The National tribune., 1907-04-04
GOV. HUGHEs.s TROUBLES.

The sympathy of the public inside
and outside New York State is strongly
with Gov. Hughes in his present battle
with the Legislature and the New York
political leaders Gov Hughes was
elected, after bitter fight, to make
certain reforms and to carry out positive
ideas which he developed in the course
of the insurance investigation, and
which greatly commended him to the
and duly regardful of The pledges he
made before election, he is now trying
to make good, but he encounters an OPP
position which threatens to break him
down and bring his plans to naught.
The first struggle is over the Superin-
tendent Of Insurance. 1t Is so plain as
to require no demonstration that the in
cumbent Of the Office of State Super
intendent Of Insurance was an absolute
defeat of the purpose for which his
office was created. The plan was made
to have a capable man, who would ex-
ercise vigliant supervision of the
great insurance companies and properly
safeguard the interests of the hundreds
Of thousands who had Entrusted those
companies with their savings. as n pro-
vision against cid age and misfortune.
He did nothing of the kind, knew moth
ing whatever of the operations of the
companies, and his first intimation of
the scandalous proceedings in all the
great companies was obtained thru the
publications in the newspapers. These
were brought about by the intestine
quarrels among the high officials. and
were as much of surprise to the State
Superintendent of Insurance as they
were to any other reader of the daily
papers. Gov. Hughes. who had shown
in the course of the investigation that
he had very positive and proper ideas
in regard to the management of irsur-
ance companies, attempted to remove
the State Superintendent OF Insuran nee.
man named Otto Kelsey, and appoint
to the place somebody who would give
greater promise of competence. He at
once encountered the whole political
machine, of which Mr.. Kelsey was n
part. SOtudtOT JOHN f(dIHsS
is the leader of this most in evidence
and he has so far controlled the Senate
| as to prevent the removal of Mr.. Kel-
sey. II the Governor cannot carry out
| his wishes in this conspicuous instance,
his usefulness is gone. and it will be
| impossible for him to accomplish any
thing else that he desires for the bene-
| fit of the people of the State. 1t scarce
| ly seems wise for the machine leaders
to provoke this struggle, since Hughes
is not a man to compromise or to ac-
| cept defeat. If he Is rs wise as we
think him. he will make a fight to a
finish, and appeal to the people of the
State. So far they seem to be with him
The machine dare not carry their strug-
gle to the point of provoking an appeal
! 30 the voters.
i Next to the insurance question Is thai
| of railroad regulation. Gov. Hughes is
the champion of bill to regulate the
issues of stock in accordance with the
value of the property, which is strongly
i opposed by the gambling interests or
i Wall Street. In this again he has prob.
ably the sympathy and support of the
people. tho this is not at present Sc
clearly manifest. The people of New
York are investing largely in railroad
stocks, and 1t is desirable that they be
! encouraged to do so. The wiser of the
J. railroad men understand this. The,
want the peoples money for purposes
Of improvement and extension, and II