New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

various previous recommendations are renewed
and in conclusion a hint is given of possible sup
Elementary messages.
TEXT OF THE MESSAGE.
state of New York,
Executive Chamber,
Albany. Jan . $50.
To the Legislature:
You begin today new period Of law-maknS, con
frontcd with responsibilities inherited from previous
Legislatures and facing public questions we'll deserving
YOUR careful consideration and Your intelligent di>po'
ton OF these desire 10 present TO your ateil
ton bespeaking for them that faithful and impartial
deliberation which a proper of official response
blty demands, and hoping that their discussion NAV
have some influence in securing your wise action i
trust that they will all be approached in that spirit
which seeks to render the best service TO the people
who have honored lis with their confidence.
ENUMERATION AND APPoRTIONNENT.
II will be the first duty of the Legislature 10 pro
vide for an enumeration Of the inhabitants of the state
This duty is first and paramount 10 all Others because
IL is an obligation imposed by the Constitution Itself
affects the sacred right OF the people 10 JusV
and proper representation
Within the hour which has just passed each member
of your honorable body, in entering upon the duties
of his Office has made solemn VOW that he VIII sup
port the Constitution Of the State of NewlOrk 1t Is
my pleasure that, in this instance, at least
the oath has not been taken without a fui apprecia
ton of its significance and responsibility. Yet i'll i've
successive Legislatures that VOW has-apparenty with
elaboration and for mere partisan advantage-hech
ignored by majority Of the members
The Legislature of 1S-j refused to pass measure
providing for a simple enumeration Of the inhabitants
unless there should be coupled with IT provision for
a census, while in the four succeeding year, not
single effort any kind has been made bi the Leg
lature 10 DISCHARGE this Constitutional duty.
cannot believe that the present Legislature VIII
nd
peopIes rights Ii can scarcely expect obedience
for Its own laws when, 10 perpetuate partisan cohF"
its own members ace false to that great law which is
above all statutory euactments because established
by the people them,elves-thc state Constitution.
The duty which the Legislature of lo95 ana sun
sequent Legislatures failed TO perform is no les -
cumbcnt upon the present law making body m
enumeration is necessary because. until it a- been
had there can be no appO:tionment Of the senate
and Assembly districts Of the state. Inc interests
of every growing section OF the state demand that
new appointment shall be made. and with caoA
years increasing population the legislature obHsa-
ton TO supply one becomes ,terner and more lni-
perative The right Of the people 10 a Just ana
proper representation sacred 10 he neglected.
evaded or iugcled with. For live years am cuumera-
ton and an apportionment have been refused upon
grounds that Will not bear honest scrutiny, ana inc
conclusion is inevitable that this attitude has been
prompted by the fear that adherence t. iE' con
StitutlOndl
change in the political control Of the legislature. It
is a shameful spectacle indeed, which has thus been
presented
AGAINST A CENSUS.
II is no answer to assert that the LEGISLATURE ha,
been willing TO pass enumeration bil, PROVIDED
there is joined with IT a provision ior q census.
Tie Constitution docs not require census. J, co.
REQUIRE an enumeration Ii is tue that tho L'-
latarc with the concuweug. % the }sc'uttr.
la, the powc? to authorize census, and may "
j., direction do So II cannot do 50 without That
concurrence 40 -titutloaal requirement j. tpfc'
whether the Legislature and Executive agree 0r ci.
agree upon such "a question. But II They Do n''
,aree upon the propriety of having oou-u-, there
still remains the obligation imposed De- the Cor.
stitution TO provide for simple enumeration. That
requirement stands alone and by Itself.
But ASIDE from the violation Of Je constitution ga
VOWED in the attempt 10 Withhold an enumeration
unless census De Joined with II. there j, neither
sense nor in insisting upon census at u,
time. The Federal Government directs the tahus
of an elaborate ten years, which farm '"~
in the way OF statistical information all that would b.
included in state ceu,us. such census Is aIicap'
in preparation. To duplicate II under state SUPER
vision would be cytravaeaNt waste Of public money.
inhabitants. ul.on which TO base honest and lust
appOrtiOnment-not g congl0mcHilon Of -tat'ucs n.
lttng 10 Its horses, sheep cattle goats. pi0Hut',
farms. churchos. building, Wdu-:ilc, and vhd 10y.
such census A. i, proposed HOuG cost the taApa' cps
%. The state more than 100000 Nlnie the simple
enumeration which Is demanded would ONLY cost about
$4,000.
Inc confined refusal Of tie leg -latuIe to provide
for enumeration and an apportonmcnt VIII be an
outrageous abuse OF power 10 deprive certain eoduCe
Of fair representation ln me law laliht h"lN. Lt
il not be forgotten mat The present arpIrt0ument J..
based on an enumeration taken ii,ecn t1ai - ~
maintained between 1870 ard $50 csI,tod from
1870 10 1ooO-and there is no reason 10 believe other
wise-the total p0pulauon 81 tle state 81 pe-eni j.
upward of 100000 showing Increase Of more lit
100000 over the population Of $50 Tic app0.
tiOnmcnt. which based on the population Of o7j.
not fair vet not ONLY have all H. mquahu'>
900 900 new resident Of the >tate-amo,t Gfth NJ
the pOpul9tiOn-haVc been denied thai nigh, esG"dh
guaranteed 10 Them by the COu,titutlOn-th" right ID.
representation OF tins great ncr,a~e popula 'iou
since the present appointment WI established. 700
pay than haf the State taxes. Surol-
here Is taxation without rcuroscntatiou": 81 Inv
estimated upon the ratio Of increase between 100 and
l@-O, has three Members Of Assembly. whilo New
only eight times ~ MANY As,cmblymcn. Ca'iaiausu,
county, with probably not more than G7OO3 mhali.
tants, is repre- -cnted by two member. while Fri.
County with four times a. many inhabitants is repro
scented by only five members The counuc, lu which
cuse Rochester and Buffalo are -iturtcd comprise
by safe estimate % per cent Of the population Of
is only ~ per cent Of tie whole Under a l,ir aa
Portionment New York would be entitled to riry-
four, and brooklyn would have seventeen n-tctd o.
River would be represented bv fourteen senator instead
OF eleven. while the city Of Buffalo Monroe County
would each have a senator Of H. own.
Upon the growth and prosperity Of ts cities dcp".d
I'm a large degree the influence and importance Of fine
state. TO hamper and check their growth hy dcnynr
them fair representation In the Legislature is political
tyranny unworthy Of patriotic men.
ELECTORAL Reform.
The attention Of the Legislature again urged 10 the
Gesirability Of changes m the law. relating 10 orr
system Of elections. Excellent o.. these laws now
SURPRISING In the scope and cyacuc,s Of their Pc
uiremens the statutes Of most other states, hcy have
found insufficient protect the secrecy and purt
Of suffrage We have election boards cquitably con.
stutcd. in which all parties represented our bal
lots all required to be Of paper and Of spcci
Gci uniform type caption and indOr ement no mark,
are permitted thereon 10 distinguish one ballot from
another: each party is entitled watcher, and ,tl
lcngers the provisions for fair count satisfactory
ample. the guarantees for securing prompt and ar-
curatc returns are adequate tumults and disturbance