New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15
ROOSEVELT AS GOVERNOR.
HIS WISE AND CONSERVATIVE COURSE
WHILE AT ALBANY
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrRrNr.l

lBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIRuNr.l
Albany, Sept 14.-President Roosevelt when
Governor of the State was cautious and con-
sentative. When he came into office there was
a strong sentiment in favor of abandoning all
the plans for improving the States canals and
also a strong sentiment in favor of a ship canal
He appointed a commission headed by General
Francis V. Greene to study the problems Of
canal navigation business men. That COM
mission opposed the construction of ship
canal Governor Roosevelt agreed with il in
this Judgment. Yet it favored the construction
of barge canal at cost of SIO.ooO,OOO. Com
menting upon this recommendation Governor
Roosevelt said:
At the outset, this a very large
penditure of money. but the more have looked
into this question. the more believe that. con-
sidering the interests of the State as if they
were those OF mere business corporation this
expenditure Will seem right and proper
Governor Roosevelt found the laws regarding
the examination and selection of persons desir
ing to enter the Civil Service of the State and its
cities in an unfortunately lax condition He re-
formed them to conform to the constitutions
spirit. and now New York has excellent law
for the Improvement of it's Civil Service.
Governor Roosevelt did not launch into any
great State expenditures. In his first message
he said:
In the States charitable work. which is now
very expensive and especially regards the
care or the insane, care should be taken not
needlessy to multiply institutions nor to erect
buildings more costly than is absolutely neces-
sary. and the salary list should be kept down.
That also a policy of his administration
which was consistently maintained in regard to
other State departments Concerning trusts the
Governor maintained in his second annual mes
sage that the first essential thing to be done in
regard to them was to secure the publication o.
their accounts He said:
The machinery of modern business is vast
ercised in introducing radical changes for fear
the unforeseen effects may take the shape OF
widespread disaster
Regarding labor laws, Governor Roosevelt
said in his second message:
In nothing do we need to exercise cooler Judg
ment than in labor legislation. Such legislation
is absolutely necessary alike from the humani-
tartan and the industrial standpoint; and it is
much duty to protect the weaker wage
workers from oppression to protect helpless
investors from fraud But must beware
above all things of that injudicious and i'll con-
sidered benevolence which usually in the long
defeats it's own ends.
Undoubtedly the Franchise Tax law approved
to be radical legislation. The Governor in his
second annual message in defence of it said
The Franchise Tax law is framed with the in
tent of securing exact and equal justice no
more, no less. 1t is not in any way intended as
a means for prosecuting expressing corpora
tions But il is intended that property which
derives it's value from the grant of a privilege
by the public shall be taxed proportionately TO
the value of the privilege granted.