New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-04
A Reform MESSAGE.


have cause for satisfaction. The Governor Is
not given TO sensational experiment; but re-
viewing the various operations of the state gov
eminent he makes large number OF sane ana
well considered recommendations Ill haILhon!
with the desires of the best Citizenship anu Ine
| most progressive thought
What the Governor says about insurance is
likely to attract chief attention as Iorecasllls
in q measure the views OF the Armstrong COM
mittee, though he carefully observes Iidt nc
does not attempt 10 anticipate its report ana
denrecates any attempt at legislation until it
has presented it's plans. The Governor does not
take to the idea of federal regulation Of insur-
ance and urges that the state must courage
ously face its responsibility. He points out
that SUPERVISION not regulation, has been the
policy of the state hitherto, and comedies that
the public demands something more Tor the
future than guarantee of solvency. lie De
Heves in a more thorough regulation by the De
partnent of Insurance. more careful restriction
of investments by companies the loan of their
money in larger amounts real estate, stand
ard policies a uniform system of audit and
accounts restriction of deferred dividend poll
cies the equitable distribution of surplus ana
more effective naturalization.
The Governor facing the need Of providing
a larger revenue to meet the interest and prln-
cipal of the canal and good roads bonds. sug-
sion, to be composed OF experts and members of
the legislature. Reports Of such commissions
have generally been disregarded by the law
makers but our tax laws are in such chaotic
condition that another trial of the plan may De
worth while. The Governor speaks senSlDly on
pending tax questions. He renews the recon-
mendation for the repeal of the tax on saw
ings bank surplus, and speaks OF last year
failure of the legislature to do this as a Ia
mentable disregard Of party honor He asks
that the discrimination in favor of foreign cor
porations doing business In the state as against
domestic corporations. be removed, and favors the
further trial of the mortgage tax law and the
stock transfer Tax law. This will doubtless pro
woke criticism il this city, but we think the Gov
ernor is right. The Tribune opposed the mort
gage tax law and favored entire exemption or
recording tax. We are bound TO confess, how
ever that the tax is far more equitab bic than
the old method of taxing few mortgages as
personal property. Both of these tax laws have
worked well and have disappointed the proph-
/ cts who were sure they would ruin the stock
/ brokerage and real estate businesses. They
| have produced handsome revenues, and II they
have injured anybody the fact is not publicly ap-
| parent They should certainly have further
| trial before being repealed.
| High ground is taken on the question Of hon
est elections The Governor declares: 'Politi-
| "cal contributions are illegal and ultra wires.
| mo such corporation exists which includes
among its lawful purposes the right to donate
its moneys to influence election" That is
the doctrine which The Tribune has preached
| and we are glad to see the recommendation that
political payments by corporations be made
penal offence the part OF all their officers or
agents knowing or approving of such misuse of
funds. Governor Higgins also cOmmends to
| favorable consideration the work of those citi-
1
tees acts. He suggests that the ballot be simpli
fed TO permit the voter more easily to give free
! expression to his intent without danger of vi
tiating his ballot and he also speaks Hospitality
| of the suggestions for direct nomination, but
thinks there may be serious difficulties in the
practical workings of the system.
The Governor speaks with just pride of the
| saving made by his Superintendent of Public
Works in the administration of the canals, rec
ommends larger appropriations for the Depart
ment of Labor. to make more effective factory
| inspection, and gives a shock TO the self-com-
! placency of those who are ct all satisfied with
| New York's educational achievements OF
population ten years of age and over 81 per
cent can neither read nor write and this litter
acy is not 10 be attributed 10 NewYork City
! and its immigrant population but is chiefly
due TO the inaccessibility of rural schools and
| neglect in the country districts to enforce the
| compulsory school attendance law. The need
| of greater attention to delinquent youths over
sixteen years of age is pointed ont Male offend
ers under that age may be sent to Randalls
| Island or Rochester; reformatories are provided
! for women and girls; the male felon may be
| sentenced TO Elmira but the male misdemeanant
| over sixteen years of age is left to associate
| with older criminals in pententiaries The
Governor believes that the state might well take
| over the county penitentiaries turn one Of them
| into refornatory for this class Of offenders,
and free the county penal institutions of all ex-
| cept civil prisoners. persons awaiting trial and
short term petty offenders He also suggests
privilege Of local option concerning the sale Of
| liquor and declares that the rich revenue de-
rived from the traffic should not blind the state
/ to the rights of communities to protect them
selves from It.
The success of the lobby in defeating SO-cent
| gus last year has not discouraged the Governor
| and he recommends further consideration OF
! the matter at this session. He also recon-
mends further legislation for the protection of
! Niagara Falls, and while he believes that inter
national agreement is necessary 10 preserve the
cataract and river from spoliation he thinks
that much good would be accomplished by linn
! iting the amount OF water which may be taken
/ by New-Y York companies now in operation. By
repeating all undeveloped charters and by the for
! fixture of the charters of any companies which
misuse their franchises.
These and the suggestions of minor i'm
! pcrtance which accompany them make thor
! oughly practical programme of reform They
meet substantially every Issue OF legislation
about which the people Of this state have been
concerned in the last year. and In every case the
influence Of Governor Higgins is thrown on the
side Of progress and good morals. The legisIat-