New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
GOVERNOR AT ELMIRA.
FL4YS DIR. STANCHFIELD,
Defends Utilities Bill against
1ttack of -4ttOrneu.

party had a strenuous afternoon and evening IN
Elmira. The programme included four recep-
uons. dinner, automobile ride and a big
meeting at the Lyceum Theatre. at which the
Governor the principal speaker. About
three thousand people We're packed in the the
atre. and Governor Hughes received a hearty
welcome. Among the speakers who preceded
the Governor John 3. StanChffeld, who
made an attack the public utilities bill Ths
Governors speech was a vigorous reionder TO
Stanchfeld, and created the greatest enthusi-
asn of the evening. The Governor literally
hayed the EImira attorney and his argument.
and the audience enjoyed the scene immensely.
After pointing out many alleged defects In the
public utilities BILL Mr.. Stanchfield took occa-
sion To say that he not present with
tainer in his pocket. lie spoke simply
individual The Governor after preliminary
words of introduction. said;
Now I did not come here tonight to join IN
a debate. (ApplaUsel II is entirely true that
! proposed To saw some things in regard to the
very measure OF which my friend Mr.. Stsnch-
geld has spoken (applause). and | shall not say
any less but perhaps something more In dis
tinctiOn from my learned friend. am here
under retainer tAPplause9 am here re-
tanned by the people of the state OF New York.
to that justice is done. and with DISPOSE
ton 10 InJure any investment with every de-
sire TO give the fullest opportunity to enter
prise and with every purpose To shield and pro-
tect every just property interest l stand fo-
the people of the state of New York against
extOrtiOn. against favoritiSm. against financial
scandal and against everything that goes to
corrupt our politics by Interference with tha
freedom of our legislatures and administrations.
(Applause) I stand for honest government and
effective regulation by the state OF public SER
vice corporations.
Now l am fully conscious. as is every Ops
who processes 70 have a mOdicum OF intelli-
gence. of the tremendous advantages which the
country and every community IN it has derived
from the extension OF our railroad facilities
GREATER FACILITIES NEEDED.
They are the arteries Of commerce: our COM
munities would be HfeIess; our trade would
collapse; We would all be worse than dead were
il not for these opportunities of communication
and these facilities Of transportation. We honor
all that has been done in just effort TO make
these possible. We want more, we want eX-
tensions we want greater facilities. We want
every opportunity afforded to enable the people
10 remove their produce and we want fair
treatment 10 those who are engaged IN this very
necessary activity
Yet. il is said that despite the prosperity oc
the country and the great benefits that have
been derived from the extension OF our trauspor-
tation facilities there is state OF unrest; thai
there is a general condition of discomfort
throughout the country Why? Is il because ot
extension Of means Of communication? VIII
any one suggest to intelligent audience thar
American citizens are IN revolt against ther
prosperity What they revolt against Is
dishonest finance tApplausep
What they are in rebellion against IS tavortt-
ism which gives chance 10 one man 20 mOvs
his goods and not 70 another. which gives one
man one set of terms and another set 10 his
rival. which makes one man rich by giving him
access to the seaboard and drives another man
into baRkruptcy or into combination with his
more successful competitors II IS REVOLT
against all the influences which have grown out
OF an unlicensed freedom and Of failure 70
recognize una, u'ese sIedt t 80 - " -,
Sary for public welfare. have been created by
the public for the public benefit and not prt-
marily for private advantage
There has been determined effort through
the state 10 make il appear that the chambers
OF commerce. in New York and the business men
composing those chambers Of commerce are op-
n n
and opposed to the specific measure now pending
in the Legislature having that object in view
URGES POWER OF REMOVAL
The Governor said ne did not believe the reso-
Iutons adopted voiced the sentiment of the busi-
ness men In urging the Ceurring Of respon-
sibility in the Governor. with the power of ap-
pointment and removal. he cited the Kelsey
case as one reason why this power should 6s
given. Continuing H. said,
Eighteen months ago the country was shocked
by the revelations made in connection with the
insurance investigation. Those IN whom the
greatest confidence had been reposed- men OF The
highest standing in the community, were found
To- have betrayed their trust. and hundreds OF
Thousands ~ uoIicvholders through the state
found that their interests had been disregarded-
Vast funds contributed by thenl- imposing ths
most sacred obligation upon directors and eN-
ecutive officers. had been used FOR improper ent
corrllut purposes. Accounts had been manlpu-
lated and improper methods of voucherlng re-
sorted 10 in order 10 concedI eSIiaN dSe'i'Ne ""'
corruption.
Yet all this was done in q business under state
control All these transactions took place NIleh
a department of the state proieSSeu 10 IaES
subjected the companies engaged therein to the
most rigid examination The state held theII
forth accredited to the world as models OF nom
est enter2rtses.
New York felt the stigma that had been placed
upOn his citizenship by such abuses or puUiiC
confidence, The public indignation knew ~
bounds and there was the most earnest @ . eltlat
for the reformation Of the Insurance DepartnshI
under whose administration these abuses hsh
been possible
nf the laws which resulted from this tnveSttga-
ton when I assumed office. found the 1nsur-
ance Department in substantially the same con-
ditiou in which il at the time OF the tnveSti-
CATION Those who had been grossly deTelict In
their duty and through whose neglect or con-
niVanCa alone the abuses 10 which l have re-
farTed had been made possible, We're Still re-
tained i'm relations OF trust and confidence and
were regarded suitable channels for the m
formation in accordance with which the state
authority To be exercised
That was the condition which no business
manager would have tolerated in any private
undertaking. 1t condition which l could
not tolerate. And after Intellectual attempt
To have the matter disposed of without formal
and official proceeding, l recommended TO the
Senate the removal of the present supertnJend-
ent After long delay 1t has finally been de-
Cided that the recommendation shall not be
complied with
The people OF the state knew and approved
the grounds OF the recommendation They still
know and approve OF them They expected, and
had q right 10 expect that | would endeavOr to
have the Insurance Department put upon basis
which would command the confidence of the pol
iCyhOldcrS of the state and or the United States.
There no personal question involved. The
transaction OF tho business of great department.
of state should transcend all personal consid-
erattons.
And II is inimicaI To honest and proper admin
istratioG that when such condition exists there