Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-01-12
AN ABLE STATE PAPER.
The First Message of Gov. Roosevelt
to the New York Legislature Deals
with 0uestIOns of NitaI Interest.

Albany. n. Y, Jan. 5.-The state lag
islature convened yesterday. In both
the assembly and the senate the re-
publican caucus nominees were elect
ed. Fred Dixon, of Chautauqua coun-
ty, was made speaker of the assembly
and Archie PaXter, of Chemung, was
chosen clerk. In the senate T. f. ELS
worth, of Niagara county, and james
+. Whipple, of Cattaraugus county,
were elected temporary chairman and
clerk respectively. Aftsr a brief ad-
dress by Lieut.. Gov. Woodruff, the an
nual message OF Gov. Roosevelt was
read.
Gov. Roosevelt opened with congrat-
ulations to nation and state on the
brilliant triumphs of the war. THE
tropic islands we have taken" the gov
ernor said, must neither be allowed
to lapse into anarchy nor to return
under the sway of tyranny"
On canals Gov. Roosevelt said: The
canals are at present in such condition
that the money already expended will
avail nothing if the work is discon-
tinued. Expenditures that can be made
within the constitution should he au-
thorized. The canals should be admin
istered economically. Any man, wheth-
er public servant or contractor, who
in any way defrauds the state to his
private gain, must be dealt with as
vigorously as the laws will permit"
As to labor interests, the message
contains several important sugges-
tions for bettering conditions. The
governor said that the enforcement of
the law regulating the hours of labor
for minors is left to the board of
health in large cities, and if the board
fails to do its work the law. ''as in
the case of New York City" is prac-
tically dead letter. AS to the law
regulating the hours of labor on sur
face roads. the governor said it prac-
tically fails by default because the
railroad commissioners, who have its
enforcement, have no force to use for
such a purpose. In order that the de-
sire Of the people shall be made effect
i've, the governor recommends that the
enforcement of the entire body of leg
islation relating to labor be placed un-
der the board Of factory inspectors.
This would place the responsibility
where it belongs.
In speaking of the national guard,
the governor said il was a mistake to
order out the guard for long cam
paign service, as many of the men
lost their jobs in consequence and
families were deprived of their sup
port. He thought this was one of the
best arguments for an increased
standing army. In the event of an
other war. the governor said. it would
be best to order out the guard for
service in the United States alone.
Regarding the civil service, Gov.
Roosevelt said: THE methods of APP
pointments to the civil service of the
state are now in utter confusion. no
less than three systems being in eff
feet. ! recommend that a law be
passed introducing one uniform prac
tice"
Gov. Roosevelt invited attention to
the evils of over-legislation. THE state
suffers more from over-legislation
than from the lack of legislation" he
said. The governor recommended hi
ennial sessions of the legislature.
OF New York's police system he
said: "The evils of the police system
of New York have become very seri-
GUS"
Gov. Roosevelt devoted but a few
lines to excise. He said the present
law had proved the best revenue raiser