New-York tribune., 1905-03-27
SITUATION AT ALBANY
LITTLE WORK YET DONE.
The Principal Issue at Capitol Noro
Is ReUenue.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1suNE.J

Albany. March PA legislature which has con-
surned nearly three months In getting ready to do
its work is now confronted with the problem of
doing it in as many weeks. Either it Will revert
this week to the main business, or the session Is
likely TO drag far into May There has seldom
II ever. been session that at this date has made
less progress. 1t has passed the law-this
was absolutely necessary if the census be
taSer-end IT has repassed an insurance that
met with wide opposition; but, aside from this.
not single affirmative legislative measure Of i'm
portance has reached the Governor. With de-
porable financial situation confronting the legis-
lature, due not Democratic organs endeavor to
show. to any extravaganza. but TO decisions of the
courts declaring non-effectve tax laws OF past
sions; and. with overwhelming clanor for gas
legislation and flood of minor legislation that
always crops up, the situation has at last become
acute Clearly the next few weeks must see
abandonment of the Fabian policy or a serious and
censurable prolongation of the session.
There is only one issue, to campaign term
new confronting the solons Capitol Hill, and
that is revenue. This issue is simple and clear
cut also. Either new of indirect taxation
must be found or there must be return to direct
taxation. Tie present revenue does not meet the
present expenditure, and the most drastic retrench
ment will hardly remedy the situation; that is
without sacrificing efficiency of State institutions
There are before the legislature two measures
which the leaders of the majority believe would
fill the gap, namely. stock transfer tax and mort
gage tax. II these two measures were passed this
week the present session would have fulfilled its
mission, and. pending the gas investigation report
and the findings of the Hooker inquiry. could re-
tire, but it is doubtful now If either
be passed.
SENSATION OF THE SESSION.
Last week the Senate Republican leaders. MaIby
and Raines. tried to press the measures and
the revolt that resulted furnished the sensation
Of the session. What happened that the larger
part of the majority in its wrath and declared
that stipulation had been made that until the
Assembly caucussed mortgage tax the Senate
should sit STILL stand pat and wait. Mortgage
is the especial baby" of tho Senate 1t has
few friends the lower body. Every time in past
years when the Senate has sent mortgage tax
to the Assembly it has perished There is reason
to suppose that il would meet kinder reception
this year. In caucus, therefore, the Senators de-
cided to leave the matter with the Assembly. and
the week ended in a deadlock
The Assembly is hunting around for methods
of indirect taxation. something just good"
stock tax and mortgage tax but particularly some
thing better than mortgage tax. The Senate is
declaring that unless it can have mortgage tax it
won't play" The Governor is patiently waiting
until spring days and board bills bring the solons
to the point of rising to the situation, and the old
est legislative heads making more prophecies
about the day of adjournment. Meanwhile the Gas
Investigation Committee has spent ten days in
hunting a counsel,~and will not be ready to invest-
gate until next Thursday. However expeditions
the investigation may be when started, the report
" i'll hardly in before April A. the date when
the legislature ceased from it's last year
AS was outlined in these dispatches last week,
there is pending huge mass OF important meas
ures. all of which were to be the crowning achieve
ments of this session. The Raines law to be
amended SO that the infamous Raines law hotel
would vanish; the Railroad Commission was to be
New-York City; then there was the Esberg Rapid
Transit bill to he passed this year; the whole bank
ing law of the State to be revised TO meet an
of al Snq gay % there eT Was the
question,
commission. These were problems in January;
may be settled this week. They might have been
settled any week for two months past but no one
will to-day venture a prophecy as to when they
will be settled.
LARGE COLLECTION OF GRABS"
OF grab" bills there is large collection. All of
them were mentioned in these dispatches last week,
Only the Fitzgerald pavement bill has shown any
real activity since then. Senator Horace White and
Assistant Corporation Counsel Guy blocked it last
week, but only an expression Of public indignation
can ultimately defeat bill that would surrender the
city streets a patent pavement monopoly, which
is not even homo grown but has its legal residence
in Boston. The Cassidy Niagara grab" was moved
up peg last week. and is ready for passage.
But no one really fears that grab" bills will be-
laws. with Governor Higgins to pass them
in the end.
If the legislature does anything next week it will
probably pass the Agnew State Commission meas
to deal with the water problem. and it may
pass the Mayors bill also. 1t is generally
ceded that the Governor Will sign both-the State
Commission bill first since he has plainly indicated
that he believes this bill will afford clamorous
Ulster County protestants all the protection they
entitled TO.
If John Raines wants the Raines law amend
ments they can be passed also It's Johns baby,
and we let him do as he likes is the legislative
attitude this ISSUE
In the midst of the turmoil of and in the
days when the gas investigating committee is get
ting ready TO investigate, with judicial deliberate
ness. the Hooker investigation is proceeding at a
rapid rate Sensational testimony is developing:
but with remarkable array of legal talent for the
OuClaSt he in
Qu1ry and help to prolong the session.
In the end there remains the Governor firm and
determined in his decision that there shall be no
return 70 direct taxation. He has announced that
MS blue pencil In appropriation bills will meet any
deficiency! and the legislators are wrestling with
the question. rs the blue pencil mighter than the
big StockY' OF late certain persons have begun
to whisper that the Governor looks with less an
proVal than in the past the stock tax Certain
legislators have declared that, that the SEN
ate has been committed TO this measure. a failure
or executive support would result in measure
carrying return to a direct tax, followed by one
FOR adjournment With all these different pOs-
sibiiteS now before it, the session starts a new
week, the end Of which will prophesy It
may end in progress or further chaos.