The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-02
GOV, HUGHES MESSAGE
TO n. Y. LEGISLATURE

Albany. N. Y. Jan. 2.-The New York
state legislature convened for its l@th
session soon after noon today. The day
Was devoted 10 organization and the read
ing OF the message OF the new governor
Charles r. Hughes.
The senate was called to order by Lieut..
Gov Chanler. the assembly by Col. Ar
chic f Baxter. vlerk OF the last assem-
bly,. Organization was quickly effected
and GOV Hughes was notified that the
two houses were ready for business. His
reply was his first annual message which
follows.
THE MESSAGE.
Governor Charles 4. Hughes in his first
message 10 the Legislature made the fol-
lowing recommendations:
A recount OF the votes cast for mayor In
the New York city election In 1906, when
on the face OF the returns. w. r.. Hearst
was defeated by George B Mcclellan;
that the courts be empowered to order a
recount summarily IN the future and that
the power 20 bring an action 10 try a
title 10 office be taken from the attorney
general and conferred upon the supreme
court.
The adoption OF a new ballot whereon
The name OF a candidate will appear but
orce.
That the amount OF money which a
candidate may expend 70 procure his
erection be limited.
That the courts be empowered 10 review
The acts OF political state conventions and
and members
That any general committee OF a party
may adopt rules for direct nominations
OF candidates at primaries.
That the state board OF railroad COM
missioners and the commission OF gas and
electricity be abolished and new board
be constituted With power 10 enforce It's
orders through the courts.
That the board OF rapid transit COM
ni.ssionerS OF New York city be abolish
ell and a new board created TO control the
TRANSFORMATION and regulate lighting cor
pcrations In greater New York.
That children under is years of age be
not required to work more than eight
hours day and that the work In which
they may not engage be specified more
precisely.
on the recount matter the governor re-
viewed the efforts Of w. r.. Hearst 10 Sc.
cure a recount and said that the court
OF appeals OF this state decided that tho
present law did not confer on the election
officers any authority TO recount the bal
lots and the attorney general declined to
try the title OF the Office. He said: There
IS no question that widespread doubt Is
entertained as 10 the accuracy of the Of
fetal canvass and that doubt should be
resolved. II Is matter OF the Rravest
concern that the view should he largely
even though enormously held that one
who has been elected TO office has been
deprived OF his seat through invalid re-
turns The failure to obtain summary
recount through a defect In the law has
aggravated the sense OF injustice"
He declared that no considerations OF
pcrsonse or expedlency should be allowed
20 enter into the matter and that II M.
Hearst was elected he should be seated
AS 10 the future he said that provision
should be made TO order a recount sum-
mariy but the courts should determine
the proprety OF exercising the power.
The attorney general, he said recon-
mended that the authority TO bring an
action TO try a title 10 an office be no
longer lodged with him. This the govern
or approved and recommend that II
be entrusted TO the state supreme court.
The governor declared that two serious
objections TO the present election law
were the doubt as 10 the validity OF GER
tain methods OF split voting and the fact
that candidates have more than one place
on the ballot. The latter. he said leads to
fiagrant abuses to obtain endorsements
for the purpose OF securing place In
more than one column. He recommended
a ballot in which the names OF the can
didates appeared In but one group under
the names of offices with party designa-
ton.
IL was claimed, he said. that there
Is no limitation upon the authority Of
political state conventions and state
committees arbitrarily to exclude
honestly elected delegates and mem
bers. and that the fraudulent or cor
rupt action OF such n convention or
committee cannot be reviewed or cor
rected by any court. He declared that
''minorities should not be permitted to
make themselves majorities by the ar
bitrary seizure OF political organize
tions, nor through corruption of dis
honest methods and the courts should
be vested with ample power TO review
in summary manner all such abuses
and to restore TO defrauded persons the
political rights TO which they are Justly
entitled"
After referring 10 the subject OF un-
Just determinations I'm railroad rates.
the governor said: Congress has legis-
lated upon the subject with reference
TO Interstate commerce. where natural
ly the evil has been most prominent.
But domestic commerce must be regu-
lated by the state and the state should
exercise Its power TO secure impartial
treatment 10 shippers and the naintS-
nance OF reasonable rates. There is
also need OF regulation and strict
SUPERVISION 10 ensure adequate serNtte
and due regard for the convenience and
safety of the public The most prac-
ticable way OF attaining these ds ~
for the legislature TO confer proper
power upon subordinate administra-
tive body
The present scheme Of regulation I'm this
state. he said. is inadequate because the
board OF railroad commissioners has no
authority TO compel compliance with its
decisions IL can neither lnhict penalties
for disobedience OF its orders nor insti-
tute legal proceedings 10 enforce It's re-
quirements. The expenses OF the commits
sion, he as serted. should not be borne by
the corporations which II regulates. There
Is. he said. no need OF both a railroad
commission and a state commission Of
gas and electricity. The duties OF the
two should be merged under one new
board, which should have power TO act
without awaiting a complaint, and TO en-
force its decisions with penalties. All the
existing transportation lines I'm Greater
New York, he said are over-burdeEed
The people OF Brooklyn who are in busl-
ness IN Manhattan are subjected TO such
naltreatment and indignitles incident 10
their disgracefll herding that relief
should be afforded al the earliest possible
moment New facilities and strict super
vision are needed.
apitalzation and the lmprovident