Evening star., 1898-12-16
OFFICE FOR STEELE.
To Be District Attorney Of Kings
County, NY.
-RECOM MENDED BY Seth Low
People of the State interested in
the Canal Question.
QUESTION OF FRANCHISES
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, December H. 1898
Governor-elect Roosevelt is at his home
at Oyster Bay this week working hard
upon his inaugural message. His work is
considerably interrupted by callers, and so
far it is said.he has not been able to COM
plete more than his Introductory para
graph. While 1t is reasonably sure that
Francis Hendricks will succeed Aldrdge as
superintendent of public works, it devel-
oped today that Col. Roosevelt had been
considering for the place man who has
not been mentioned in any quarter This
mar it is said has cleared the field and
Col. Roosevelt says that as there would be
no interest in the announcement of his
name, now that he has Withdrawn, he
would withhold it. Another selection has
been announced, that of Judge Hiram r.
Steele of Brooklyn to be district attorney
of Kings county.
Il have selected Judge Steele to be dis
triCt attorney Of Kings because" says Col.
Roosevelt. / am aware that certain public
officials there are under Indictment, and L
know that Judge Steele will not need to be
told that all wrongdoers must be prose-
cuted without favor and to the fullest ex-
tent of the law"
The selection of Judge Steele can be
Columbia University. Col. Roosevelt ad-
mitted it. DIR. Low was told to name a
candidate and he named James Mexican,
but Mr. Mexican declined, and thereupon
Col. Roosevelt directed both MesSrs. Low
and Mexican to select man. They deter
mined upon Judge Steele. whom the gov
crnor-elect was glad to appoint.
The labor people are giving the colonel
trouble. He is anxious to appoint repre-
sentative labor man as commissioner of
labor statistics. and also an active young
nan to be deputy and statistician, but the
labor leaders are in such a wrangle over
the appointment of commissioner that
there is no telling where the matter Will
end. Hardly day passes that rival dele
cations do not appear at Oyster Bay. As d
result, the governor-elect is utterly at
loss to know what to do. If the labor men
do not come to an agreement before long it
is safe to say that Col. Roosevelt will take
the matter in his own hands.
Gathering Information.
The governor-eect is taking advantage of
the opportunity afforded by the Interrupt
tions to his message preparations to dis
cuss with his callers different matters of
state policy and to have them give him the
benefit of their study. experience and
knowledge Senator Raines the father of
the Raines law" was one of the colcneFs
callers this week. The senator discussed
the Raines law and the amendment which
he proposes to offer to increase the tax GER
tificates in rural counties. and if necessary
to increase tax certificates in first-class
cities. Senator RaineS wants to increase
the tax certificates In New York from $3.50
to 81 900. In rural counties he would make
a propOrtionate increase, based on pOpula-
ton. Mr. Roosevelt heard Senator RaineS'
arguments and will study the matter He
proposes to incorporate suggestions about
the excise law in his first message. The
gOvernor-elect has also discussed the civil
service legislation and the metropolitan pC-
lice bill; also the bill which Senator Raines
proposes to reintrOduce this year, establish
ing a bipartisan election board in each
county in the state.
TIE people are very much interested to
know what the new governor will do with
the canals. Already the republicans have
gone far in improving the canals, spend
ing large sums of money. that. il is said,
there can he no turning back. The question
now arises as to how much more money
he want TO proceed with the improvement
scheme as laid out by the present engi-
neers, or will he want to begin all over
again? 1t is owing TO the alleged scandals
in connection with the canal work that
public interest in this department has been
enhanced.
Another important subject which it is
asserted, Colonel Roosevelt will study this
week, preparatory to discussing it in his
message. Will be that of civil seryic" le-
form. The governor-e.ect is said to have
no patience with the starchless law now in
force. He has always been an Out-and-out
civil service man, and he will uudoubt ediy
advocate st;Hening up the present laws but
just how much starch he will ask to have
put in is what is Interesting the politicians
Again, rapid transit i'll New York city, it
is believed, will come in for due cOnsidera-
tion, and it may possibly be added, favor
able considerat ton. This, of course, is only
local issue. but it affects SO many inter
ests that 1t will probably merit d chapter
in the message. The Legislature is certain
ly interested in the matter. because the
board of rapid transit commissioners was
appointed by the legislature. Besides, Col
onel Roosevelt being a New York city man,
has personal interest in the subject, and
it can be expected. will deal with 1t in a
pretty positive way.
Gov. Blacks Future Plans.
1t is stated on the authority of Abra ham