New-York tribune., 1901-01-01
WORK FOR LEGISLATURE.
GOOD ROADS AND CANAL IMPROVE
MENTs MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECTS.
POLICE AND CHARTER OF THIS CITY WILL
BE CONSIDERED FIRST.
tBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. ]

lbf TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Albany, Dec. 31-Lieutenant- Governor Wood
| ruff said yesterday that since the Legislature
| had large Republican maiorities in both it's
branches Mr.. Oden would have a free hand
| in enforcing any policy of government that
| he might adopt. Mr.. Woodruff added that he
| thought Mr.. Odell had begun his work of
| administering the affairs of the State adnira-
/ bly, by his decision to reappoint Colonel John
N. Partridge Superintendent of Public Works
| and General Edward NJ. Hoffman Adju-
| tant-General. Both of these officials Mr.. Wood
| run said, had performed their duties to the
| satisfaction of the people of the State, and
therefore it was only right that they should be
reappointed Moreover it seemed TO indicate a
conservative policy on the part of Mr.. Odell of
| retaining in office such of the Republican Off
cials as have been loyal to the interests of the
| State
| In the opinion of Lieutenant Governor Wood
| ruff the great question to be considered by the
| Legislature and Governor elect Odell will be
| that of improving the States canals. He has
been much impressed of late by the earnest sup
port given to the proposition to expend S62,OoO,
! 600 or even more in enlarging the Erie Canal TO
| the dimensions of barge canal The members
| OF the Produce Exchange of New-York, of the
Merchants Exchange of Buffalo and similar
| bodies are of course keenly desirous that steps
| should be taken to still further improve the
cities of the State feeling. outside of the COM
mercial bodies mentioned in favor of canal i'm
| provement He travelled the State extern
sively, making speeches in the late political cam
| paign and thus had talks on canal topics with
| a large number of persons He says that the
| members Of the Produce Exchange of New-York
| especially believe that there has been a change
| of sentiment in regard to canal improvements in
the last six months. that such projects are re-
rlua in Tho
| spring. and therefore there is more of possi-
bility that the people would vote favorably upon
| a proposition TO bond the State TO a large
amount for the improvement of its waterways.
The report of State Engineer Bond as to the
result of his survey of the line of the proposed
barge canal and estimate TO its cost will not
| be submitted 10 Governor Odel until February
II. Mr.. Oder is not expected to touch upon
| canal topics in his first annual message to the
| Legislature. which will be submitted to that
| body Wednesday. Mr.. Odell has stated
however, that he will consider the canal inn
| provement suggestions in a special message ad-
| dressed to the Legislature. This message il is
| expected. will reach the Legislature about Feb
ruary 13. Northumberland Woodruff has
| expressed the opinion that in view of the i'm
portance OF this subject the Legislature should
! IL necessary. prolOng its session beyond the
period it has ordinarily taken of late years in
legislative work, and devote this additional time
TO a thorough consideration OF the report OF
State Engineer Bond the proposed barge
canal and the competition OF the Canadian
| canals with those OF this State.
MORE MONEY FOR GOOD ROADS.
Another subject OF Importance that the Legis-
lature will consider, and which undoubtedly will
be touched upon by Governor-elect Odell on
Wednesday in his message will be that OF the
improvement OF the roads OF the State. The
p-an
rection, and its counties as much more: making
100000 expended in ALL The supporters of the
| good roads movement now suggest that SJ00G00
| be expended the coming year for this same pur-
| pose. With county aid TO the extent OF SJ00O00
| since the counties must pay half the cost OF
| such improvements. this would bring up the to-
| tai amount for road improvement this year. IL
| the Ciovernor-elect and the Legislature approve
| OF the scheme. to S1.000O00. II is pointed out
| that Massachusetts annually spends S6OO,OOO in
| road improvement. and New-YOrk. II is asserted,
| should not lag behind State OF much smaller
resources. II Is thought that the railroad inter
| est would heartily sustain the road Improvement
| movement since in New-Jersey the railroads
| offer exceedingly low rates for the transporta-
| tion of road construction material, and. indeed
| In many instances transport IL free. The rail-
road interest is also greatly concerned about the
abolition OF grade crossings and clearly stands
| ready to expend still larger amounts than be-
| fore in that direction II the State will increase
| the amount II yearly appropriates for this pur-
| pose.
TO REDUCE GOVERNING EXPENSES.
1t is believed here that Mr.. Odell desires TO
reduce by about S2.O00.0O0 the States present
appropriation for It's yearly support of about
| $23 900 900 of the peoples money. This desire
on Mr. Odens part TO reduce the States
penses. however. VIII not necessarily be bar to
the taking Of the initial steps for canal improve
ments or road improvement. Money can un-
doubtedly be saved In various directions in which
II is now expended. For many years the State
has been constructing armories, normal schools,
reformatories, expensive hospitals for the insane
and minor charitable institutions. Then there
has been great multiplication of commissions
Every State officer who has visited Newburg re-
ports that MIR. Odell impresses upon them the
necessity OF an economical administration OF the
affairs of the departments. IL is also said that
Mr.. Odell thinks the Legislature can itself offer
example of retrenchment by cutting down its
outgoes 100000 a year Mr. Odell has been
chairman of the Republican State Committee
and therefore is personally aware of the intense
pressure for legislative employment The first
| bill lately passed by the Legislature has been
| OF 1900 for example, is act apprOprating
| S21 800 "for advances by the Controller TO the
clerks of the Senate ana the Assembly for
| tingent expenses and clerical services for the
Legislature" II is understood that the LegiS-
lature has an extra list' of employees and that
| this list is large one. Such lists are always
| large in a year when President and Governor
are elected simultaneously The State depart
ments and bureaus also undoubtedly have many
| unnecessary employees.
1t is apparent from the reports from Newburg
that influential Republicans, perceiving that Mr.
| Odell desires economical administration have
| suggested the consolidation of some of the pres
| ent commissions and the abolition of others
| In the making of these changes il is said that
| the professional politicians desrous of
| curing the removal of officers appointed by Gov