New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-23
TIRE EXTRA SESSION.

Governor ROosevelt's course In calling the
cxtra session Of the Legislature which assem-
bed last evening Is in sharp contrast with what
would be regarded as good policy by sharp
politicians" His engaging frankness In dealing
with public problems takes their breath away
On their theory OF statecraft he should ap-
prove the Ford bill without admitting that 1t
might be improved. and so giving his critics
chance to misrepresent him as signing Dill
which he himself did not believe n or else he
should let II die aud rely on its alleged imper-
lection as n justification to the taxpayers. who
demand that the property of corporations snail
contribute their fair share TO the revenues The
latter course would have pleased the statesmen
who always find II impossible for some plausl-
BILE reason TO do anything corporation dislikes
The former would have preserved the consis-
tency 80 dear to the politicians who are always
thinking Of appearances. II is something start
ling TO have a Governor who does not seek ex-
cuses who does not deal in subterfuge, and
cares less for appearances and consistency than
for Justice The motives for calling the extra
session have been and doubtless will be mis-
represented. II the session fails to pass any
satisfactory substitute for the Ford bill. the
people who are in search Of political capital and
the people who are angry at being made to pay
taxes that they have long escaped will Join TO
blame the Governor for an Improbable session.
But the Governor can stand It, for in spite Of
manipulation and in spite Of Mysteries his ac-
tons will be generally understood and re-
spected.
1t is easy to say that the Governor has called
the extra session to get himself out OF scrape
and people who want him TO be in scrape are
quick to say II. AS a matter OF fact, the extra
session was called AT the suggestion OF the
franchise-ho holders. 1t Is the chance given them
10 bring forward franchise tax measure which
will guard them against the dangers they think
they see In the Ford bill. 1t is the day OF grace
given them to deal openly with the question OF
franchise taxation after having thrown away
their proper opportunity at the regular session
and trusted to underhand methods to delay and
strange the bill. They say the Governor has
learned something about the bill since he Sc
cured its passage The things they complain OF
were In 1t from January until adjournment, and
IL they had been acting In good faith they would
have pointed them out. IL was their bad faith
that induced the Governor to interfere to save
franchise taxation from being sldetracked. and
n is with i'll grace that they complain that the
result Is not perfection. Nevertheless, the Gov
ernor has taken them at their word. The Ford
bin itself he regards as an excellent one. ant
rightly. Still, he is willing to remove any de
fects that. may appear in 1t, and so he hal
taken what is regarded as the risky pOlitica
step OF calling the extra session. That In ftsel
Is a proof Of his courage and his desire to d.
Justice, even at the cost Of misrepresentation
and abuse
Whether the extra session itself will accom-
piish much may be doubted. The chances sp
pear to be about even that the Governor will
finally have TO sign the Ford bill as the onl!
means Of securing franchise taxation at all. /
go no harm will be done. None OF the defect
in the bill are anything like as serious as thos
who denounce the measure think they believ
them TO be. Many Of the objections are no
based on careful thought on the working OF tn
tax: others are mere expressions OF interest ant
prejudice. Amendment Of the bill TO make !
more acceptable to the corporations affecte'
without altering It's essential character woul'
add TO the prestige of the Governor and saw
him from some unworthy gibes. but even II thi