New-York tribune., 1907-06-27
LEGISLATURES WORK.
Many GOOD LAWS MADE.
Carried out an the Main the Recon-
mendations of GoUernor Hughes.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribuns. ]

TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
Albany, June 2S-Two things stand out promi-
nently n the session Of the Legislature which
closed to-day. one IS that not for years be-
fore had z legislature dealt so broadly and so
vel with huge affairs Of the keenest interest to
the public IN a particularly trying time. The
other travelling hand n hand with the first Is
that IN those actions the proceedings of the Legis
lature were almost inseparable from the actions
Of Governor Hughes
Any review or summary Of this Legislature must
be a history Of the dealings of that body with
the Governor. Important as have been the sub
1ects considered by this Legislature, widespread
Is has been the interest attached 20 its deibera-
lions behind and beneath all has been the con-
chamber. In the legislative parlance, the third
floor has been overshadowed by the second
floor"
ITaouestionably this has been a good" Legis-
lature- II has adopted measures which mark
vide step forward in the history of the state. II
has MADE few mistakes Of the ordinary kind IS to
character OF legislation enacted; II has had fewer
scandals or even scandalous accusations than any
sssenblage II recent years. Yet unquestonably
Governor Hughes set the standard for the legis-
lators. That they ADOPTED 1t does not lessen me
credit which should he given 10 them.
No less notable was the Governor because Of the
legislation he recommended than because OF the
legislation which he vetoed Early in the session
he instituted unvarying rule that no special
legislation applying 10 local affairs would be signed
by him II general bill would the case Veto
after veto was sent in 10 the Legislature-brief.
brglsoue even declaring in curt words that this
especial thing entirely within the control of
the local authorities: else should be covered by
bin applying to all cases Of the class instead of
bill for this specific Bills interfering with
his strict idea of home rule found short shrft But
the two vetoes which marked him as a Governor
Of the highest rank the veto OF the two-cent
fare bill and the veto Of the woman school teachers
equal pay bill. In the case he was disregard
fng Widespread clarnor for radical action against
the corporations, ana especially against tIle ran
road companies-the sentiment which in a broader
aspect was responsible for his own nomina-
ton and election He knew that his action
+la
did not hesitate for instant. and his veto
message stated such reasonable, logical unanswer
able grounds Tor that veto that II has been quoted
from end Of the country TO another, and in the
opinion OF politicians here has more than any other
thing made him = strong national figure and a
possibility worthy Of much consideration In the
coming Presidential race
The year trying one. Governor Hughes
presented subjects Of great weight in fashion to
strain legislative minds Questions OF grave import
came up il the Of the session in shape TO pre-
sent situations where honest differences Of opinion
between the legislators and the Executive were
inevitable. Such differences did develop. AT times
they assumed grave aspect, even menacing the
sons Of the legislators Of his party. Yet the
end OF the session saw Republican Legislature
united IN giving TO q Republican Governor those
things which he asked at its hands TO acQuit the
party OF its debts to the people.
A SPECTACULAR SESSION.
Not IL recent years has there been so spectacular
2 session as this. From the moment when Gov
ernor Hughes took the oath Of Office, while his
predecessor, practically risen from oeatnDeo, wei
ca-ned him to the service Of the people, until the
Legislature IN its closing hours became entangled
IN g deadlock over the reapportionment question
rI scarcely week went by without adding its i'm
porrant developments 10 the burden Of the other
weeks. IN ali Of these Governor Hughes played
prominent part His was the central figure from
The moment his message was sent TO the Legisla-
rUre ali through the terrific bitterness Of the bat
tie 70 Otto Keseys political life, through the
git the public utilities bill, and even IN the
apportionnent deadlock Itself. against his Will
there.
His veto Of the school teachers equal pay bill
was another instance Of the broad view with which
he treats legislative problems He vetoed 1t not
the essential merits or delnertts Of that par
ticuIar bill, but because %ae Legislature had not
taken up with adequate preparation ths large ques-
rion Of s9ual pay equal work regardless of
Stiu another feature Of the Governors work this
year deserves special notice This WAS his deter
snnaticn that future charters should be granted
which did embody the principle OF adequate
compensation 10 the state for the privileges derived
from It For many years rights to valuable
water powers had been given by the state for no
compensation The theory was that the state behe-
Ated by the development Of private property and
the Upbuid.Hg Of industries. with their consequent
employment % people and the founding Of settle
rnents and villages So when Senator O'NeiI and As
semblyuan Merritt pEesented a bill permitting the
incorporation Ct the Long Sault Development Com
pany. . use water power in the St Lawrence
no provision made for payment to the state.
The bill passed in its original shape, but
Governor for its introducers and the people
behind the company and told them plainly tnat
they should pay for what they expected 10 get from
the state The bill amended 70 provide for
specific payments. according to the quantity Of
power developed. Not only this, but later the
Fuller and Agnew bills. permitting the State Water
Supply Commission to investigate this general sub
ject and make recommendations TO a state pol
fey Of water power control. were passed at the
Governors request
THE KELSEY CASE
L was almost inevitable that such Governor
should come into conflict with some legislators.
stnl. differences between a Governor and legislators
over The matter and the OF legislation
oEnsnded by hin only natural. and it
not until Governor Hughes demanded the resigna-
ton OF Otto Kelsey, Superintendent Of Insurance.
and when that refused recommended his re-
rnoval by the Senate that a real conflict began.
That conflict developed 10 such an extent that 1T
its most critical stage some few Republican Off
csls and party leaders threatened that the entire
Republican organization might declare on
Governor Hughes. The Governor made speech after
speech setting forth to the people who had elected
him his reasons for his actions and asking their
the issue was settled, II left the Governor. ap-
psrenty defeated this one question in a far
stronger position 10 his legislative programme
than ever and had cleared away other difficulties
20 such an extent that he and the party leaders
united in advocacy Of those things which the Gov
ernor had recommended.
The Kelsey case iutertwined itself with ali the
Issues Of this legislative session. For the third
time IN the history Of the state the Governor had
recommended the removal Of a state official. This