New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-07
nOHRLE.FACED DATID.

DOUBLE-FACED DAVID.
II would be waste of space to notice in de-
tail Governor Hills reasons for vetoing the EX-
else Commission and Vedder Tax bills Inc
pretexts which he employs to justify himself
are not of the slightest public interest. lie
does not believe in them himself, and has no
cancellation that others will do 80. Having
had lob to do, Mr.. Hill wisely made up his mnd
10 do il thoroughly. The extraordinary out
noprinp of bad language Of which he was gull
tv-an exhibition Of vulgarity probably without
narallel in an official document-muSt have been
deliberately resorted to in order to distract at
tention from the weakness of his arguments
II may be worth while, however to point out
the contrast between the tone in which he now
discusses the bill originally reported by the
Excise Commission and the threats he maze
against 1t in his annual message The news
papers had steadily followed the work OF the
Commission, so that by the opening OF the
legislative session the Governor must have had
n general idea Of the nature Of tho bill. While
Il had many features uduly favorable to the
louor dealers which the Legislature was after
ward compelled TO alter, the Governor was no
more anxious 10 see it become law than no
was TO see any measure adopted involving any
announcement whatoyer In the Excise system.
Uo therefore opened an advance fire upon it in
his annual message. He commented upon the
fact that the Commissioners originally named
in the bill were changed during its progress
in the Legislature, and a strong partisan char
acter given the Commission by the substitution
Of other names deemed moro acceptable to the
majority Of the Legislature" This, nc SAID
was unfortunate, as il may seriously affect
the nature and value Of the work Of the Com
mission. and possibly mpcril its final success"
lie added
1rs bul also proylIsl that the Commissioners
might submit new excise system ~, in their !udg
ncnt existing statutes could not be 10 revised ss 10
nroyIde for a system adapted to the requirements
Of the people OF the state II Is understood Al
though have no onlcIal information upon tho S"o'
iect that tho Commission has decided not I" report
,,nlc r,yI.lon or codidcaun OF existing laws. but.
i,s,c,d thereof IN submit an entirely new excise
law II this IS tuc II IS to be regretted. because Tho
submission Of both r"yIsIon aud prpoSeN ne" "a"
ould no more acceptable aud would enable 10" Legs
latnrc Ia choose between them, and otherwise !" a''
more nteIiIgcn'ly and satisfactorily.
The Governors fear plainly was that the ne
pubIiCnns Of the Legislature would pass we
Commission bill and make IL hard Tor nm Y"
wrgglc out Of signing it, inaSmuch As ne had
himself recommended the formation OF the Com
mission. So he put out this threat OF veto
But while approving the bill in many partic-
,lars the Republicans made numerous changes
al Of them. however, in the direction OF NOR"
effective restriction. This gave the Governor
the chance IN wheel about and protest that tho
original bill which he was ready TO veto ought
,o have been passed He now thinks exceed.
ipgIv well II the Commission bill. IL con
tanned many excellent provisions, and. while
not wholly satisfactory. it was believed that
with two or three desirable changes 1t could
easily be made fair and reasonable measure
Honor. good faith and fair dealing
imposed upon tina; majority the obligation to
adopt the Commission bill, but, instead thereof
II was deliberately srt aside" To reject thai
hill involved apparent treaChery and bad
faithr lie continues:
Tie action Of the Legislature In rejecting The EN
rise Commission I'LL IS greatly 10 be regretted Tho
opportunity was exceptionally favorable for al ado-
ouate solution OF the excise question. commission
a majority Of whose members was OF the sam" p",''a
faith A. tho Legislature and all OF whom were "t it'
ov., ,cI,r,lon had presented a measure which that
hndy was honur.bly hound Ia adopt without material
alteration. But tho Legislature, although Nr'uaIS
committed 20 IT, rejected Il to serve party enns an" d
II matter Of political cIprdiency
II il amusing 10 thlnk no" uIHC''"''S wa
double-faced Governor would have written
about the original Excise Commission bill II
il had been passed and sent to him. lie would
have hurled at it all the epithcts in his garbage
basket The $50 Democrats who remained IN
their seats and Kissed when the Governor roSo
at tho Cleveland banquet the other night were
hardly to be blamed, perhaps, for exhibiting
their contempt for Governor whom 1t is I'M
possiblc for any good citizen TO respect