The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-01-08
LEGISLATURE OF 1908.
James W. Wadsworth,s 1r., Re-
Elected Speaker. 's,'s,
Edwin A. Merritt, Jr, of st. Lawrence
Leader Of Republican Majority and
George M. Palmer of Schoharie
Minority Leader - Bills introduced
In Senate and Assembly.

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The New York state Legislature of
1908 convened Wednesday, completed
the necessary organization, heard the
second annual message of Governor
Hughes and adjourned until $50 p.
m. on Monday, when the real grind
! oil the session was begun. This pre-
Gminary recess is unusually short and
indicated the desire of the leaders to
get promptly to work and reach final
adjournment at the earliest possible
date.
Colonel Archie Il. Baxter of Che
mung, after twelve years service as
clerk of the assembly, closed his func-
ticns in that capacity by calling the
house to order presiding during the
re-selection of Speaker James w.
Wadsworth, Jr., of Livingston county,
and then giving way to Ray B. Smith
Of Onondaga, for six years his assist
ant, who was elected clerk in his
place in accordance with the action of
Tuesday nights Republican caucus.
The prayer at the opening of the
senate session was offered by Right
Rev. William Croswell boane, the
venerable Protestant Episcopal bishop
of Albany.
The senate got to work at once, and
nearly score of bills were intro
duced. The assembly consumed sew
hntIpC In affantinu nnnnt
ganization and drawing seats.
Edwin A Merritt, Jr., of st. Law
renee will be leader of the Republican
majority on the assembly floor. This
became apparent when in the assign
ment of seats he took that which by
immemorial custom is accorded to the
majority leader. Assemblyman Phillips
Of Allegany. his rival for the leader
ship, will be chairman of the commit
tee on judiciary.
Assemblyman George NJ. Palmer of
Schoharie as the choice of the Demo
cratic caucus for speakership, re-
turns after years absence from the
assembly to the position Of minority
leader
Chanler and Wadsworth Spoke.
ln opening the session of the SEN
ate Lieutenant Governor Chanler
said few words of complimentary
character, expressing the hope that
the coming session would prove pleas
ant to the members of the senate and
profitable for the people.
In the course of his brief speech of
acceptance Speaker Wadsworth said:
"The people of the state this year had
but one channel through which they
could express their opinions on the
general policy of the state govern.
Enent and that was in the election OF
the assembly. This house composed
of members chosen in $50 districts
throughout the state constitutes the
latest and most authoritative expires.
sion of the public will. We are ex-
pected to take up our duties promptly
and to conduct this session in a man
ner betting the popular branch of the
government. With judgment I'M
warped by any outside influences, ow-
ing no allegiance save to the people
who have sent us here to represent
them, we can make the session of
1908 a success
Sixteen bills were introduced in the
senate, most of them of more than 10
cal Importance. Senator SAKE intro
duced the bill of the Wainwright Ma
tional Guard commission, designed to
conform the National Guard organiza.
tion with that of the United States
army.
The Governors Recommendations.
Among the recommendation in the
governors message are the follow
ing:
The available balance or surplus
in the state treasury on Sept. 80,
1907, amounted to $l3,67S,13S.47 as
against S11 ,291, ,445.29 at the end of the
previous year,
The state debt Increased during the
last fiscal year from slO,G3O,G6O tc
$17,290,66 This was due to the is.
sue of bonds for canal and highway
purposes.
The amount of canal improvement
work now under contract amounts to
$22, 100000, contracts have been
awarded during the past year amount
ing to $7,067000 and plans have been
finished for the award of contracts
amounting to S7042,000. The state
engineer estimates that plans for the
entire work will be completed in from
ten to twelve months. 1t is of mani
fest importance that this work should
proceed with all possible speed con-
slstent with expert care.
During the past year 3S5 miles of
state roads have been built and 564
miles in addition have been contract
ed for. Plans are ready for 1,093
miles of road. 1t is understood that
OF these last bids will be received in
January for POI miles and that the re-
naming S92 miles represent roads for
which the counties have already ap-
propltated their share of the cost OF
construction. but for which contracts
cannot he let until appropriation OF
the states share has been made by
the legislature.
Banks and Trust Companies.
The recent financial disturbance has
directed attention to the importance
of amending the law relating to banks
and trust companies. There is much
reason for qualification in the fact
that for the most part our institu-
tions were found to be sound and
that only few were compelled TO
give WAY desnitp an nnnnrn lleled