New-York tribune., 1901-01-01
GovERNOR ROOsEVEATs ACHIEVEMENTS.

In attempting any Judgment of Mr.. ROose-
velt's achievements as Governor it is necessary
TO bear In mind the incompleteness of his term
of power. 1t is true that he served out the
constitutional period of his office but he planned
q career of four years to complete his reforms
and perfect his record Of service TO the State,
and fate cut him off with only two. Last spring
he himself declared that the great problems be-
fore him had been only partially solved and
he needed another term to do justice TO himself
and the STATE, and after that time the exigen-
cies of the Presidential campaign took him
from the Executive office for a considerable
period and practically nothing was accomplished
in dealing with State questions. If, then, in
some cases more of promise than performance
is seen in his doings, they should be considered
not as failures, but as unfinished works.
Putting these aside Governor Roosevelt has
a considerable body of achievement to his
credit On entering office he reorganized the
Department Of Public Works, which had
brought such scandal to the State and such
discredit TO the Republican party, and placed
in control Of 1t as Superintendent and Deputy
superintendent men who have given the State
the best OF service. The Insurance Depart
ment was likewise placed under management
which commands the respect and confidence of
the people. Under his lead the Civil Service
laws were reformed and greatly strengthened.
He attempted a general and much needed re-
form of our tax laws, and he succeeded in pass
ing law TO compel the franchise holders who
had long been escaping taxation on the value
of the rights granted 10 them by the public. to
pay their share of the expense of government.
His precipitancy in dealing with this subject
has been much criticised, but it should not be
forgotten that only by forcing through the Fran
.l.y r~ax ln,v
entire shelving of the question, as it had been
often shelved before. The bill by chance had
got beyond the control of the politicians, and
il was a wise and statesmanlike act TO take adj
vantage of that situation TO force the taxation
of franchises even I'm an imperfect manner
Defects in the law could be corrected later and
there was no assurance that, the opportunity
once lost, the chance would come again for years
TO get in any shape at all this justly demanded
reform.
Governor Roosevelt's course in securing fran
chise taxation undoubtedly made him many
powerful enemies. When his yielding TO ma
chine pressure. as In the ease of the tax trans
fer appraisers his somewhat erratic utterances
and njudici0ns actions and his sometimes un-
fortunate methods of relieving himself from
the consequences of his mistakes are all
summed up against him by his critics they
husb bdidhSt titL Win the foUfHHt anu us
interested devotion TO the public welfare which
he showed In bringing about this great relief to
the taxpayers and find the scale inclined I'm
his favor. But for that assertion of himself he
might perhaps have had his will and carried
out his policy through second term. What
ever he leaves uncOmpleted may not unfairly
be accounted the price he paid for doing his
duty in the matter of franchise taxation.
Reviewing the period of his GovernOrship his
fellow citizens will generally acknowledge that
Colonel RoOsevelt's recent employment of his
constitutional authority TO remove District At
tOrney Gardiner Is likely 10 prove exceedingly
beneficial 10 this community. His activity In
the National campaign amply justified by GUS
tom. though outside the sphere of his official
obligations undoubtedly contributed 10 the re-
suit for which the country is profoundly Crate
full and increased the respect and admiration
with which he had been regarded His own
election TO the Vice-Presidency, while II i'm
poses upon him new and perhaps not wholly
cOngenial duties. is a highly honorable promo
tlOn and unusual interest and the best wishes
for his cOnfentment and continued usefulness
will follow him TO the National capital