New-York tribune., 1901-03-11
AUHIEVEMEN rs OF ODELL.
LEGISLATION FOLLOWS CLOSELY THE
GOVERNORS RECOMMENDATIONS.
COST OF STATE POLICE SYSTEM ONE OF
HIS REASONS FOR OPPOSING IT.
MEASURES EMBODYING
HIS IDEAS

HIS IDEAS.
Albany March II, (SpeciaD.-Csovernor Oderrs
administration as expressed in acts of legisia-
ton is Just beginning to be outlined IL is inter-
estng to note how closely that legislation fol-
lows the lines forth in his first annual mes
sage to the legislature. In the quiet OF ms
home. at Newburg. in the two months that pre-
ceded his taking the oath of office the Governor
seems TO have considered carefully from every
point of view the legislation that would natural
Iy be considered. and then, after dehberauon.
formed his own Judgment upon it and expressed
II in his message
1t thus happens that when bills have been
introduced to carry out the recommendations
made in his message those who assailed these
measures have found the Governor thoroughly
we'll prepared TO defend them He had not care
Iessly formed his opinion about them 1T should
be stated also. that the Governor has not been
unduly tenacious of his own views, he has been
willing when shown that measure was III
framed or contained unjust provisions. to con-
sent TO a modification of the bill IN question
Further. it ought be stated that he reserves
his final Judgment upon bill until IL reaches
him; he is not giving pledges in advance that he
will sign bills passed by the legislature.
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
The Governor recommended radical reduce
sage Ever since January L. therefore. the
heads of State departments and the MEMBERS
of the finance committees of the Senate and the
Assembly have been laborng zealously TO carry
out this recommendation. Senator Higgins, the
chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. and
Assemblyman Aids the chairman of the As
sembIy Committee on Ways and Means. may
be said literally to have worked night and day
in cooperation with the heads of State Depart
meuts cutting down the expenses OF the State.
A big reduction is therefore shown in every ap-
propration act thus far presented to the legfs-
lature.
Another feature of the Governors programme
was the passage of indirect revenue producing
measures with the aim of abOlishing the direct
taxation of the State. Three of these measures.
the bill taxing savings banks, the bill taxing in
surance companies and the bill taxing trust
companies. have already passed the Senate. and
are now before the Assembly-and will probably
be passed this week The Senate is at
work upon another important indirect taxation
BILL the most important of them ALL taxing ali
kinds of corporations. 1t brings under the tax
alton laws the manufacturing establishments OF
the State. Where the State has derived in
come of S2,5000OO year from corporations gen.
orally. it is hoped that a revenue of So,OOO,OO0
will be obtained
WATER LEGISLATION FOR NETWORK.
Governor Odel also recommended that legis-
Iation be passed empowering New-York to in
crease it's water supply The Senate and the
Assembly have both passed and Mayor Van
Wyck has approved of bill empowering New
York to condemn land TO secure water rights.
and the bill is before Governor Oden for
Signature The Senate and the Assembly have
also passed an amendment the constitution
permitting New-York to exceed it's debt limit
when II is necessary to increase it's water sup
ply. During the present week the legislature
will undoubtedly pass the act repeating the
great privileges granted the Ramapo Water
Company The bill has already passed the SEN
ate, and will pass the Assembly tomorrow
night.
The Governor recommended that various State
commissions should be abolished The Fish.
Forest and Game Commission and the Forest
Preserve Board have been abolished in an act
passed by the Legislature. and one commission
has taken their place. The Factory Inspector.
the Superintendent of the Bureau Of Labor
Statistics and the Board Of Mediation and Arbi-
tration have all been abolished and their place
taken by a commissioner of labor A board
of three commissioners has taken the place OF
one of nine in control Of the Prison Commission
The State Board OF Health has already become
a single headed commission.
STATE POLICE AND TAX REDUCTION.
Governor Oden in his message also condemned
the administration of the Police Department of
New-York He said that it's present condition
is due TO divided responsibility" He then
said:
What remedy have we. then, for this manifest
evil which has brought the police force Of the
city of New-York into such disrepute? State
constabulary has been suggested, but the strong
Discrimination upon the part of other municipdl.-
ties throughout the State TO acquiesce in this
solution renders this plan valueless- A metropoi-
itan police system is open TO the criticism that
II is a violation of the principle of home rule
guaranteed by the constitution
The Governor thus deliberately condemned
a State constabulary bill and a metropolitan
police bill. There Is the slightest indication
here that he has changed his opinion upon ths
bills mentioned He rejected them and said:
recommend. therefore, the substitution OF
single headed police commission for the city
of New-York such commissioner be the chief
of police of the city, TO be appointed by the
Mayor and subject TO removal either by the
MAYOR the Governor.
That was the act passed. and. stated
there are no tokens here that the Governor has
taken up the state constabuIary bill the
metropolitan police bill which he rejected when
The creation of State police system at this
time. ii is declared by prominent Republicans
would certainly work havoc with Governor
OdelTs plans to abolish direct State taxation.
and perhaps. therefore, one can reasonably infer
that this is of the reasons why up this
period the Governor has given no sign that he
favors State police system.
In order TO abolish direct taxation between
S1OO10OOO and S12.OO0,OOO must be raised All
steps abolish direct State taxation would. 1T