New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-17
GOV, HILLS NEW ROLE
APPEARING AS A TEMPERANCE REFoRMER

AnvIsrxa A REVISION AND AMENDMENT OF THE
rxcrsx LAws-THE KERNEL IN THE PEANUT.
Arr.yy. March l6 What can be moro rdicu-
Ions TO the mind Of the AVERAGE voter OF inteiii-
rence than the picture of Governor Hill as tenn
perance reformeri But this spectacle, inconsistent
and luecrous a. il NAV seem, exists The Cover
nor this morning sent both Houses long address
IN excise matters. He says that his attention has
lately been called to the necessity of thorough
revision aud amendment Of the excise laws of the
state by the Board of Excise Commissioners of
Nsw-York City. The presen, laws are. in his mind.
In confused and unsatisfactory condition Inc
general Excise law was passed III 1865 then the
Formulation of the State was onlv three and one
half millions now il is nearly double that, requr-
ing a radical change IN the excise laws tie says'
To Of these changed conditions habits
opinions OF people numerous nactmea nave year
After year esn placed upoa books In the endeav
cr-n which every good citizen onsto mitigate the evs OF
inemperance the Of intoxicating liquors But 'neso
laws generally been framed 10 meet par
lar ane phases question involved ana
not OF forming symmetrical ane conpse A
else law There Independent acts there are supple
nentary acts amsnetory ac and thus
ana inequality been introduce and perpeenseeo "
parment law which, affecting as oo'' ~
habts and customs the daily OF many OF our people,
should most clear and just
By quoting from the annual message OF Governor
Robinson. in Is7S-'7e, the Governor lengthens DIS
address considerably the only effect OF when Is 10
reterate in sentiment his own words de also uses
extracts from messages of Governor Cornell 70 inc
Ieoislature in 1880 and 1881, in which the then
existnc excise laws complained or. having
these two opinions before him the Governor uIu
not need an encyclopedias from which TO OBTAIN MS
ideas. -, -, :. ,o;r Az tho
Governor now knows there has been ereal uc
uand for laws thai will curtal the power OF rum.
sellers and Mace the business position where ~
can be watched and controlled. his chahces VI VI
becoming Presidential nominee oy Tue ppwea y.
GRO n
time for him to call halt and change ms posltion
completely. Furthermore II Is an avoweo ve'O ,o u
any license measure now IN either mousse "nlcn nAJ
come TO him for his signature. ,.,s
In the Senate a long discussion followed the read
ing of the message. Senator oloan, Oh nv IN 200
Law the messaRe on the table ana prlht iV'ouV
copies, made by MIR. LacgOeln, accused the Wv
crnor Of trlckery III sending in such matter wnen
large part of the session had passed. ne sug-
gestlons ineluded IN the ne sage should have been
sent with the annual message. The Governor knew
that nothing could be done tnls session ~ va ND
that a large portion of the people of the state mad
demonstrated that they were In favor OF sucn
legislation, bad be the courage 10 "ri'e SUN i0'
In the Assembly shortly before the Governors
address arrived. bill was introduced oy w Iilih n.
KImbal of ST. Lawrence County, TO wu hHi, " th
latter portion of the message refers In the oli IN
Rev. Howard Crosby, Denis = Srieqi Aus Aust 10.
made commission Ito revise. Simplify, arrange
and consolidate all the statutes of the state OF
NewYork In any way relating 10 tne
Ennors which NAV be in force az the time such
Commissioners shall make their hnal report.
Power is gwen to sit in towns. villages ana clues
TO hear suggestions for the improvement OF tue
Louor system TO employ a stenographer ana
slerical force and the Commission mus. MAKE leS
renort on or before January 10. 1851.
For this service the members OF the Commission
are to get SO 900 and their travelling expenses
The Governor declares himself IN favor OF CON-
mission for these purposes A. ~
The senate consigned the message to the Coia.
mittee on Printing aud the Assembly merely LAID IL
on the table. Ia.
ical scheme 10 influence the Presidential noInina-
non and there are few who believe that tue Gov
ernOr really writes IN good faith