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

legislature in reviewing the financial situation.
Whether he Will go further and recommend
legislation IS prOblematical. In point OF fact
this IS the question which the Governor has
held open until the last and on which ne is
conferrlng with a large number Of State leaders
and business interests.
STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The foregoing are the salient points of the
message. There remains number of less sig
nifcant heads TO be discussed Notable among
these is the subject of State charitable institu-
tons. apart from the State hospitals for the in
sane. About these institutions there ragged a
storm of Democratic calumny during the cam
paign. and in the face of this the new Executive
calmly outlined his policy. policy which
coded the need Of certain changes, but definitely
cOntroverted the wholesale denuncations Of
Democratic press and orators. His views, con-
tanned IN an ante-election statement were
printed in Charities" and furnish a trust
worthy indication OF his treatment OF this
phase OF State administration in his message.
He said:
4 shall lend my aid IN securing increase
Of appropriations for the enlargement OF the
State institutions for idiots and the feeble
minded. to secure the removal Of
all this unfortunate class from the county
almshoYses. We should take care Adequately of
all the insane, and Of ali of the feeble minded
who require public care the State has
suned the responsibility.
so far as the prisons are concerned, there
should be unsalaried board. contemplated
by the constitution, made up OF philanthropic
expert men and women, who would have full
powers of inspection and recommendation. The
Prison Commission should not be in any sense
part of the administration which II inspects.
1T has always seemed to me that the eastern
part of the State Is entitled TO have REFORM
atory Ike that at Elmra, and that the institu-
ton at Napanoch should be such institution.
It should therefore, cease TO be part Of the State
prison system and should have its own local
board of managers. as have the other State
fornatories.
LAS to the removal Of the House Of Refuge to
a country site, with cottage buildings I am in
favor Of such action at the earliest possible mo-
ment This would be IN line with the action of
the last two legislatures IN providing for a sim
liar removal of the State Industrial School AT
Rochester"
a few days later, in Brooklyn, Governor elect
Higgins said:
'.Those under my administration called upon
to administer the great public improvement Of
the commonwealth and to supervise It's chart
ties and institutions Will be men known rather
for their SKILL integrity and character than for
their political consequence. and any
lected by me for an important trust will not be
continued one hour after the betrayal Of that
trust"
This furnishes n fair summary Of the prob
able recommendations OF the Governor-elect
along charitable lines.
There are, in addition. number OF phases of
legislation where a party policy Of adrpinistra-
ton has been fully developed and IN which Gov
error-elect Higgins may be expected 10 recon-
among these Is the educational policy. In the
course Of the campaign the Governor-eIect re-
ferred frequently 10 the work Of the last legis-
lature in this field. It's enactment uniting the
the two departments, sweeping out vast deal
Of duplication IN work and reducing expenses
more than $4,000 annually. was the most i'm
portant single piece Of legislation of the last ses
sion IN the minds Of many. In his message the
new Governor will have no material change
indeed, no change at ALTO recommend, so
fully was the work done last year and VIII
content himself with calling attention to this,
THE GOOD ROADS QUESTION.
On the subject of good roads. Governor-elect
Higgins clearly outlined his position in his
speech Of acceptance at Olean. In MS message
he will hardly 20 beyond recommending adj
here-ce to the liberal policy Of past years, end
this recommendation viii follow closely the
lines laid down in the Olean speech, where he
said:
The Republican party, IN its platform and
by legislation stands pledged 10 the policy of
good roads. During the last seven years So
100000 has been expended by the State for
this purpose, and equal amount by the IDEAL
tiles thus benefited. Sound public sentiment
favors 2 continuance Of this policy. BY recent
legislation the State contributes 80 cents to
every dollar Of cash expended by the different
townships which have adopted the money svs-
TEN in the improvement Of their highways.
This statute insures to every locality choosing
to take advantage OF its provisions practical ana
substantial State aid thereby distributing the
benefits OF State assistance equally 20 all parts
Of the State. The Republican party takes no
backward step upon the subject of good roads"
a similar recommendation VIII dismiss the
question of State forest reservations including
the Adirondack and Catsl1ill parks, although the
report OF a water storage commission authorized
at the last session may materially effect this