New-York tribune., 1907-05-10
THE GOVERNOR AND THE PARTY


Governor Hughes has had the great majority
of his party's representatives at Albany with
him from the first, and now, through the agree
ment reached by the Senators on Wednesday
night he will have with him In support of his
most important measure a united party. The
resolution Of the conference has not formally
the binding effect of caucus action, but prac-
ticaly it will have the same effect. The util-
tiles bill cannot now be amended to any subStan-
tial extent without the consent of Republican
caucus, and in any caucus that may be called
there will be a good majority of Senators in
thorough sympathy with the Governors policy.
1t Is safe to say that there will be no amend
ment of the bill that is not entirely satisfactory
to the Governor
This is great personal victory for Governor
Hughes. His speeches have made perfectly
clear to the public why the two amendments
having the most support, the court review and
limitations on the power Of removal, would
weaken the law. His arguments were unansWer-
able, and they have carried conviction to the
people. No one doubted that the people were
for a bill providing for the regulation of cor
pOrations. His speeches made them for his
bill Even in his defeat regarding Kelsey pub
lie support of the Governor was strikingly
vealed. and this revelation OF public sentiment
has doubtless had much to do with the sudden
enlightening of his opponents.
The Republican party's gain from Wednes-
day nights agreement is as great as IS the
Governors. He will have the support of his
party in the passage OF his most important
measure and the party will have the credit
Of supporting and passing that measure. He
is, as Chairman Woodruff said, the Republi-
can party's chief asset in this state, and
the effective support of his measures by the
Republicans a party will make the party
lieve ii is wise for the Republican State Com
mittee TO meet, as it is expected 10 do in a few
days, and indorse the Governor and declare
emphatically for his policies. BY such action
the committee can at the same time serve the
state and serve the party, and that Is the most
effective form Of good politics" 4 resolution
of the state committee in support of the Gov
ernOr will strengthen his hands regarding the
other measures in his programme, and 1t Will
identify the Republican party as an organiza-
.tiOn with his policies. Such Identification
will give the party strength with the voters as
nothing else could.
The utilities bill is in practically fina! form
No substantial change will be made in it 1t
has been considerably amended since it was in
troduced, but in those changes we can detect no
disposition either to make it more drastic or to
weaken it. The criticisms of the corporations
have been listened to, and where they have not
been answered, as in the case of the court re-
view and the power of removal, they have been
met by amendments TO make the bill more fair
and more workable. Some provisions OF the bill
have been found to be likely to cause unneces-
sary hardship to business, and they have been
changed to make them more just. Other pro-
visions were shown 10 be susceptible Of easy
evasion, and they have been strengthened. In
other words, the bill has been amended in per-
feet harmony with the spirit and intent with
which it was drawn. When this process of
amendment has been completed 1t will be a bill
that will sufficiently safeguard the public inter
ests and at the same time not prove harsh or
oppressive TO business.