New-York tribune., 1880-01-07

interests of the neope of this State comprising one
tenth of the population of the Union, must depenu
upon local legislation. Responding to popular SELL
tment, the last Assembly appointed speclal con- i
mittee to investigate the management Oh tns laiI
roads with instructions to report TO the next csis
lature, The members of the committee nave ueHog
ed themselves assiduously to this duty, ana WIZ, ~
due time, present their conclusions Tor your conSu
Grafton. -. y,+s ii
The question of railroad transportation aifectS u
rectly or indirectly every industrial and commercii
interest and the public have the rlsnt 70 uoiIsn"
that freight tariffs shall bG uniform LOT ike selNoo
without discrimination between ctiZens or CON-
munities and that they shall also have all resOli
able publicity. This should be secured Dy JusU anu
practical regulations.
ELECTION LAWS.
The foundations of free government rest upon Vhe
purity of the ballot. Every elector is entltied u
have his vote honestly counted, and to be protec'eu
from all fraudulent practices in the conduct OF eIeo
tions This is the vital element of National life, ana
in many respects it is the most difficult to shield
from abuse All enactments, whether National or
e+ate calculated to protect the freedom and integ
rtv of the elective franchise, are earnestly 10 DC
commended
In consequence Of enormous election irauds per
narrated in the City of Ncw-YOrk in former years.
very effective laws have been enacted ior thae 10,
coi;tv But i'm other cities defective statutes are
st,Il in oDeration and in of them elections are
conducted in grossly fraudulent manner. helncny
been sought IN moro peIlecI leR'oi"
n Int ohstocles have arisen to defeat the desired
object wel-Vuarded registry law LOT al W Iuooi e
Dorated villages also believed to De necessary ior
the correction of existing evils, In view Oh tile n
nortance which these subjects bear to the hlghesI
interests OF the people ii hoped they VIII receive
your early consideration.
EXCISE LAWS.
Much dissatisfaction prevails in regard to the Tx
else laws and it is essential that some effort be made
to rendcr them more elective. The laws are con-
,aaI nd ina
tion il given 10 their enforcement. Indeed, the
chief difficulty seems to be to determine the scope
or meaning of the existing statutes this subject
Under recent and somewhat conflicting decisions
Excise Commissioners ore left with large dlscre-
tionarv movers The will of the Commissioners ~
subsiituied for the mandates OF law, hence connect
ing interpretations obtain withn me rsulc ~ IYn w
the different Boards of Excise. What Is me- ded Is
carefully matured act that can be plainly uhdeI-
stood and faithfully executed. Although 9eset WIN
dijcniies il is your duty to seek an intelligent so
luton of the matter.
HARBOR MASTERS.
The Supreme Court of the United States having
declared that norton of the law of the State uncoh
situtioual which authorizes the collection of fees
by Harbor Masters these officers are left to perform
,mportant duties without legal remuneration. II
the services rendered by them are 10 be continued
il will be necessary for the Legislature to provide
for their compensation IN some different Iorh'
PuoTAGE
The laws relating TO piotage in the harbor OF
New-York cause much complaint from those engaged
in commerce. 1t Is represented that the legal charge
for pilolng large steamship in and ont OF the port
il arger than the wages of thc captain for the round
European trip II this be true, q remedy is surely
needed. The growing compet,hon oi other seap0rts p
for or vast foreign trade renders ~ Imperative thd
thc commerce of Ncw-Nork shall be relleVed OF an
unnecessary burdens Tne future prosperity OF the
State Is LARGELY dependent uPo, the cohlhualice -
4 -ttf.r eg a
shonid be permitted TO interfere with that great
object.
Attention has been called to the condition of the
Indians still remaining within the limits OF the
state. moro especially those residing on the Onon-
da,a reservation According TO the representations
NJ wcll-informcd citizens there seem to be ample
reasons for the adoption of such measures as will
conduca - the moral and material welfare ot tins
uecuar people. Much must nece. sarily depend IN
this direction upon the exercise oI wise ana 1eneil
cent influences; but as the State has long sust aimed
tho relation OF guardian to the remnants OF ihdlah
tribes within IFS domain, the interests involved IN
their situation are coinmendcd 10 your Ihouguhul
LOCAL INDEBTEDNESS.
Serious embarrassment exists in different sections
of the state on account of the large amount OF town
Indebtedness ircurrcd for the most part IN aid Of
railroad enterprises. In some instances towns are
bcing dcpopuatcd IN consequence OF the high rate
of rendered necessary 10 DIV Tue interest
on their bonds. The value OF property ~ also de-
preciating; and looking forward to tne maturity ot
the debt, the prospect becomes stlil more 1scour-
aging The only remedy seems to be III reiunding
hc iudebedncs - as To reduce the rate OF interest
This however requires an improved credit and 1t
il very desirable that some measure lie devised, II
possible to enable the towns to accomplish this OBJ
ject. .........
Municipal affairs are prolific subjects of legsla-
tiou and will doubtless occupy much of your atten-
tion. In dealing with them 1t should be pmem-
bered that the restoration Of specie payments affords
n favorable opportunity for the rcadjusment of
public cxpendlturts, many OF which, established
during the period of nilaton and hNcd nj rates now
cxfrnVaganf, have become needless burdens upon
the taxpaycrs. Especially ~ thIs tfne IN the CITY
of New-lork. Ovcrbnrdcned v th debt largely Gre
atcd BY the crminalty of fthicss officials tne eX
peuses Of the City Government should be reduced TO
n frugal and economical basis. 49,
All measures calculated TO simplify the methods
and promote the stability Of local as well State
odr,i,Is ration or secure efficient aud economical
discharge Of official duty, are earnestly commended
10 your favorable consideration ana support
CONCLUSION.
We enter upon our duties under circumstances
which mark an interesting event IN the history of
be state For the first time since the organization
of our State Government in 1777. the executive
olIicer, and the members of both branches of the
LEGISLATURE were chosen simultaneously at the
cent election A trust of unusual magnitude. there
fore is committed to u. Tor the iaithinl PERFORM
ancc of which shall Justly be held to strict ac-
count ability.
commissioned as the representatives of q grand
constItucncy unequalled IN enterprise, wealth and
power. may we be impressed with the gravity OF
our responsibilities, and socmnly resolve to be
guided by worthy motives in every official action.
ALONZO B. CORNELL.
Tur DpTCFS or MILK IN NEH- YORK