New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-27
WORK FOR LAWMAKERS.
Mr.. sAXToN ON THE DUTIES OF THE LEG
STATURE OF 1885

THE POWERS OF THE LEXOw COMMITTEE SHOULD
BE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. A BLANKET BAL
LOT. WITH AN INDIVIDUAL PAsTER-THE
QUESTION or MUNICIPAL REFORM.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Albany. Dec. 26.-Charles T. Saxton. Of Clyde,
lieutenant -Governor-elect arrived here to-day on
his way to Rhineclif for a conference with
Governor-elect Morton regarding the latter's
message which will be submitted to the Legs-
lature week from to-day. MIR. Saxton while
here weTt 10 the office Of the Secretary OF State.
and ther, in consequence of the absence of Cap
tain Paln.e-. who has been called away by the
illness of his mother, was sworn into office by
Andrew Davidson. Deputy Secretary of State.
A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY.
Mr. saxton said that for the last week he had
been critically examining the new Constitution.
and spoke as follows of his conclusions:
1t appears to me that the Legislature of 1895 has
imposed on any legislative body Of this State in
years. For instance, We shall have to rearranse the
conform to that part OF the new Constitution which
shs Uneven numbered years That means that the
term OF office OF elective city officer Will have
debate among the citizens of Buffalo whether
they shall have the term of their Mayor two years
We are also called upon by the new Constitution
to pass laws in relation 70 granting passes by
railroads and other corporations The Constitution
saws il shall be msdemeanor for public official
to take a railway pass put the Constitution cannot
enforce itself. and therefore we sna nave 10 pass
law on this subject Then the Ives Pool Law is
laws must be passed enforcing the ConStitutons
prohibitions against pooselIing
LEXOw COMMITTEES WORK SHOULD co on.
"Mr. Saxton." the correspondent asked will
the term OF the Lexow Investigating Committee
in New-York City be extended
Il am not a member of the Legislature" replied
Mr.. Saxton. but in my judgment the Lexow
Committees powers should be extended SO as TO
cover every department of New-YOrk C!ty's gov
ernment. The people Of this State want TO know
II the horrible corruption which prevails in the
Police Department exists also N the other depart
nents of NewYork Ci;y's government. The sub
ject Of municipal reform is now uppermost in the
public mind and therefore It is proper that the
Legislature should have tull information about
the government Of New-York. | am therefore in
favor Of extending the time and the authority of
The LexOw Committee"
"Will there be any consolidation Of existing
State bureaus and commissions and reduction
Of expenses in that way"
The Republican party is pledged in its plat
form last adopted at Saratoga 10 a reduction OF
the number Of State commissions. which have
grown very expensive" answered Mr. Saxton He
then added: The last Legislature created a
committee. Of which Senator Mulin is chair
man. TO make investigation as 10 TIE need OF
various commissions. That committee took a
large amount Of evidence. and Senator Mulln has
asked me as the propriety OF lis making re-
port and recommendations t. the Legislature or
1895 | have told him that thought II would be
perfectly proper for the committee to make re-
port upon what II had done and accompany IL
with recommendations. therefore look to seeing
Senator Muln present this report with its sug-
sesfions at an early day. One or It's reeomHlef-
dations will probably be the consolidation of the
various labor bureaus into one Department OF
Labor That VIII reduce the clerical force ana
sav9 the state money. and yet the laboring men
Of sle State will have preserved 10 them the re-
suits of the work Of the State in their behalf
What about the reformation OF the election
laws?''
BALLOT REFORM-WITH A FASTER.
THAT is commanded by the Constitution"
said Mr. Saxton. "and ] look to the passing Of a
blanket ballot bill with an individual paster au-
thorized Governor Flower vetoed such bill
last winter because prohibited a blanket
yaster"
Then you would authorize the use Of the in
dividual paster?
II hardly see how il can be avoided" replied
Mr. Saxton because submitted that question
10 large number Of prominent lawyers last
year and they said there was grave DOUBT
whether it would be constitutional wholly 10
abolish the paster: but the individual pastef Is
Az
banket paster and II viii cneck most OF the
abuses which now arise out Of the paster sys-
fem think the Legislature. therefore. VIII
probab blv pass the bill in regard TO ballot REFORM
which was vetoed by Governor Flower.
When he was asked If he looked Tor tne pas
sage a. bill apprOpriatinR slO,OOooop ior the
Improvement of the canals. Mr.. Saxton sdid:
The canal men will push such a bill, but can
not tell what would be the attitude OF tne i.es,s
lature toward IT. one thing however, Is certain
and that is. that extensive pIan OF ranal IN III
movement will be adopted by the Leeisla III - ~
iceDt with the provision attached 10 IL that nIus.
BE- approved by the people at the poiIs peIo'e III ~
sbail 20 into effect. J think the Legislature VIII
feel bound 10 be economical since the indirect aNes
have fallen off xt0,Uv tne 'onst ~ i
Convention has left debts amounting 10 .De" n aL,n
the legislature o. 1891 incurred obngatlons % 49,
90 for new asylums and reformatories "hch must
be met this year.
STATE CARE OF THE INDECENT lN"A>H'
also look to seeing New-York and Brooklyn
transfer 10 the State the OF their INDECENT IN
sane | do not see how the State In fairness can
AVOID accep.!rg the burden OF supporting the o"
INDECENT insane in New-York and Kings couhtes'
since those counties pay % per cent OF 'he
cost OF supporting the INDECENT insane OF the rest
Of the State Besides the state care act eh-
pressly urovjdes for such surrender by New-iorh
and Kings COMMITTEES OF the care OF their insane 10
the State Neither Mayor Strong nor Mayor
schiereD will be restrained from transferring .nis
had OF 81 90 900 10 the States shoulders from any
desire TO retain the patronage OF tne as! Iu,7
With all these financial burdens upon me ,'ae' .,e
Legislature cannot and / believe viii not, De eA-
uavagant.