New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
FOR "BAT' SHEA'S PARDON.
AN APPLICATION SOON TO BE MADE TO
GOVERNOR FLOWER
CLEMENCY THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT STAND
CONTROLLER ROBERTs'S VISIT TO MR..
MORTON-SUGGEsTIONs FROM AS
SEMBLNMAN FISH.

SEMBLyMAN FISH
IrEou STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBrNE1
Albany, Dec 16.-Roswell p. Flowers three
years term as Governor Of the State of New
York is rapidly approaching a termination. He
has annual message TO the Legislature to
prepare this year. and other duties of
pressing nature. The United States Senator
who crowded him out Of the honor of having his
administration indorsed by the delegates of his
own political convention by denomination for
Governor and took the nomination himself was
overwhelmingly defeated. Possibly. therefore
Mr. Flower feels kindly even toward David b.
Hill. a political benefactor in spite of him
self Mr.. Flower. at least. has no record behind
him of being the worst-beaten man the Demo-
cratic party ever put up for Governor IL this
State.
Mr. Flower is busying himself in the few re-
naming days Of his term Governor in looking
over carefully the applicat 'ons for pardon or
Communication Of sentences Of those convicts In
the State prisons who have served long terms
or who are under sentence ot death for murder
In several cases Mr. Flower already has issued
pardons and communications Of sentences. An
application will soon he submitted to him which,
in no bloodthlrsty spirit be 1t said. will draw
upon his head great deal of censure. II he
grants it. This will be- an application for a
communication II the sentence NJ death pronounced
upon Bat" Shea. the murderer Of Robert Ross
the Republican watcher at the polls in Troy at
the spring election of this year. Shea is now in
the murdercis' cell al the Clinton prison await
ing death by electricity for the murder OF Ross
\ petition is being circulated in Troy. for pres
cntation to Governor Flower. asking him 10 com
mute Shea's sentence To life imprisonment
sheas friends supported by the followers Of
Senator Edward Murphy jr.. Of course. are the
peop.e who engaged In this attempt 70 save
Sheas life. II his life can be- saved now. 1t Is
hoped. naturally. that in a few years his release
from prison can be obtained. But the circulaters
of this petition are not meeting with success
erywhere. one man to whom Il was presented
said:
NO. sir. not for the world. Shea most
want0nly murdered Ross. iie sought Ross out
while he was attempting 70 guard the purity of
the ballot-box and shot him Ike dog. have no
spirit Of vindict'veness toward shea for | was
not even acquainted with Ross. but in the pubic
interest ne ought not 20 be permitted 70 escape
tn punishment. Shea attacked the State-he
was not like man who slays another In sudden
anger. lis attack upon Ross was deliberate.
The latter was trying o. have an h lncsi election
and shea shot him. The verdict ~ the jury that
convicted shea should hr respected and there
fore VII Mt sign your petition"
II was senator Edward Murphy's fatal ad-
vice to Governor Flower not - sign the hin
giving the Republican party equal representa-
ton with the Democratic party m the Board ~
Election INSPECTORS az each polling -yltr" in
f'r when Mr Flower vetoed the h Mr.. Ross
sought 10 defend the blli1i-b'N. and was muir
again t. Murphys pull" and commute the SEN
ience ~ Shea This Is The question the people
Of Troy are asking At the present time.
Meantime the work goes on prosperously In
Troy ~ collecting money Tor the Robert Ross
Monument Fund. monument is to he erected
10 Ross as political martyr. NJ city VIII have
more reason for pride than Troy VIII have when
II erects this monument In loving memory ~ MI
Ross
While Governor Flower thus is having his
memory recalled to the most PAINFUL part ~ ms
career as the Executive ~ thu state his sue
ccssor Levi +. Morton. e. hard AZ work at
RhinccliT writing his frs annual message to the
Legislature. H. the course u the week "hieh n
has lust passed the heads u all the state de-
partments and bureaus here have received a
note from Mr. Morton requesting them 10 send
him a summary Of the operations ~ their part
Of the state government in tn" year 1884.
flood ~ Information regarding the state bureaus
commissions and DEPARTMENTS has therefor" been
pouring into Mr.. MOr,ons library at Ellerslic
and H. now being slowly diges,cd by the coming
Executive of the state In addition Mr.. Nor
ton solicited a visit from James y Roberts. VINO
holding the position Of stat" Controller. must
bc considered as Mr. Mortons Secretary ~ the
Treasury There Is reason to think that Mr.
Morton wished 10 have A talk with Controller
Roberts about the unprcpiiious appearance OF me
states cashbox The decline ~ the states
revenues from It's indircct taxation laws IN"
present year to the amount Of $.65sopp has
caused a hole In the state Treasury which II
Roberts visited Mr.. Morton on Friday. and set
forth Is him all the facts he knew about IN"
weak condition Of the States finances. II IL to
be hoped that Mr.. Morton. while listening 70
this talk ~ Mr. Roberts. remembered his own
action I'm his letter accepting the Republican
nomination for Governor In which ne com
mented severely upon the action of the Demo
cratic Executives of the state from 1893 10 1893
in so Increasing the number Of state Commits
yions as to increase the states expenses In th.s
direction from $4,000 In l%2 the close OF the
administration of the Republican Governor
Alonzo R Cornell. 10 $l0216A II at the l"cin-
ming Of 1894 There IL the point Of attack If Mr.
Morton should decide to adopt a policy Of re-
Controller Roberts reported to Mr.. Morton that
one cause Of the States present financial ann
Guilty is that the Democratic state admihistri- =
tons Of late years. in order 10 make "A SHOW 81
a decreased State tax-rate. despite the eXtraVa-
eancc Of a Democratic State Legislature. had
taken 81 0OO 600 raised a. n surplus fund by 'on-
trollcr Davenport HiepJ IN 1852 and also had used
g. 200 900 which came from tn" United states
Government during Governor HIS aiminlstra-
ton as part Of the direct tax refund rms SKIN
ming Of the state Treasury Dy the I,rhO'tAu'
State administration and the decrease III 'he re-
ceiuts from the indirect taxes caused by the nara
times had left the State Treasury In lts pfes'h,
HE condition. Mr. Roberts said he had
hern compelled to borrow nearly AOOpVoo To pay
demands upon the State Treasury. This money
would all come back into the Treasury when me
taxes were paid In the spring hut meahwme 'i''
state would have t. pay its oDlsa'o'is MN WI
rouyod money Naturally Controller Roberts ex-
prersed the opinion to Mr.. Morton that the ihosl
stringent economy Necessary In CARRYING on
the State government or there Wouid y" " '"'e ~
Increase Of the State tax rate. .
Hamilton Fish who seems To be prosperlhs III
his candidacy for the high office OF speaker Oh M the
Assembly has arrived here with ms ldinlls
leased and occupied the house of Grange Lara
ono of the handsOmest In Albany. Speaking on
,be subject of the deficit In the stale treasury
today. Mr. Fish said: IF were Governor MOT
ton should advocate an increase oi NJ. 'nr mon
.o..,ion i,nnosed upon the heirs OF wealthy men
mnder the inheritance tax law. The chief ioss m oi
revenuc is I'm that direction. We might wen nav
graduated inheritance tax by ,dAins ,ne ,' ',n
s',,'s m. West England has such gradu-
,ted inheritance and succession tax ana thhk @
e. n lust principle We ought aiso 10 Icuu.e ln,,
greatly the cost Of running the S,a,e ,s,snce
ment II is perfectly preposterous lot ihs'aye i,
VA 4, should cost $254 900 10 maintain the pun
lie buildings OF the STATE In Albany. ...