Evening star., 1907-06-25
HUGHES CALLS FOR ACTION
STATE REAPPoRTIoNMEN IS
URGED BY GOVERNOR.
Wants Question Settled at This Ses-
sion-Speaker Wadsworth Says An
other Caucus W ould Be Necessary.

ALBANY. June 25.-When the senate and
assembly met again last night, Gov. Hughes
sent to each house an extraordinary mes
sage, urging upon the legislature the pas
| sage Of constitutional reapportionment
bill before the final adjournment OF the
regular session Wednesday.
The message created a stir in the assem-
bly, Speaker Wadsworth has given no out
ward sign that he intends to recede from
the position he has held for more than two
weeks through the support OF the solid
membership Of the assembly. The gov
ernors message follows:
Gov. Hughes Message.
ITO the Legislatures:
II recommend to your most serious con-
sideration the importance Of making con-
stitutonal apportionment of senators and
members of assembly before the legislature
adjourns.
1.-The necessity Of new apportionment Is
obvious. The apportionment act Of last
year has been set aside, and 1t would be
not only inconvenient, but most unjust in
view of the changes in population, to have
an election upon the basis of the apportion-
ment fixed in 1895. The alternative Is to
have a new apportionment In accordance
with the requirements of the constitution
and this should be provided without delay
TT Is undoubtedly important that the
present session of the legislature should
not longer be protracted. l am Informed
that several hundred bills have been passed
and are awaiting executive action, and 1t
is practically impossible that they should
be disposed of save during the period al
lowed for that purpose after adjournment.
1t Is particularly important, in order to
avoid embarrassment in conducting the
business of the state. that the supply bill
approprating moneys for current needs
should be acted on as soon as possible. But
both this bill and the general appropria-
ton bill require an extended and thorougn
consideration. which is not possible II they
reach the executive during the session OF
the Legislature, and must be passed upon
within the ten days In that case allowed py
the constitution. 1t has been the ,nvarIaple
practice to permit the executive to deal
with them after adjournment, in order that
they may receive the study they deserve.
Urges Prompt Action.
.In view of these considerations, as we'll
as of the avoidable expense entailed by an
unnecessary prolongation of the session, II
Is highly desirable that there should be an
early adjournment, and in recognition OF
this you have passed a concurrent resolu-
ton providing for adjournment on June 70
But 1 deem it to be of extreme impor-
tance that before that. date proper ap-
portionment bill should be passed the
matter has long been under consideration:
the subject has been thoroughly examined
and there is no sufficient reason for delay
ing its disposition. An extraordinary ses-
sion should not be required for purpose
which can SO readily be accomplished our
ing the regular session. The subject can.
not be dealt with to better advantage at
any future time. The public interest
which should be the sole consideration. re.
quires prompt action and the avoidance OF
delay and additional expense to the state
for which there is no public reason.
II present the matter to you as one
paramount public obligation, and l deem II
my duty respectfully to urge an immediate
response to the just demand of the people
Of the state. CHARLES p. HUGHES,
Speaker Wadsworth, after the assembly
had adjourned, said: There has been no
change in the position Of the as assembly nloE
through the governors message. The mes
sage is perfectly neutral. 1t does not favor
the Tully bill or any other bill The as
sembly is bound by caucus, and new
caucus would be required to release the
members from the obligations involved IN
the last caucus, when the majority resolved
to stand by our plan. I can say there will
be no such caucus unless the signatures OF
the requisite fifty-one members appear on
the reQuest ~