New-York tribune., 1908-01-02
THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

That this years message of Governor Hughes
would contain suggestions fitted 10 comHahu
as much attention his first message coIl-
manded was hardly TO be expected TOT ne
was a new man in public life year ago, his
plans and purposes had not been made cleaTlS
known before and the thoroughness WIN WHICH
he had thought out his policies and the courage
and intellectual force which they revealed pro
duced q great impression But the Governor
is not sensa tionalist and probably cares much
less about the impression bis paper makes than
about the perfect consistency of the progra ANNE
he unfolds this year with that laid down by
him and in part carried out last winter. His
present suggestions to the Legislature therefore
relate largely to unfinished business The rec
ommenda tions made last year but not acted
upon are renewed and the Legislature Is thus
asked again to complete the work OF putting
his policies into effect. His only fresh topics
of much Importance are banking reform ana
racetrack gambling
The Governors recommendation that gam
bling at the racetracks be made a penal offence
will probably attract more attention than any
thing else in the message. The evasion OF the
plain intent OF the constitution in the racing
law is repugnant to the general sense Of justice
and propriety and in the Governors dislike
of the subterfuge by which gambling on the
tracks is permitted every conscientious citizen
will share. No doubt, too, the moral sentiment
of the community will support him in his desire
to suppress gambling as a demoralizng infu-
ence and an economic waste. but the history OF
efforts TO stop it leads to grave doubts whether
it can be ended by prohbtive laws. 1t may
be questioned whether as the Governor thinks,
the toleratfon of gambling at the racetracks has
stimulated defiance of the law against it else
where. We doubt if the men who gamble out
side of the tracks are moved to do so by feel
ing of resentment at the arbitrary distinction
! involved in permitting it in one place and for
bidding it in others. The gambling instinct Is
so deeply implanted that we need no such hy-
pothess to explain the practice 1t may, more
over. be questioned whether if gambling were
stopped at tracks near this city gambling on
races elsewhere would not be stimulated in
poolrooms in the city, and whether that would
i not be greater evil.
! In respect to the banking problems the Gov
ernor follows closely the lines of reform sug-
gested by his special commission. Concerning
the trust companies he takes the sound posi-
ton that the various kinds of business which
they do should be treated separately in any
refoI N legislation that is passed. so that any
corporation transacting business in a partcu-
, 'lar field shall be subject to the obligations
. "and restrictions which pertain to that field.
Whatever reserves. or other restrictions, may
: he deemed aQF1S1Dle WIN reference 10 UeHldIfl
; deposits in the of a bank should be
: equally obligatory with reference TO the same
sort of deposits in the case of a trust com
pany." The fact that the trust company
/ treated as a whole is not commercial bank,
nor savings bank. simple fiduciary con
cern, has always made it difficult to legslate
! at the same time fairly and effectively regard
] ing institutions Of that class. The Governor
would have trust companies treated a banks in
! their strictly banking business and as fiduciary
: companies in respect to their trust funds. That
is the only basis of intelligent legislation con
! cerning them.
! The Governor would enlarge the scope of his
Public Service Commissions powers so as to
! bring telegraph and telephone companies under
their regulation, thus systematizing the whole
management of public utilities. He renews his
. recommendations for ballot reform and for per
nlissive direct primaries. He would aid the
city in solving its rapid transit problem by ex-
empting revenue producing enterprises from the
operation Of the debt limit provision of the con-
stitution.