New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-04

p orffamt character cannot well ,.,, be
out outside aid. The necessity Of revision is con-
coded, and the authorization of n commission u
Legislature for its action. would be practical
effort towards reform in the right direction.
Sixth-Ihe abolition OF the Board of Regents
OF the University, and the transfer Of most OF its
powers to the Department OF Public Instruction
The object sought to be accomplished is the
interests Of the State, and the abolition of un-
necessary and ornamental offices.
Seventh-The abolition Of the State Board Of
Charities, and the concentration OF its powers
in single officer.
Eghth--The abolition of the State Board of
Health and the vesting Of its powers IN one official
measures is tie concentration OF official power
and responsibility in some one responsible head:
the public service will be increased.
Nlnth-A measure Specifically providing for the
of religious profession and worship without dis
criminationor Preference Guaranteed in this State
under the provisions of the Constitution I" to all
1t is claimed that such right is denied in some
OF our penal institutions: In this connection it
is suggested that all penal institutions of public
or semi public characer, receiving aid and support
from the State account Of inmates committed
to them by the courts should be under the control
! of managers, part Of whom, AT least. should he
selected by the State in order that the State may
have some voice and influence in the administration
Of the affairs of such institutions.
Tcnth-An act further limiting. regulating and
restricting the powers OF corporations in the Issue
| of stock and bonds.
That some check should be placed upon cor
porations in this respect seems to he urgently re-
Quired The existing laws are defective and in
adequate to properly protect the public, and to
guard against the issue of stock and bonds repre-
scnting little valuable consideration, and
which arc essentially, though perhaps not tcchni-
cay fraudulent or fictitious in their character
Nearly all the monstrous fraudulent transactions
of corporations in recent years arc tmceahlc TO
this source, and the time is oppo1tune TO render
their repetition impossible.
Elevcnth-A financial measure afforling a
source of revenue to the State, specifically pro-
viiing for the taxation of that species Of property
which almost entirely escapes assessment
to wit: the Indebtedness OF corporations joint
stock companies and associations, represented in
the scrip, bonds certificates Of Indebtedness
issued by such bodies, and the imposition OF a
special tax thereon. to be fixed by law, and to be
collected from such organizations by the Comp
This plan. explained in all its details, has been
recommended in previous messages, and in various
| reports of the Comptroller and merits most
serious consideration "A bill cmbodying its prln-
cipal features passed ono House last year but
failed in the other. An earnest effort to
its adoption should be made this year. and, if sue
cessful, means will be afforded of lesscning in n
| large degree the present burden of taXatian upon
Twclfth-The creation of State Gas Com
mission, which shall possess over gas companies
powers somew hat similar to those which the Rail
road Commission has over railroads, to be main
tanned without cost to the State, but at the eX
pense Of the companies affected
1t is submitted that such measure, providing
q proper tribunal for the hearing Of complaints
and the correction of unjust cxactions, would be
special legislation on this subject 1t is suggested
that all electric and other Lighting companies
might with proprety be included within the pro-
Thirtecnth-An amendment to the statute which
limits the amount of recovery to $1,000 in the
case Of the death OF person caused by the ncg
gence Of another person or of corporation and
increasing the amount Of damages that may be
recovered in such actions to 81 600.
The present restriction is unreasonable. and
works great hardship in many cases. Such an
amendment passed the Assembly last year, but
Fourteenth-A statute making railroad COM
panics absolutely liable for all damages by fire
ton of proof Of express negligence on their part
Some provision of this character seems necessary
for the better security of our citizens owning
property on the route OF railroads.
Fifteenth The abolition of the office of State
Agent for Discharged Convicts.
The reasons for this recommendation were fully
set forth in last years message, and nothing has
since occurred to change my views OF ITS proprlety
Sxteenth-A measure providing for special
The experience of this State in past years has
demonstrated that whatever objections may Justly
be made to the creation Of commissions consisting
| of numerous members, to administer particular
branches Of the statute law no reason
able objection can be made to the appointment
of such a commission to frame laws upon subjects
of great public interest, especially upon such as
have not had careful special investigation by the
State Such q subject is presented TO us now
| in the relations of capital to labor, and / believe
that much good might be accomplished by the
| creation OF a commission WHICH bnOuIu CoISiuti
this general subject and report to the next Legs
lature what, if any, amendment tending to the wei
fare Of the industrial classes can be made 10 our
laws, A commission of this kind having ample time
at its disposal and no legislative duties TO perform
could deliberately and prcfitably consider the
employers and employed. Those who are es-
pecialy interested in these problems OF govern
ment not infrequeniy advance Ideas OF m 1tOoS
| have apparently no time or Inclination 10 ueVolc
themselves to wise solution of the questions pre-
sented The result of such consideration as Is
usually given by ordinary. committees is the
passage, in many instances, of crude and imperfect
bills, which are unsatisfactory or oppressive TO
every interest affected; The tendency OF tne
time is toward remedial legislation in these
matters and if that tendency can be properly IN,
| benefit to all / accordingly again recommend
the creation of special labor commission. %
Seventcenth-The Inauguration OF system OF
manual training in schools.
Those who have given careful attention to the
| methods of education prevailing IN our Pupnc
schools believe that some amend oi''in o. our
pedient. l. therefore, respectfully again recon-
mend that the ACCESSIBILITY of the inauguration oa
such system be given consideration ny me
| legislature and refer to that portion OF the
annual message of Ss7 which presented my views
upon this subject.
VETERANS RIGHTS.
Tho right of inmates Of the State Soldiers ana
Sailors Home at Bath, to exercise the elective
franchise has recently been questioned, and 1t
is understood that large number of the veterans
have even been indicted in the local courts Tor
alleged violation Of the election law. Some iegiS-
lative action in the present state OF affairs Is dc
sirable and shall take early opportunity to COM
municate with you upon the subject, ana TO make
recommendations TO the way in when the
! rights of these veterans and should be more
clearly established.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
In my first annual message of 1885. it was
stated as follows:
The present mode of executing criminals by hanging
has come down to from the dark ages: ana IL may
we'll be questioned whether the science OF the present
day cannot provide for taking the lie of such
AS are condemned TO do I'm less barbarons manner.
commend this suggestion to the consideration oil tho
Legislature.