The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-18
WORK FOR THE LEGISLATURE
GOV. HUGHES SENDS IN A SPECIAL
MESSAGE.
Asks for Legislation to Permit Private Sale
of New York city Bonds. for Reappor.
tiOnmept or Aidermanic Districts and
to Provide Punishment for Contempt.

ment of New York city Aldermanic dis
SricJs; making constitutional existing code
provisions for punishment for contempt,
and legalizing and permitting certain bond
isshrs In West Seneca. Lockport and Gene
eco was requested Of the Legls lature
to-day by Gov. Hughes in another special
message. Aside from a request for legis-
lation permitting the sale of New York
city bonds at private sale the message was
unexpected. This clearly was shown by
the interest displayed 10y Senator Raines
during the reading of the message, which
follows.
STATE OF NEW YORK. ESEcrIIvE CulMBgU.
ALBANY. y. y. July II. 1907.
10 the Legisiaisrc'
I recommend the following subjects for
your oonsid eration:
l. Amendment Of the Greater New York
Charter so as to provide that whenever the
Comptroller of the city has been unable tn
sell at public sale any portion ! he bonds
and cor porste stock duly ofert =, such por-
ton may be sold by HIM AZ private sale for
rot less than their par value. On account
of the recent failure Of an offer Of corporate
stock, the Con ptrollnr u urgent that such
amendment be procured end expresses con-
fdence IN his ability to dispose of 4 per cent.
corporate stock at private sale at not less
than par. The Board of Estimate and APP
portiopment has adopted a resolution favor
ing the smaDdmeu'. It has been urged
upon rue that unless this relief IL secured IL
will be necessary for the authorities to Ak
n higher rate of interest, and that this will be
seriously preiudic.nl 10 the interests Of the
city
Opinion seems TO he divided IA to the VIA
dom Of the proposed amendment. many fear
ing that II will open the door 10 collision. In
other important Jurisdictions however. pub
lie securities may he sold at private sale. And
there are TWO important checks in the re-
auiromentS that rhe bonds shall not be sold
for less than their par value and must first
be duly offered al public sale. The response
billtv Of onQferrlng power Is with the Legis-
llturp. The responsibility of its due exercise
is with the municipal authorities. In view
Of existing financial conditions and the i'm
portapce Of thematter 70 the city Of New York
am constrained to submit It TO your careful
consideration.
? Amendment Of the Greater New York
charter so as to make suitable provision
for new Aldermanic districts. The present
districts. established many years ago, do not
properly conform 10 the present distribution
of population. and redistricting is necessary
In order To secure a fair equality of repre-
sentation.
, Amendment Of Section $50 Of The Code
Of Civil Procedure so as 10 provide a method
of unquestioned Constttutionality for the
punishment for contempt. This is most
important in order to make non-judicial ex-
animation effective.
4. Providing for relief urgently needed,
90 IL ls represented TO me, by certain COM
munities. as follows:
BY providing that the town Of West Seneca
may issue bonds at a rate of interest not
exceeding S per centum per annum for the
construction Of sewers and disposal plant
1t appears that the town has not been able
to dispose OF the short term certificates Of
Indebtedness provided for at the regular
session, and that the case j. one Of extreme
urgency.
BY proViding that the city of Lockport may
sell bonds bearing interest at a rate not eX-
ceeding 5 per Centum per annum in order
TO complete its water works system.
BY legalizing bonds OF the villa GO Of Cen
eseo issued for general village and fire de-
partment purposes. CHARLES r. HUGHEs.
Gov. Hughes evidently believes that the
Legislature should make the most Of the
time in which it is awaiting a disposition of
the legislative reapportionment question.
He is as likely as not to recommend other
questions upon which there is need Of
legislation. 1t is said that the provision in
the public utilities law for the expenses Of
the upstate commission is not comprehen-
sive nough
After the Governors message was read
the Senate took a recess until ? p. NJ, while
the Assembly adjourned until IL o'clock to-
morrow morning.
A~ssemblyman Robinson's bill redistrict-
ing the New York city Aldermanic districts
passed the Assembly az the regular session,
but it had TO be abandoned on the order OF
final passa &c because of differences arising
over its provisions. Senator Agnew and
Assemblyman Robinson are working on
O revised Aldermanic district reappor-
tionment bill. which is much desired at once
by President Herbert Parsons Of the New
York n Republican committee.
Senator McCarren introduced a bill per-
uniting Comptroller Metz 20 sell New York
city bonds at private aale. and IL was adj
vanced 10 a third reading. IL is said that
the passage az such a bill would force the
savings banks back to a 4 per cent. interest
basis.
Assemblyman Moreland introduced a
bill appropristing $1,000 for a submarine
cab connecting Staten Island and the
Quarantine station at Hoffman and Swim
burne island and another bill appropriate
ing $4,000 20 carry out the Governor q rec
ommendation that an expert be appointed 20
suggest a comprehensive scheme for the
development of the State fair property at
Syracuse.
Senator Page introduced the bill asked
for by h Governor with respect 20 pun
ishment for contempt. This bill passed the
Senate at the regular session, but wac killed
hthe Assembly. II was desired for the pur-
potc u rTtlIl tDS ltudltDh NftNOuIlttTtl
in the investigation Of Borough President
Ahearn's administration Of his department
The bill provides that IL the person issuing
the subpoena is not a Judge, any Judge OF
the Supreme Court must. upon proof by
affidavit of the facts. make an order.
returnable in not less than two
nor more than five days, directing the person
eubpBnaed to show cause before the Judge
who made the order or any other Judge Of
the Supreme Court why he should not be
committed 70 Jail. Upon return Of such
order the Judge before whom the matter shall
come for hearing shall examine under
oath such persons whose testimony may be
relevant TO the inquiry, on which examina-
ton the person ~subpRnaed shall be given an
opportunity 10 be heard. And IL the Judge
shall determine that the person s~ubpRnaed
has refused without reasonable cause or
legal excuse TO he examined or to answer a
legal and pertinent question or 10 produce a
book or paper which he was directed to
bring by the terms OF the su bppna or TO
subscribe his deposition after il had been
correctly reduced 20 writing he may forth
with. by warrant. commit the offender TO
Jail, there 20 remain until he submits to do
the act which no was 30 required to do or ia
discharged according TO law.
This law alAO would DrOva of value 70