The times., 1898-09-29
make any changes in the law to make 1t

make any changes in the law to make It
effectuaL
You listened patiently to the potent
and persuasive voice of the monopolies.
but your ears Were sealed to the cries of
the people who were asking for relief and
fair dealing at your hands.
An Increased, Tax Rate.
You have placed upon the people of
the State an increased burden of taxation.
You have tried to shield this fact by SUBJ
tie and cunning practices. This deception
you practiced or attempted to practice,
by raising the value of property assessed,
thus making the tax rate appear lower.
But men are not deceived by this special
practice, for they have seen the deter
mined efforts to raise their assessed
values, and thereby deceive them into the
belief that the annual expenses of the
State were decreasing. In this attempt at
deception you have underestimated the
intelligence of the people of our State.
They know appropriations have in
creased, the number of officers have in
creased, and no salaries have been reduc-
ed and that this means that an increased
tax is incurred and must be paid.
You have by special legislation created
many new and powerful corporations and
have granted 10 them valuable franchises
PIE. In many cases you have ceded to
these corporations valuable State proper
ty. without recompense therefor to the
State. You have given to them special
privileges unknown TO the general corpo-
ration laws which have been passed from
time to time.
you have passed upon the people in
times of financial distress a tax which
must be paid sooner or later in order to
nlIrphaSR large tracts nf land in the
Adrondacks region. which were unneces-
sary. You made ample provision for
the payment of commissions and officers
in obtaining the land. but you failed TO
make proper provision for the payment of
property owners for property taken from
them.
The Canal Scandal.
"'You have ru.hlessly used and squan-
dered a large portion of the 9.0O0. 600 voted
by the people of the State for the purpose
of improving their canals, by methods
and practices designated by our statutes
as criminal Your officials, who were sup
posed 10 act for and protect the interests
of the State. have been openly charged
with being in collision with contractors.
and by overt practices and permissive
acts have permitted the money of the
State to be wasted, absorbed, and squan-
dered. in a manner so fragrant as to cause
the present comptroller to cry out for
a halt in this course and ask for an In
Yestlgation of these corrupt methods.
Still these acts were permitted to con-
tinue until the expressed Indignation of
/ the outraged people compelled an investi-
CATION Even after a high-minded com
mission appointed by the governor of the
State had investigated these charges and
found many of them true, and so reported
many months ago, yet you have not pro-
ceeded against or suspended single Of
ficeT charged with these offenses, nor
have you punished or attempted 10 pun
ish any persons who have been charged
with the preparation of these acts. nor
| have you attempted TO correct any of
| these abuses proven 10 exist.
But all are permitted 10 go on In the
discharge of public trusts. notwithstand-
! ing the proof shows that they have long
ago debased and forfeited such trusts.
! while you refuse to bring these al
legged defenders before a jury of their
peers in court for trial upon the charges
made and found yet the sovereign people
I are anXiOusly waiting for the coming No
vember day when they can act as jurors
/ in deciding the fate of the party which is
I responsible for these acts and omissions,
/ which are blots upon the fair name of
! our State"
/ Mr. Palmer said not a word about sill
! yer or gold in his whole speech.
AT all Democratic conventions following
( the speech of the temporary chairman.
/ the managers afford an opportunity for
] the friends of delegates TO whoop things
/ up at roll-call by name. The popularity
/ of each delegate is judged by the noise
that follows the calling of his name.
Hill and Danforth Cbeered
The first name that evoked any applause
here was that of former Senator David B.
Hill The next name was that Of Elliot
F. Danforth Mr. Danforth's rooters
were on hand, and they whooped things
up for him The name of Wilbur A. Por-
ter, who was the last Democratic candi-
/ date for governor of the State of New
/ York, called forth just one shout.
! Mayor Van Wyck is delegate from the
/ Twenty-second New York District. but he
! is not here. When his name was called
there was a ''hi-hi-hi" and for fully a
minute there was so much noise you could
not hear yourself think. Mr.. Van Wyck' :
name evoked considerably more applause
i than that of Senator Hill.
| Mr.. Croker's name was called just after
that of the mayor and he went the mayor
! one better. With the single exception of
Senator Edward Murphy, jr.. Mr.. Croker
! got the most cheering during the roll call
An Injection of Silver.
The moment the roll call was finished
the Hon. Jabez Pierce of Monroe, strobe
into the aisIes and called Mr. Chair
man." Mr. Pierce held aloft sheet OF
! paper which he waved frantically TO at
| tract the attention Of the chairman. A
| page rushed to him and got the paper
Mr. Chairman" roared Mr. Pierce "a
offer this and insist that it be read to
tho