New-York tribune., 1907-06-27

IN his support Governor Hughes's declaration that
he found the Insurance Superintendent incom-
petent and that he had failed perform obvious
duties of the first Importance raised storm OF
protest that set the whole state by the ears. Mr..
Kesey's friends, headed by Senator Raines. tried
TO obtain for him formal trial Day after DAY
dragged by; formal hearings finally were held at
which Witnesses under oath were examined by
lawyers for Kelsey, practically defendant. All
the pOmp and semblanCe Of a trial were there.
Meantime a tremendous agitation was being
worked up IN kelSeYs benaIf- PoAtlcal IeaueI9
were pledging their Senators TO stand by him on
the final vote. Rumor had 1t that insurance COM
panes and politicians who had worked for them
IN the old days helping Mr.. Kelsey to get
square" with Governor Hughes. Friends OF the
Governor declared openly that a great campaign
was being conducted to discredit all the Gov
ernor's projects by defeating him In the Kelsey
case; and that the corporations which did not
like the prospects when the pubic uuIues nilI I
should be enacted were Joining hands with the
insurance companies in furnishing the munitions
Of
Certainly while the Kelsey trial the
Governors legislative programme languished. Work
on the utilities bill delayed because the Sen
ate judiciary Committee was engaged with the
Kelsey affair. Week after week passed, and the
ti-Hughes sentiment increased until, just before
the final vote in the Senate, the Kelsey adhersnts
boasted OF their victory and legislators whose op
position to the utilities bill and other features of
the Governors legislative programme was known
smiled broadly.
Otto Kelsey was retained by the Senate through
the vote Of the Democrats and a minority of the
Republicans, the large majority of the Republican
Senators standing by the Governor The outcome
heraded . defeat for Governor Hughes.
Immediately war opened anew on the utilities bill.
simultaneously throughout the state there sprang
up demand that the Governors recommendations
be made lava demand so strong that the oppo-
nents bowed before 1t and political leaders of po-
tency here and in Washington gathered hUrriedly,
swung their legislators into nne' pieuSed lhein-
selves to the Governor and, almost before they
knew II, the Republican Senators, ircluding the
minority faction which had fought the Governor
most bitterly in the Kelsey affair, had pledged
themselves at conference, subsequently ratified
by adopt the utilities bill as lie wanted
It. From that time there no question as 10
the Governors obtaining about what he desired
from the Legislature.
NEW YORK CITY MEASURES
New York city has Jared well at the hands of
this LEGISLATURE Not only was consida: cable legis
lation of the Importance TO the city enacted
but several bills which would have been cf great
harm were killed. The Bingham police El, giving
to the Commissioner that power to break detec-
tive sergeants and inspectors which he believed
necessary to a thorough reorganization of the Po-
Ice Department. was a bill which New YORK city
people had tried to have passed for several years
Commissioner Binghams vigorous methods ap-
pealed TO this Legislature. and his bill was passed
without much difficulty, though IN connecion with
its passage there practically the only rumors
Of bribery which were heard in tho session me
Citizens Unions bill reorganizing the ;hunicipal
court of New York City was another measure OF
great Importance the effect of which must be OF
great good, especially TO the poor OF the city.
Then, too, the city must be thankful hat the
Eleventh avenue bill TO repeal the SaXe-StaHIey
law OF last year and the bill to turn over 10 lAe
New York Central in perpetuity valuable rights 10
streets IN Harlem and The Bronx were not enacted
by the Legislature
The Legislature has written to its credit these
important measures:
Psblic utilities bill.
Departmental investigation bill
National Guard investigation bill
Bingham police bill
Child labor bill.
Highway Commission bill, for investigation Of the
subject of good roads.
Medical unIhcation BILL for consoAoaIoH q
boards Of medical examination.
II deserves credit as we'll for its failure to enact
many measures which have been criticised seNereV
likely 10 cause much damage 70 C-e So. sr1a,e
Among these are the Merritt-O'Nel water storage
constitutional amendment TO permit the hoooIls %
state forest lands which died IN committee; the
Ven1ple omnibus grab" which would have fe-
vived wholesale the charters Of defunct railroad
concerns having outstanding indebteoness, h-iieo -
by the Assembly; the Shoeneck amendments to
the charter of the Genesee River Company "hch
MANY believed threatened the beauty OF Letch-
worth Park, killed by the Senate judiciary Gohl-
rnittee and the Eleventh avenue bill and the Har-
lem street grab" killed BY the Assembly Rules
Committee.
THE GOVERNORS RADICAL MESSAGE
Seldom has the message OF any new Governor
been awaited with the interest with which every
body looked forward the first official comInuni-
cation Of Governor Hughes to this Legislature
Already the mans vigorous campaign utterances
and his se1ni-fornal pledge 10 be the peoples ser
nomination had indicated a strong, radical mind
determined to give drastic remedies for serious ds-
eases. Yet when that message came and the scope
Of its recommendations grasped some even or
those who had voted TO make him Governor In the
hope that he would overturn the old order Gasped
in anaZement-
In that one message this new Governor, utterly
rntried in governmental affairs and unknown in
the political world six months before, had sug-
gesed monumental schemes for regulating business
and financial transactions TO prevent dishonesty
and eSEigT pndf
tions TO eradicate corruption and bossism Projects
OF such character touching two such oldume
classes in sucn a variety Of unpleasant ways could
not fail OF gathering TO themselves much unpopu-
larity and great OPPOSITION. Yet gradually there
crept forth bill after bill designed to accomplish
some phase of the Governor programme, "hlle
Governor Hughes. having performed his part went
about his regular work
Head and front Of the Governors recommenda-
tions Of course, that for the creation Of pub
lie utilities commissions which should replace the
State Railroad Commission, the State Gas Com
mission and the Rapid Transit Commission in New
York City. On these new commissions under the
provisions of the law outlining their powers, the
cial jugglery of the stocks of railway and light
ing companies and 10 devise competent regulation,
supervision, and where necessary. punishment, TO
assure proper facilities and good service to a long
curately IN his message.
1t was a gigantic task the Governor set before
the Legislature, a task whose every phase pre-
sented tremendous difficulties and whose fate be-
came entanged with other large projects set in
fhoton by Governor HpSnes. II was a task under
taken by the Legislature with degree of re-
luctance and genuine apprehension 10 the
suit: it task whose accomplishment was
hindered in every manner by politcal-fnancial
combinations and the frank opposition of large
corporations which would be affected by its enact
ment into law.
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES MEASURE
After months of preparation involving technical
study of conditions and consultation and confer
ence with people of every type. Senator Page and
Assemblyman Merritt drafted the public utilities