New-York tribune., 1901-01-02
THE INAUGURATION.

Two years ago Governor Roosevelt signalized
his assumption of office by an address which
occupied not more than five minutes In delivery.
Governor Odell, who has much less of the ora
torical temperament than his predecessor, has
evidently been glad to follow that example ara
make his own inaugural address as brief as the
occasion would permit. He has always shown
a distaste for speechmaking and display, and
Yesterday in the simplicity Of the arrangements
ne insisted upon for the ceremonies of installa-
ton and in the fewness of his words he fully
lived up TO that reputation.
The opening of the legislative session and the
necessity of sending a message TO the houses
almost Immediately after Inauguration have
made it customary for Governors of New-fork
to delay detailed discussion of State problems,
and in taking office TO confine themselves to
general declaration of purposes and principles.
Governor Odell has followed this custom. He
makes not a single definite statement concern
inc any measure but at the same time he clear
ly reveals his spirit and indicates The policy
which he will pursue. He is, as he always has
been a strong partisan and leader of the Re
publican organization. Many feared that when
he took office he would be merely the Republi-
can Committeeman doing the will of the COM
mittee in the Governors chair. But that is not
his conception of the function of a partisan In
power He urges upon all the duty of forget
ting partisanship and giving support TO those
who are by majority vote clothed with author
ity and he has already shown in his attitude
concerning appointments and legislation since
his election that he recognizes the reciprocal
duty of those in authority TO make the needs
of the State the criterion of party policy, and
faithful service to the State the test of party
loyalty.
The burden Of taxation and the growing ten
dency TO extravaganza in the Stare and its
minor divisions weigh heavily upon the new
Governors mind. and in his speech he gives
them more attention that any other subject.
Particularly interesting is this suggestion:
The success of our State administration de-
pends much upon its component parts as
upon the aggregate, and il is right which the
Executive demand, and every loyal citizen
should accord, that in every municipality, IN
every township and hamlet, the same economical
conditions shall prevail expected in the
administration of our State affairs
This points to a purpose of reform in the
matter of special legislation which will not be
less useful than the economies in State gov
ernment to which the Governor Is devoted.
He may not be able to force the cities TO spend
their ordinary revenues with honesty and fru-
gality but he can stop the Legislature from
giving them extra opportunities for taxing the
citizens ana WdSllLp lue pIOCstuS. IN 'ic idob
few years there has been altogether too much
local Improvement so called, under special
laws paid for by extra levies. In some cases
cities have projected ambitious schemes pri-
marilv for their own benefit, and then, on p'e-
tence of suburban improvement have saddled
a large share of the expense on rural taXpay-
ers by the creation of special tax districts in
violation of the spirit if not the letter Of the
Constitution fixing the character of the sub
divisions Of the State and safeguarding TO the
people in each their appropriate sef-chosen ed
ministration and self-controlled taxation for
local improvements. In other cases a few
schemers in city village have Zen able
through the Legislature to force their fellow
citizens to large expenditures not at all in the
public interest A man perhaps would lay out
a residence plot, sewer it, sell lots at high prices
on the strength of the improvements and then
get the Legislature TO compel the purchasers
TO nav for those improvements over again In
the form of taxes by authorizing the municipal
ifv to buy his sewers. Such abuses rs these
ought to be frowned upon at Albany, and we
are glad to see that Governor Odell has turned
his attention to the administration of the
States subdivisions, for they are much mis-
managed and wronged by the Legislature urder
the pretence of private and local. bills, which
not In courtesy interfere with, even when they
know they are wrong and oppressive.