitting the taxation
ouestion to special commission, the
wisdom of affordng by the action OF the State
the highest educational advantages to all, etc.,
| Governor Robinson is directly opposed by
Governor Cornell. Upon the question OF higher
education the latter's words may well be re-
ceiyed with respectful attention by the people OF
this State, for Governor Cornell is poor man
to-day because of the splendid gifts made by
his father in the endowment of a university.
Even those who do not concur in these OF
other specific recommendations made IN the
| Message win admire it rs practical, straight
forward, honest document.