New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-26
THE NEW LEGISLATURE.
POWER WILL NOW RE HELD BY THE
RURAL DISTRICTS.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT GOVERNOR MORTON
is EXPECTED TO TOUCH UPON IN HIS MES
sAGE-REvENUE PROBLEMS TO

is EXPECTED TO TOUCH UPON IN HIS MES
sAGE-REvENUE PROBLEMS TO
Re SOLVED
rrnoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Albany, Dec. 25.-One week from to-day the
Republican Legislature of 1896 will meet. and
the Republican State officers will once more
take the oath of office. each one for term
Of three years. A Legislature of 200 members
80 Senators and $50 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS take
the place OF one of l6G members-32 Sem
ators and l2S Assemblymen-which has ex-
listed since 1876. The change In the character
and number OF the Senate and Assembly dis
tric,s transfers large amount of legislative
power from the cities to the rural counties Of
the State
Under the apportionment OF the legislative dis
tricts made by the fraudulent Democratic Leg
isature of 1892 an excessive degree of authority
was granted to the cities of the State. The
revolution at the polls in 1893 which sent
Republican Legislature 10 Albany. prevented
the full effect Of this superior power of the
cities from being clearly manifested; but il
was obvious that with the Democratic party
which is so strong in the cities. in control of the
Legislature, IT would become but the mere
registering instrument OF some city boss" like
Richard Croker. OF Tammany Hall
CONSERVATISM IN CONTROL
The Republican Constitutional Convention of
1894 so revised the Constitution that far larger
amount of legislative power granted to the
rural counties of the State. thus putting much of
the duties of legislation in the hands Of the rep
resentatives Of the conservative voters of the
State as the farmers certainly There are
but few members OF the Legislature from the
rural counties who have not had some expert
ence in a Board of Supervisors. las class"
said Ex-Governor Cornell a few years ago, 1.-The
rural members of the Legislature are ADLER men
and men OF better morals than those from the
cities. | know that some of the greatest rascals
in the Legislature come from farming counties,
but. nevertheless on the average they make
better members of the Legislature than those
from the cities"
GOVERNOR MORTON'S MESSAGE.
Governor Morton is busy preparing his
annual message. which will be addressed to the
Rural Legislature of 1896. All the depart
ment chiefs are at work getting statistics for
him. and sending him their opinions as to what
ought to be the policy of the State in various
directions Mr.. Morton has problem as
banker and a Governor. Il is TO keep down
the State tax rate Notwithstanding the &C
ceptance by the State of the care of the INDECENT
insane of New-York and Brooklyn This will
increase tnc insane WdTuS OF tHt STATE 10 Hedli!
10000 in number. and will bring up the cost
of supporting them 10 nearly A,o0O,O0O. The
State. therefore, it is obvious, must secure new
revenues or increase the revenue from its present
taxation laws. Controller Roberts has been able
10 report to Governor Morton that he has been
enabled by a dilgent execution Of the Corporation
Tax laws Of the State to increase largely the
revenue from the corporations of the state;
increasing this revenue from H,796.6iO 81 in 1894
TO s21l54l572 The number of corporal tons
paying taxes has also been largely increased.
Moreover, the receipts from the Inheritance
tax have been increased frCm sl.6ss,s54 20 in
1894 to s2126,s94 81 In 1895; or gain of s437.-
$40 A. Controller Roberts also has been success
full In his suit against the city of New-York to
force ii to pay back taxes due for the support
of the INDECENT insane. This success OF the State
will put 81 900 900 Immediately into the State
treasury
CANAL OBLIGATIONS.
Mr. Morton will have TO report, however, TO
the Legislature that the State. after being out
OF debt for several years, has incurred obliga-
lions to the amount Of 81 000 900 for the improve
ment OF the State canals. and that 1t will in the
next two three years assume additional OBJ
lgatiors of similar nature to the extent OF
81 600 0C0 Mr.. Morton in his message undoubt-
edly will pay a great deal Of attention TO this
matter Of the improvement of the canal system
VIII Governor Morton touch upon the ques-
ton of Greater New-York in his message? The
followers Of Thomas c. Platt would like 10 nave
him recommend the immediate passage OF Dill
by the Legislature declaring that New-fork'
Brooklyn, Long Island City and their contigu-
Gus territory are consolidated into one city, re-
fusing Brooklyn any referendum and creating
Board OF Police and q Board of Health for the
Greater New-York That would throw out OF
Office the Board of Police Of New-York chahge
that Mr. Plat and his followers would IKE 10
make II Plat Republicans can be put IN the
place Of the ousted Police Commissioners.
ACQUISITION OF FOREST LANDS.
Governor Morton. in speaking Of the Forestry
Department: OF the State. will have occasion TO
inform the people that the Board OF Forestry
Commissioners and the Land Board OF the STATE
have taken steps for the acquisition from Dr' W.
Seward Webb Of 80 900 acres OF land In the
Adirondack wilderness, which VIII be quite an
addition to the 100000 acres now In the STATE
Forest Preserve. ., nil,
The State prison finances apparently, VII,
soon be in bad shape. owing TO the CONSEQUENCES
amendment prohibiting the sale or goods naue
by the convcts after January /, 1871 Mr. MOT
ton undoubtedly will impress upon the Leslsia-
tur4 the importance of passing laws TO give con
yjcts some kind of employment the cost OF
maintaining the State prisons VIII De iaIBeiS
Increased as soon as the constitutional amend
ment goes into full effect.