New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-09
THE GoTERYoR AND THE TAxPATERS.

THE GOTERNOR AND THE TAXPATERS.
Is David b. Hill-pOpularly known as
whiskey's Governors trustworthy friend OF
the taxpayers? He is posing as such tins
fall; his organs are assiduouSly laboring to
convince their readers that he is that engaging
sort Of person; his veto of a large number of
items in the appropriation bills is confidently
referred to by these partisanS as substantlating
their assertions.
But IL is impossible in the nature OF things
that this conception - Hill should be worthy
of oredence. A tool Of the rum power cannot
be champion OF the taxpayers. The rum
power is power that creates high taxes. The
rum power is responsible directly or indirectly
for q large proportion Of the burdens which the
reople are compelled to shoulder. Our jails
our prisons our Ieformatories are very costly
institutions and nothing in the State has done
80 much 20 make them necessary as the rum
power. II is prepoSerouS, therefore, TO arcuc
that Governor whose official course is regu-
lated by the rum power can faithfully serve the
tayIayers Logic brands the proposition as a
non sequtur.
But suppose il is admitted, for the sake OF
argument that Governor who takes his orders
from the saloons may nevertheless prove an
efficient watchdog Of the Treasury. What
then? Even with this concession, are Hills
supporters warranted in writing him in the
Reform angels book of gold as one who loves
his fellow-taxpayerS Scarcely. To examine
his yetoeS is to discover that most Of them are
indefenabe. lie vetoed the appropriations
for the armoro, OF the interior of the state,
in face If the salient fact tina, the Democratic
Adiutant- overwhelmingly the best Official
authority in the state in regard to the require
mcutS Of the National Guard-rocommcnded
them lie vetoed the appropriation for the
Capitol in face Of the salient fact that it i
generally conceded by all mon Of business that
the dictates Il genuine economy demand that
the building should be completed as SOON n
! possible. lie vetoed the appropriation
small one, only SlO,O0O-for putting in opera
| ton the provision Of the Veddcr bill, having
first vetoed the bill itself, which if it had be-
come law would have saved the taxpayers,
for whom he processes 50 much regard, millions
4 dollars. He vetoed the appropriation for
! the new wcmans reformatory in face of the
salient fact that all the leading judges Of this
end of the State. together with many other
prominent citizens without regard TO party
demonstrated that there was urgent need fol
such an institution. lie vetoed the appropria-
ton for the Compulsory Education bill in face
Of the salient fact that the Superintendent OF
Public Instruction and nearly all the ex-
reiienced educators Of the state approved thf
measure and earnestly desired its passage
lie vetoed many of the awards Of the Board
Of Claims, in face of the salient fact that the
State will be compelled to pay these lawful
claims sooner or later, and that the sooner they
are discharged the better for the States credit
for honesty. In word Governor Hill ha,
used his veto power on the appropriation bills
in most senseess and reckless manner lie
has killed items in utter disregard of their
sterling merit with a demagogues determine,
ton TO make himself a reputation for economy
at any cost
The game will not succeed. The mass OF
the voters Of NewYork are too sagacious tC
De deceived by pretences as transparent as