The sun., 1908-05-12
The GOVERNORS MESSAGE
VIEWS on RACING BILLS RE-
SERVED FOR A LATER DAY.

street and TO Ascertain the Number
ami Condition Of the JnemplOy ed,
ALBANY, May 1.-THE following is the
Governors message to the extraordinary
session Of the Legislature;
To the LspisI1urt:
Il have convened you in extraordinary
session because there are matters OF serious
Importance which deem It my duty 10 pre-,
sent 70 you for appropriate action. recon-
mend for your consideration at this timt
the following subtects;
Il. The amendment Of the public SER
vice commissions law by making suitable
! provision for the enlargement OF the juris.
diction Of the public service commissions
! 80 an TO bring telephone aud telegraph com
/ panies under proper regllation and alsC
such other amendments Of the statutes az
may be deemed advisable In the light Of the
experience OF the commissions in order
more fully 10 accomplish the purpose of
| the public service commissions law.
The policy Of the State with regarI
TO the supervision Of public service cor
| pOrations should be uniform and embrace
/ all corporations of this character. Tele-
phone and telegraph companies exercise
important public franchises The com
munity should be protected against eStor-
tionate rates and machinery should be
provided for an adequate supervision Of
operations and service Issues Of s0curi-
ties should be made only under appropriate
public scrutiny TO prevent the evils Of un-
warrantable imitation The State should
protect the citizens from exploitation on
the part Of those who enjoy public priyi-
leges and undertake public service, while
at the same time, by provision for thor
ough investigation and the careful exam
instion OF facts by an administrative board
suitably equipped for this purpose, the evils
Of i'll considered and arbitrary action before
the facts have been properly ascertained
should be avoided. Justice TO the COM
munity does not involve injustice 10 rivate
rights
"The provision Of adequate means for
the exercise Of the States authority Of
regulation, so as to insure the performance
Of public obligations in just and impartial
manner, is OF the highest importance to
the good order Of the community and to the
welfare Of all the peopla The State cannot
afford TO be lax in the exercise Of its super
visoryl powers, but they should not be
exercised without due regard TO the varying
problems Of numerous particular cases.
The subjects Of complaint In connection
with the operations Of public service cor
poations involve 80 many considerations
and demand such patient, expert and thor
ough inquiry that they cannot be dealt
with to advantage through sporadic legis-
lative action.
"The plan which was adopted last year Of
establishing public service commissions has
worked admirably, and indeed as an ade-
quate scheme of regulation presents the
only alternative to legislative action, which
is manifesty not as we'll adapted to the
just settlement Of the great variety Of
grievances which must be dealt with sepa-
rately and after investigation and are sus-
oeptible Of a fair disposition only through a
continuous administrative board.
The plan should be made comprehensive
and now that the commissions have been
organized and are in working order il is
proper that telephone and telegraph COM
panies should he brought under their super
vision This may be made effective as
early as October l. 1905 Action now will
save at all events many months and most
probably years delay in establishing this
important jurisdiction.
Along with this extension Of jurisdiction
il is also important that as promptly as
possible, whatever amendments Of the en-
isting law experience has shown to he adj
visable, should be supplied. A bill foT
these purposes was introduced at the regular
session and passed the Senate. earnestly
recommend this matter TO your careful
consideration.
(2l The amendment Of the primary cleo
ton law so as to make suitable provision
for direct nominations and an official pri-
mary ballot
This will have most salutary effect
in preventing the perversiOn of party
organization 10 selfish uses Party nomi-
nations should accurately reflect the will
Of the enrolled voters, and provision should
le made for the expression Of this will
US directly as possible The organization
Of parties, not merely in theory but in
fact should accord with the spirit Of our
institutions; IL should he democratic and
not olgarchic or despotc The voters
should be able il they NO desire 70 choose
their candidates and elected representatives |
should recognize their accountability di- |
rectly TO their constituents Ii is a per- !
version Of the machinery designed 10 carry |
on free government that those who are |
elected 10 Office should regard themselves |
as the appointees Of individuals, responsible |
to them for their acts and dependent upon |
them for their continuance in political |
life. In order that they may be free in
fact as they are in theory to discharge |
the duties Of Office according TO their con- |
science and consistently with their pro- |
fessed principles they should he able 10 |
RELY upon continued confidence reposed |
in them by the communities which they |
represent Electoral machinery should not |
be so devised as 10 enable individuals to |
thwart or ignore the will Of the people |
by control OF the instrumentalities Of nomi- /
nation.
PARTY leadership. IL sklful and unselfsh, !
and party organization. II It be inspired in .
its effort by honorable devotion to party !
principles, cannot fail TO command Just .
recognition and esteem. But there is a ,
tendency 10 Use forms OF associa- /
tion for purposes the reverse Of those for /
which they have been designed. And 10 .
prevent such encroachments constant vigi- /
Iance is necessary. This is the more impor-
tant in connection with the administration
Of party affairs because Of the absorption
of our people in the activities Of their bust
meas life and the readiness with which con-
trol is gained by small bodies Of men who
are anxious TO secure and hold II, No party
man. however jealous, can object 20 the
utmost freedom on the part Of the members
of his party OF expressing their will particu-