New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07
LEGISLATURE MEETS.
SPE4KER REFLECTED.
Especial Interest in GOUernor
OdelPS Message.
iRr TELEGRAPH 20 rni. rrfrrxr. !

Albany Jan with an absence OF any other
formaIty than the swearing in Of new members
in the Assembly and the displaying OF wonder
1ui Moral tributes from admiring constituents in
the Senate. the legislative session for 1904 began
to-day. In the Senate the fact that the same
oody which met last year raconvened to-day
made all organization unnecessary. and the W
per house gravely settled down TO the eonsidera-
ton OF measures, few minutes after Iieuten-
ant Governor Higgins had called it to order.
In the Assembly. on the other hand new off,
GERS had TO be chosen. and the occasion of the
reelection Of S Fred Nixon. as Speaker for the
SNth consecutive term was the occasion OF
some speechmaking.
In accepting the Speakership Mr. Nixon out
hned the responsibilities of the legislature as L
result of the canal legislation pending. and
strongly intimated that a brief session and IT.
tie legislation were in prospect
Inc Democratic minority voted for George NJ
Palmer. Of Schoharie. for Speaker
Senator Greene. of Binghamton. who is under
Indictment IN connection with the postal scan
dal, was In his seat. and his desk was covered
with horal offerings from friends.
Senator's Victor ]. DowIing and Patrick VT
McCarren were absent from the Dernocratt,
side
The honors in the flower show belonged 10
Lieutenant Governor Higgins, with Senator Els
berg close second
POINTS IN MESSAGE.
Almost without exception. interest in the Gov
erhor message submitted to-day centred in the
original and striking recommendations concern
ing the financing of the vast canal loan. The
proposition. which outlined a method of saving
to the State $41 100000, was in itself sufficiently
unique to command the admiration of Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. and the straightforward
manner in which Governor OdeII had COM
DleteIv Mo
OF conversation about the Capitol OF hardly
secondary interest was the question of where the
Governor proposed to raise the additional
So,0oOOOO annually TO carry out his PLAN since
his method was not outlined in the message
At first the general impression was that there
would be another increase in excise taxes but ii
was quickly developed that xae prospect Of any
such legislation was exceedingly slim. More
over. the recommendations respecting the mort
gage tax contained in the message also eIrni-
mated this source of possible revenue. That the
Governor has told his friends that he has plan
in his pocket complete in every detail is GER
tain. but what that plan is has not yet been
divulged. That the raising of this sum. or at
least the passage of legislation providing for
this increased revenue. is on the programme for
the present session Is certain. for while tho
State treasury has in the surplus the $1,000.
900 needed for the first year. the general opinion
IS CnaL 0eunlte setting OF the QUSSllOA u uc~
sirable
Questions as TO the conssitutiohaHty %
various phases OF the Governors recommended
tions are. as he points out in the message, like
ly 10 be raised. notably In the matter OF the
loans by the counties. possibly. also in the case
OF the counties of greater New-Yorl. as TO the
legal right to increase the county debt; but
these are questions that will be covered by legis-
lation before the necessity for the money actu-
ally arises. Within the next ten days Governor
Ode will appoint tne ad9SoEy II, DospT spt4 20 tS
engineering difficulties of the new project.
EDUCATIONAL SITUATION.
Next IN interest after the canal recommends
tions contained in the Governors message was
that relating to the public school situation. His
proposition to divide the spheres Of the Regents
and the Department of Public Instruction on the
basis of primary and academic education was
the subject of much favorable comment The
consensus of opinion was that the Governor had
proposed a method of final settlement Of existing
difficulties which was practicable and at the
same time necessary.
The Governors reference to home rule was
the topic of considerable argument 1t was
agreed that the Governor did not in his refer
ence 10 the use of police for partisan purposes
intimate that any State constabulary measure
was to be expected for it is known that the de-
cision of the Court of Appeals in the case OF
the Albany police had practically declared
State cOnSta buldTN OQCOnSllIUJiOtldl
That the Governor was in some way toucninS
on the excise situation was generally suspected;
1T was, moreover, pointed out tnat ne had prev
ously suggested a referendum on tne excise
question TO the State however, and not 10 the
citizens of greater New-York
That the Governor merely intended 70 call at
tention TO this question of vital Importance at
the present moment is the general theory. Sim
NarIy the directing Of the attention OF the leg
islature 10 the inequalities of the mortgage tax
is interpreted as raising the question more to
call the attention OF the legislature to IL than TO
prepare for any prearranged action.
The Governor has already recommended both
the abolition OF the mortgage tax and the sub
stitution of two different taxes Of record. Both
OF these recommendations were without effect
Other subjects considered in the message were
discussed but the vast Importance OF the canal
project dwarfed al! else and when the legfs-
Iature reconvenes this plan will be the subject OF
widespread comment. which in some meas
ure impossible to-day owing TO the complexity
of the Governors plan, on which the Legislature
wished 10 study. rather than comment.
For text of the Governors third page