New-York tribune., 1901-01-03
in SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
REORGANIZATION OF BOTH HOUSES.
TsE TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1sUxu.I

tDi A-Afohtfa 10 THE TRlpUNE-l
Albany, Jan. 2-eWeH" said a Republ.can
leader to-day, "the legislative new century
starts off quite breezy" He had been reading
Mr.. Odelrs first annual message addressed 70
the Legislature which met to-day. and had been
commenting mentally upon Mr.. OdeIPs sugges-
tons that this or that commission should be
abolished or consolidated with a kindred one.
and the States expenses thus reduced. He
added when he had made the above remark:
''If Governor Roosevelt. supposed to be a revolu-
zionist. had made 50 many radical Fecommenda-
tiOns as Governor OdeH has done. there would
have been a general uproar in the Legislature:
but. coming as they do from a recognized party
leader, and every one knowing that at least
two-thirds of the things Mr.. Oden suggests
ought to be DONE his programme will probably
be adopted without a mUrmuF of revolt In
other words. MIR. Roosevelt il would be thought
would have no care for the Republican organi-
zation in making his suggestions in favor Of the
passage of reform laws while Mr.. OdelI. coming
as he does from the heart of the organization.
would be considered as always loyal to it's true
interests"
MESSAGE AROUSES INTEREST.
The members of the Legislature gave more
than ordinary attention &c the Governors mes
sage as it was read in the Senate and in the
Assembly. A good many Of its chief features
dispatches from this city, but nevertheless a
large proportion OF the topics discussed by the
Governor were new both to the Senators and to
the Assemblymen. and his expression OF opinion
upon all Of them was heard with decided in
terest Mr. OdelFs suggested reforms. II was
perceived. included a reduction of the cost Of
collecting the collateral inheritance tax. a re-
duction of the number of employees Of the Leg
islature. lessening Of the number of special
att
the organization OF corporations so as 90 allure
them into this State the consolidation Of the
Board of Mediation and Arbitration. Of the
Factory Inspectors Office and of the Bureau
Of Labor Statistics into one Department. OF
Labor; the placing Of one man at the head of
the department now controlled by the State
Board of Charities and Of the department now
controlled by the Commission on Prisons. the
consolidation of the Forest Preserve Board and
of the Forest, Fish ard Game Commission un-
der one heaG. the reduction of the expenses Of
the Judiciary. the reformation of the taxation
laws, the amendment of the Liquor Tax law
to prevent colonization at election time the
abolition of the fees of the Sheriff of New
York and cutting down of the salaries OF the
Register and County Clerk the placing OF one
man at the head of the Police Department. OF
New-YOrk. the giving to New-Tork the right
to acquire water rights. the creation of a bi-
the Improvement Of the rUads Of the State
BIG LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME
This is a big programme. and was so regarded
by the members of the Legislature. It was sus-
pected, however. from the speeches Of Iieuten-
ant-GovernOr Woodruff and Speaker Nixon that
Governor OdeH had given them an outline OF
his message previously and enlisted their aid In
carrying some parts of his programme Mr.
Woodruff. for instance. in an address he made
TO the Senate upon taking the chair, dwelt upon
the great problem of canal improvement TO be
considered by the Legislature. Mr. Nixon. after
he had been elected Speaker, in his speech on
taking the chair. said that New-York should
own its own water supply. and II any corpora
tiOn had acquired powers that might prevent
any city or village in the State from owning its
source of water supply "the charter OF that
corporation should be repealed Mr.. Nixon m
troduced the bill in 1885, which gave the Ram
apo Water Company all the present great
rights it enjoys. He thus abandOns his IegisIa-
tive child in 1901. Senator Slater introduced a
bill repeating the charter of the Ramapo Water
Company and bin giving New-YOrk City the
power to condemn land to acquire water rights
When the Legislature assembled in the Cap
itOl at IL o'clock there was the usual floral Dis
play in both the Senate Chamber and the As
sembIy Chamber. There were several beautiful
WfeathS ana baskets or flowers upon the desk
of LieUtenant-GOvernOr Woodruff and huge
baskets of costly flowers upon the desks Of SEN
atOr Ellsworth, Senator Raines. Senator Green.
OF BinghamtOn; Senator Grady, the Democratic
leader; Senator Fuller and others In the As
sembly there was a big floral shield on the wall
back Of the Speakers desk bearing the figures
H. and "3'' This was an alIusiOn 70 Speaker
Nixon's eleven years service as an Assembly
man and to the fact that this year he viii serve
his third term as Speaker
IN THE SENATE
The Senators and AssembIymen took the
oath Of office in most cases before the Sacre-
tary of State and therefore both houses. upon
being called TO order. proceeded Immediately
10 business. Lieutenant Governor Woodruff
upon assuming the chair. said:
trust the work OF this Senate will brir. a,,a,
satisfaction 20 as all. and especially 20 those whom
we represent. To that end / Will co-orarssa VVi-T
You 10 the best OF my ability. The c0uSrtIIqrev
which looks 70 this Legislature for Security anal fh
and a half The population Of the whole limited
states az the beginning OF the century which mas
lust ended indeed our constituents outnunlher
the voters VINO. appeal to any other legisl lature
throughout the entire Western fternisphara Win
the exception OF the Congress OF United states
IN The commerce OF the Union all roads Lead 10
tion's commerce with the world The SUPREMACY
or our metropolis, and OF the State itself depends
upon The Improvement OF our great natural advan-
taSes. and on the that is made Of the water
ways and water powers which enrich every por-
uon or the Empire State Al this. the pros
porous period or our existeNce. the problem that
prosperity by helping the farmer. encouraging the
manufacturer and facilitating the OF the