New-York tribune., 1908-05-21
HUGHES SIGNS 100 LAWS
TORRENS SYSTEM NOW.
Railroads Must Pay Semi-monthly-
Three Platoon Bill Vetoed.

Albany NAV Ex-Governor Hughes signed
nearly one hundred bills to-day. the total num-
Der of laws of 1908" reaching Chapter 444- The
Governor signed the measures requiring semi
monthly payment Of railroad wages. establishing
the Torrens system Of registering land titles, and
forbdding deep well pumping Of carbonic acid
gas, the last named bill being designed to pro-
tect the Saratoga mineral springs from threat
ened destruction He vetoed the bill wnfc1
would have compelled the establishment OF the
three platoon system In the police forces OF AL
first and second class cities. All Of these bills
were much discussed during the regular session
Of the Legislature The thirty day bill period
ends Saturday at midnight. and all pending bills
unsigned at that time will be dead
The Governor also signed the bill OF Senator
Grady appropriating 100000 for highway
maintenance and construction. 100000 to be-
come available Immediately and $2.OO00OO Octo-
Der l. out Of the proceeds of the sale of highway
bonds under the fifty million act. and the bills
OF Assemblyman Merritt appropriating $4oOOOO
the annual contribution to the highway i'm
provement sinking fund and S430.OOO for In
terest highway bonds for the fiscal year be-
ginning October l.
GOVERNOR EXPLAINS VETO
In a memorandum explaining his veto Of the
three platoon bill, which was introduced by AS
sembyman Francis. OF New York, Republican,
the Governor points out that the system Is al
ready in operation In Buffalo. Rochester and Syra-
cuse, and that the local authorities OF New York
Albany. Troy and Yonkers oppose the measure
He does not undertake to discuss the merits OF
the system, renarking that If 1t is desirable
method there is nothing to prevent any Of the
cities which would be affected by the act from
adopting it, They have ample authority under
the present law The bill. he adds, would
compel these cities by mandatory act to adopt
"a particular method Of dividing the police force
and Of arranging tours Of duty without regard
to the wishes of the citizens or the Judgment OF
the local officers who responsible to the citi-
zens for the efficiency and proper conduct Of
their departments This Is untustifable- Unless
we are to give up local governments remove
police administration entirely from local control
left to the regulation OF the local authorities"
IN approving the bill of Assemblynan Filley
of Rensselaer,. Republican. which will compel
steam railroads to pay their employees twice
month and which vigorously opposed BY
the corporations concerned the Governor calls
attention to the fact that the labor law now
quires all other corporations and joint stock as
sociations to pay their employees weekly
1T is urged says the Governor, that this
change will cause the steam railroads some in
convenience and expense But doubtless the
present law occasions inconvenience and
pense TO other corporations who are not bene-
flied by any exception 1t Is better that the
present bill should become law and suitable
administrative arrangements be made to COM
ply with IL than that the existing discrimination
which cannot be justified with due regard to the
policy Of the provision Of the labor law. should
be maintained"
OF the bill Of AssembIynan Green. Of Kings.
establishing the so-calIed Torrens system OF
registering land titles. the Governor speaks of
the careful consideration of the subject by
commission appointed last year and its major
ity report recommending the adoption Of the sys
TEN by this state. Objections Of the minority
report the memorandum says. were before the
legislature which. nevertheless. passed this bill
II believe that this measure represents" the
Governor adds. "an important movement in the
direction of facilitating land transfers and that
it should become a law. If we are ever TO es-
cape the complications delays and expense in
cident TO present methods. beginning must be
made. and the painstaking and intelligent ef-
forts which have eliminated in the passage of
this bill should not be frustrated
Governor Hughes also signed the bill of Sem
ator Cassidy designed to facilitate the report
ing of contag gious diseases.