New-York tribune., 1907-06-05

they may decide rather to continue the Legis-
lature In existence another week, especially
since there is no guarantee that the recount bill
will get back here in time TO make adjournment
possible Friday.
Governor Hughes reiterated his suggestions
that the Legislature put on the statute books five
important propositions
The Moreland bill, giving to the Governor
power 10 Investigate all state departments; this
is at the head of the calendar in the Senate,
having passed the Assembly and should pass
the Senate to- morrow.
Amendments TO the primary laws providing
for direct nominations and an official primary
ballot; the Senate to-day. before the message
was read, advanced TO third reading the Prem
tice bill. providing FOR direct nominations and an
official primary ballot in New York City; and
the Travis bill, providing for optional direct
nominations.
Amendments to the corrupt practices law
making it more effective against election brt-
berry; the Wainwright bill, stopping up the
gaps" in the present law, is in the Senate
Judiciary Committee and the Assembly Com
mttee on Rules. moribund; an emergency mes
sage would revive it with wonderful speed.
Legislation providing for control of the water
powers of the state by the state: the Fuller
bill. coming from the State Water Supply Com
mission, looking to that end, has been defeated In
the Senate, but a motion to reconsider the vote
which killed it is pending.
Amendments of the tax law to permit the tax
ing Of company rights of way across public
streets special franchises; the AverIlI bill.
embodyfng this principle. was reported from tho
Senate Taxation Committee this morning
MAY MEET WITH OPPOSITION
Among these are three which NAV cause cor-
ion
whose opposition on all other things has beAn
conquered by Governor Hughes. The Vain
wright corrupt practices amendments for r.
stance. were prepared to perfect the present
law. They would strike from it the sections
Whlch exempt from itemized accounting those
committees which receive an aggregate Of less
than 800 contributions, and exempt from,
Vouchered accounting expenditures Of less than
Slo Advocates Of the amendments have de-
clared that in its present form the corrupt nrao-
tices law offers effective barrier against vote
buyng at elections. Yet the Wainwright
amendments were practically dead from the
time they were introduced. Hearings on then,
were held, but no amount of persuasion or
pressure could induce the committeee +o rono.
them. Their friends declared that nolitical
pressure from both parties against them was too
great for the legislatorssto withstand
In this same class OF legislation which vopId
disrupt political practices and precedents. may
be placed the direct primary nominations bills
When they were under discussion TODAY this
phase of the subject was manifest in the debate
Senator McCarren. for instance termed the
Travis bill the work of a crank and declared
roundly that all such bills were "the result Of
mawkish sentiment striving TO accomplish the
IDEAL Trouble could easily arise over the Gov
ernors desire to push these bills to passage
hon he Full
cation by the State Water Storage Commission
OF the value and availability OF all water bowers
within the state and the advisabfty Of state
control OF these powers. with the further feature
of state rental Of them. would disturb MANY
persons seeking to gain valuable water powers
free from the state for private companias Cow
ernor Hughes put his foot down on that idea
when ne had the Long Sault bill amended IN
lnciude aennlte scale of payment to the state
Yet the official recognition of that nrino,n1. Nv
the enactment of the Fuller bill was so dt.-
tasteful the Senate that the ,,aar. =
Killed last week The Governors MESSAGE -
course, might easily cause a change of feeling
THE MESSAGE OF THE GOyERNop
Governor Hughess message was as fo,,on,s.
To the Legislature:
respectfully urge the passage of suitsbIa Iag |
.slation with reference 10 the following maf+ere.
First-Provision for investigation by the CO
ernor OF administrative departments
Second-Amendment Of the primary election
law so as 10 make proper provision for Siirant
nominations and official primary ballots
Ihird-Amendment OF the election law so 9,
20 make more effective provision against corrupt
practices. The recent decision of the Sunrene |
Court holding certain features of the act of the
IaSt session 10 be unconstitutional because of |
the absence or a requirement of notice to the |
persons affected by proceedings for the plIrpose
or inquiring into the truth or sufflciencv of !
stete.Ients Of election expenses makes it highly
important that the law should be amended The |
scheme for judicial scrutiny of the statements |
nled II z most valuable one and should not be
allowed 70 fail Of effect. ] also recommend TO
your consideration the further limitation of the