New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-01
RECORD OF THE SESSION
1T WAS SHORT AND ACTIVE. AS THE
GOVERNOR DESIRED.
PRIMARY REFORM FOR CITIES-A LOWER TAA
RATE-cANAL IMPROVEMENT DpFERRED

RArE-cANAL IMPROVEMENT DEFERRED
BIENNIAL. SESSIONS APPROVED.
Albany. March 81 (speciaD.-The Legislature
Of 1893 adjourned finally to-day, thus fulfilling
Governor Blacks wish for "a short and active
session" Although the adjournment Is remark
ably early. me Legislature has established
noteworthy record. both OF things zone anu
things left undone.
II has created a commission TO look into the
subject OF taxation This Commission Will
make its report next year. the report VIII be
printed and then nothing will be done Judging
by former experiences with such commissions
A bill has been passed authorizing the Gov
ernor to appoint a commission TO look INTO the
causes of N,w-York's loss OF commerce and
suggest remedy.
Direct State taxation will be less this year,
owing partly somewhat to the increase In the
States revenues from the liquor tax and partly
10 a decrease in the outgo for Captoi consruc-
ton and the purchase OF Adirondack lands.
million dollars appropriated last year Tor
Adirondack nurchases but only 100000 this
year In 1897 il was estimated that the liquor
tax would net the State S3.250O00 1t actually
brought in S3914.906. The estimated income
from this source this year IS S4OOO,Ooo The
State tax rate is to be eos mills. In 1897 1t
was 267 mills. The levy last year was Sl2.-
COS. 192 %. This year il will be Sl01S6 los W
There has thus been a reduction in direct State
taxation Of Sl.S17 633 90.
EXTRA SESSION POSSIBLE
The Legislature also appropriated S1CoOOoO
as war fund This 81 100000 does not figure
in the State tax rate. II the Governor uses 1t
1t will be levied az a separate tax. In the
opinion OF members of the Legislature, II hos
tities do take place retween Spain and the
United States. the Legislature will be recalled
and larger sum than 81 10000 will be ap-
proprated.
The Canal Investigating Commission VIII
have until August | to do its work. and VIII
have $4,000 at its disposal to pay Its expenses
A bill submitting the proposition to spend
100000 additional In canal Improvements
10 the people this fall defeated in the
Senate. and so further canal improvement was
deferred for several years. An amendment 10
the Constitution authorizing the sale or lease
of the canals Of the State to the United States
Government was rejected by the Senate.
An amendment 70 the Constitution authoriz-
ing biennial sessions Of the Legislature was
adopted II passed by the Legislature OF lS9?
Il Will come before the people at the election
that year and, II approved. Will go into effect
in 1902 1t lengthens the terms OF State SEN
ators to four years and those Of Assemblymen
10 two years. and decreases their yearly COM
pensaton from $500 to $1,000
After long and careful consideration a bill
vas passed reforming primary elections in first
and second class cities. and making II optonai
with third-class cities. whether or not they take
advantage OF the new system An unsuccessful
effort was made to amend this bill so as to re-
form the primaries In rural communities FRI
mary reform IS thus only half accomplished
THE CAPITOL COMPLETED.
The State Capitol. after being for many years
a source of expense to the State, was substanti-
ally completed. No tower has yet been built.
but all the rooms Of the big building can now
be occupied
The military law OF the State was codifed and
a reorganization OF the National Guard was
completed. and Charles F. Roe was appon ed
Major-General and Commander OF the Guard.
Brigade commanders also appointed.
A bill was passed appropriatng 100000 for
additional purchases OF Adirondack lands. Un-
der former act 10000 acres were acquired,
\ increasing the States holdings in the Adiron-
! dack wilderness TO 100000 acres With the
S5OOOOO ct least 100000 acres additional can
be bought A bill has also been passed by
which X is provided that Cornell University
shall have charge OF 1900 acres Of these fores,
lands for an experiment in scientific forestry.
The University also gets SIVoVV iOT us Ca
penses in this direction.
The agitation for good roads accomplished
something after several years OF efforts In the
Legislature. bill was passed which divides
the cost Of building roads between the state.
the counties and the taxpayers benefited.
Printing in the State prisons. except that
needed by the Prison Department is forbidden
by another new law.
BLOW AIMED AT TOWN MEETINGS.
There was long struggle over a bill OF Mr..
Nixons 70 change the time for holding town
meetings from the spring to the days OF the
general election in the fan. This bill de-
Nixon. was passed. authorizing Boards OF Super
visors OF counties TO adopt this system.
A charter for the secOnd-class cities-Albany,
Rochester Syracuse and Troy-was passed IN
obedience 70 a constitutional mandate
An amendment 70 the Constitution was
adopted which authorizes the addition OF four
Supreme Court Justices TO the Court OF APP
peals. for the purpose Of enabling II 10 catch up
with its work.
There were large number of bills TO give
away w/ter rights Of the State. The chief Of
these creating the Genesee Power Company,
with authority to take the water OF the Genesee
River is row before Governor Black.
Senator Murphy was censured by both houses
Of the Legislature for his vote in favor OF the
Teller resolution
Measures introduced by the Democratic MI
tected. Bills presented for dollar gas also
laid aside. Senator Brush, Republican. un-
able 10 pass mis- bill to lower telephone rates
CITY BILLS IN BLACKS HANDS.
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