New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25

is the first public document Of the new
Chief Executive of the State-wil attract wide
spread attention as an indication OF the policy
and purpose OF the incoming Governor. None
the less il IS true that this first MESSAGE VIII
have few. If any. problems Of really first i'm
po-tance 70 solve, and its dominant note viii
be e counsel OF efficient. economical and honest
administration, rather than the recommendation
Of any sweeping changes in party policy or
state administration. At the very outset of the
campaign, IN his speech Of acceptance in Olean.
Senator Higgins briefly summarized the accom-
plishT6uys Of a decade Of Republican rule and
with TIE memory Of that summary in mind. if
is not difficult 10 foresee that the new Governor
satisfied fl his conviction that the policy OF the
Republican party IN the State has been as wise
as successful, convinced the more by the re-
cent overwhelming victory. viii advocate =
policy that IS already denominated in national
politics as standing pat" That this first mes
SAGE VIII have as its keynote administration
rather than legislation IS the settled conviction
Of al closely II touch with the situation in
Albany.
The issues Of the last campaign were Issues
Of administration. So TAR as any constructive
legislation was pledged by either party or caudi-
date. it was pledged by both but the line Of
battle lay along administrative lines, and in
his ver"heLminE victory Governor Higgins
RI the policy q Governor Odeu As he frames
his message. then. Governor Higgins has to con-
s6er only TWO aIlte-elecJion pronlises-the one
party pledge, contained in the SARATOGA plat
form. 10 reueal the tax on savings banks sur
plus. the other a personal pledge. made to phil
snthroQic workers in course Of the campaign. 10
ehahi-i ate in a measure and within certain
prescribed limits the local boards Of managers
q the State hospitals for the insane. The full
fiment Of these pledges. so far rs this rests
with the Governor. viii be contained IN his first
message.
On the subject Of the repeal Of the tax on
savings banks surplus the position Of the new
Governor. both before and after election is fully
set forth In MS OIean speech Of acceptance. He
said.
II Is sound policy TO relieve from taxation,
when possible. those OF our citizens least able
70 bear The burden. and to encourage them In
thrift and fruEali;y. While at the time the
Tax on savings banks surplus was imposed the
necessity for II seemed TO exist. the additional
TAX upon the sale Of liquor in the state renders
IL possible to forego the revenues received from
this source and therefore pledge myself, If
elected. TO advocate and favor the repeal Of
this tax
While his statement Of It has been equally
frank, Governor Higginss position on the ques-
ton Of restoring the local boards Of managers
il hospitals Tor the insane has been far less
generally understood II has been assumed that
he wes meditating clean sweep Of the existing
law and q return 10 the old situation. In point
Of fact, no such revolutionary legislation will
be recommended by Governor Higgins. To quote
his own words:
while shall, perhaps go further than Will
suit some. 7 shall not 80 far enough 10 suit
others" Whatever changes he VIII recommend
n his mesa e-and he viii certainly recon-
nerd sore-he VIII neither recommend nor
favor any change in the financial control OF
these institutions. On this point he has been
exceedingly explicit. both before and since his
election. lis arte-election statement was
follows
7 an FL favor Of re-establishing local boards
Of managers for the State hospitals for the in
ssre and O. transferring from The State Com
mission f. Lunacy 10 such boards all the adj
mlristratre powers which they had when abol-
ished. except those which are strictly financial
The feature Of the changes which were made
three years ago which commended them 70 ne
WAS The fact that they gave an opportunity TO
correct Uu5oubted extrava Eance Of the old sys-
TEN Of purchases by local boards. I would,
howeyer prefer 70 see the financial responsible
t,y kept where IT now IS. in the State Lunacy
Commission, which J understand. is discharg-
lEg this responsibility satisfactorily. I would
sire The local boards power 10 say how the
patients should he fed, how they saould be
clothed how they should lie cared for and who
should feed. cIothe and care for them" This
statement, made 1T a time when Judge Herrick
promised everything in sight. clearly indicates
Tie tenor Of Governor Hissinss message in
this respect.