Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-05
Albany the Surprise Center.

Albany has again and again been a storm
center. but this winter. for the first time. it
is surprise center. How to take the new
governor is puzzing the politicians of both
parties. and the efforts to solve the problem
are leading to all sorts of maneuvers and
confessions.
This is from an Albany letter in the
New York Sun of a recent date:
Realizing that they must take the initi-
alive and put up to the governor for his
approval the bills carrying out his recon-
mendations. the assembly leaders during
the coming week will -egin to do some
thing. They have despaired of even get
ting hints which would indicate how the
bills that the governor recommended in his
message should be prepared. The leaders
confess that they have gone to the gov
ernor and have asked him for advice as to
the drawing of bills, but his invariable
reply has been:
it reaches me after having passed the legis-
lature.'"
Now here is something like. It is the
legislatures duty to legislate, and the gov
errors to approve or veto. Gov. Hughes
has led off with his recommendations, as
required by law. and the legislature can
take them or leave them. as 1t thinks best.
1t Is the legislatures move. 1t is it's own
master. 1t is responsible, as the governor
is. to the people of the state. They are not
responsible to each other, though both
should strive for the good of the public. 1t
Is profitable and pleasant thing for a
governor and a legislature representing the
same party to dwell together in unity.
The correspondent then quotes republic
can leader of the assembly on the situa-
ton:
we have first to get out of the way all
of the bills that the governor recommends.
We just grope IN the dark in this respect.
In former years the bills were always sent
to us from the executive chamber and we
knew then what was wanted But the
present governor intends that we shall pre-
pare the legislation after he recommends it.
The assembly wants to do just as the gov
ernor wishes. and therefore, from now on.
our main idea will be to get the bills that
We believe the governor wants over to the
senate. There is no use taking up other
matters first. Get these bills to the gov
ernor and then he can tell whether they
meet with his views. If they don't they
can be recalled from him and amended SO
as to merit his approval. And only in that
way will We know what he wants.
Observe the good old way, the simple
plan. No wonder Gov. Odell was boss
He was. by the legislatures consent, the
whole shooting match. He saved the legis-
lature the trouble of thinking. 1t accepted
not only his recommendations, but the
terms In which he wanted them carried
out. Hereafter let US not censure him too
much. but marvel rather at his moderation
Why he didn't own the state, bag and bag
gage. at the end of his term must have
been his own fault.
This leader says: 1.-The assembly wants
to do just as the governor Wishes" Why
should 1t? Why not have some opinions of
Its own and express them in measures and
send the measures to the governor for his
signature? Trotting to the governors Of
flee for tips. and trotting back to the as
sembly to carry them out, is poor business
for men elected to office as individuals and
expected to exercise their own intelligence.