The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-03
First Message Of the Ghlet MagIS-
trate Of New York Ur0es
EConomu Of Government.
4 CHECK ON TAMMANY
Recommends Capitalization of Mum
icipal Powers-single Head for
Police Department, Subject to Re-
moval by Governor or Mayor-Mu-
nicipal Ownership of Water Supply
Favored-Justice for Corporations.
How Inequalities in Taxation
Could Be Adjusted.


by Exclusive Wire from The Associated Press
New York, Jan. 2.--Governor Odelrs
first message to the New York legisla-
ture. transmitted today:
The governors message Is a general
recommendation for the reduction of
the expenses of the state and plea
for more rigid economy in the differ
ent departments and commissions. He
recommends the consolidation of the
board of mediation and arbitration, the
bureau of labor statistics and the state
factory inspection department into one
commission. to be known as the de-
partment of labor. He asks that the
state board Of charities and the pris-
ons commission be abolished and the
work of these departments be done by
a single commissioner. He also OBJ
jects to the present system of employ
ing special legal advice and recom-
mends that the compensation of attor-
neys be fixed by statute on percent
age basis.
The governor is of the opinion chat
the corporations are treated more lib
orally in other states than they are in
New York. The burdens placed upon
domestic corporations. he says. is fore
ing capital to go to other states where
more favorable laws exist and as a
consequence New York is losing reve-
nues which other states are enjoying
a its expense. The legislature is asked
to enact amendments which will liber-
alize and make more popular the states
corporation laws. I'VE should exercise
the same supervision over foreign cor
porations who seek to do business with
in our state" says Mr.. Odell, "as over
our own, and they should be subject to
the same limitations. Many complaints
now made against large combinations
of capital are just, but owing to our
lack of jurisdiction we are unable to
control, and therefore no law can be
framed which will reach foreign cor
porations effectively. Even though we
deny their right to file certificates, the
greatest penalty is the Withholding Of
the right to use our courts, and this in
effect is but slight embarrassment,
as the United States court can be used
for the same purpose. Liberal laws,
therefore, which will accord the same
rights as those given to individuals,
restrictive as to their powers and the
safeguarding of the peoples interest,
will accomplish much more than decla-
nation against corporations. and will
at the same time aid us by relieving
the burden of taxation upon the homes
Of those who can i'll afford to bear
hem"
Taxation of Corporations.
The governor says that he has looked
forward with pleasureable anticipat tion
to the day whel the state of New York
would no longer find it necessary to
levy direct tax for state purposes. In
referring to the taxation of corpora
tions Mr.. Odell says:
"All corporations receive from the
state certain rights, it seems to me-
therefore, that capital of this charac-
ter in our state should pay a tribute
to the creating power for that which
they have received. This justifies the
present laws taxing corporations fol
state purposes, and all future corpora
tion tax laws should be based upon
this principle. That the present law
works hardships to some and is not
fully enforced in other cases Is appar.
ent. This no makeshift remedy will
should be framed to meet existing con.
ditions and fair and equitable recon-.
pense from all corporations enjoyine
state protection and favors should bt
exacted. Exemptions should be giver
by the localities rather than by the
state, because it is the former which
receives the greatest benefit and al
corporations should therefore pay {
tax based upon their earning power
But few of the many corporations il
the state are now taxed in this manner
and therefore an unfair discrimination
exists
As to the correction of evils in the
,ity of New York and the need of hus
banding the resources of the city, tht
governor says:
Every department OF New Yorl
needs corrective legislation. Especial
ly is this true of those department.
whose administration is confined tc
county lines. In this direction desir,
to call your attention to the fact that
many of the public officers In that cit,
are receiving a larger remuneration fol-
their services than that which Is giver
to the president of the United States
Your attention is called to a few in
stances of this character. The sheriff
of the county of New York receives al
annual salary of $4,000, and one-half o
the fees. which are said to amount [,
$4,000 per year more. The claim ha
been made heretofore that the sheriff
takes great financial responsibility anC
Is therefore entitled to additional com
pensation This Is not now true in eff
erect, because he can at all times de
mand a bond of indemnity and thu
save himself from all harm. 1t woul,
seem to me that a salary of $1,000
would be ample for this office. Th
same may be said of the county clerl
and the registrar of the county of New
York, whose salaries are excessive. II
the county OF Kings the combined sal
aries OF the sheriff, county clerk an,
registrar amount to 100000 per an
mum. This could be reduced by abol
ishing the fee system and substitutin,
therefor salaries, the balance to be pai,
into the treasury for the purpose O
reducing the taxes upon property"
Police Department.
The police department of New Yorl
city receives considerable attention Il
Ane governors message. Mr.. OdeIl |
the opinion that much of the diff
'lty now existing in this department
Is e1e to divided responsibility and
lack of a GENERALIZATION. of authority
What remedy have we," he asks, 40
this manifest evil which has brough
the police force of the city OF Ney
York into such disrepute? A stat
constabulary has beer suggested, bu
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