New-York tribune., 1908-04-24
REVIEU7 OF THE SESSION.
Great amount of Important Horh
accomplished
rBv Telegraph 70 The Tribune !

Albany Anil o3-Despite the failure OF the Leg
,slsrure TO pass the antt-racerack gambling bills
.r 11i- sarvire law amendments and the direct
nominations measure recommended ny Governor
Hughes A great amount Of important work was
aoco,7,rIisbe5 this session which, because OF the
sensational features Of the year. went compare
tive1v 11unoticed. For most of these thihsS the
Republican ma jority deserves the credit
Thus the enactment Of the series OF hanKing re-
form bills following ont the recommendations o'
sr,rernfendent Clark Williams Of the State Bank
ing Dnpa-+r77ene fought consistently ny me
Democrats in both branches of the Legislature 1t
is due TO the action Of the Republicans that these
asrres were adopted So, too the new hlsh-
U-av code, was opposed vigorously by State En-
Cirear Skere. and for time by the Democratic
Legislators but their opposition hnay 0ied na'"-
raj death.
Two subjects OF great Importance to New York
CITY were handled adequately by the Legislature
though with some reluctance. Through the adop-
-lo- o4 the p r Robinson bill amending the rapid
transit law greatly more advantageous terms can
be offered 10 induce the building of new subWayS-
the CRYING need of that city now In conjunction
with this must be taken the Trayis-Lee const1tu-
tional amendment eXempting self-supportng sun
way and dock bonds from the city debt limit rms
Is A part Of the scheme for rapid transit reIeI'
and fs meant 10 supplement the working out Of the
Robinson bill although It cannot take erect nhtI
adopted by the next Legislature and ratified by
popular vote.
Bv the massage of the series of bills amending
tho urinary elections law sponsored by the New
York County RepuhilCd0 tpIlIIliItS' anu -i'''O
duced by Assemblymen Francis and B. K ItonIh-
son the Legislature has taken long step toward
the adjustment Of the foater evils IN New Aorh
CITY Naturally, the representatives OF lam
many Hall in the lower part Of Manhattan lslahd
objected vigorously. but the upstate men oe-
c!ared that sometimes they knew not what was
for their good.
Three resolutions adopted by the Legislature
providing for Investigations Of various phases OF
New York City government OF great I'M
r11rIc
in the departments concerned First Of them
stands the general charter revision scheme to be
carried out by a commission Of fifteen. which has
power TO inquire into the methods Of business
and general conditions in all departments of the
city. The resolution providing for separate in
vestization by legislative committee Of the citys
financial condition is expected to result in dis
closures Of waste and improvdence of startling
proportions and through them TO the adoption
OF a rational business method Of running the
citv's finances OF equal Importance IS the Fran
els resolution for an investigation Of the courts
Of inferior criminal jurisdiction. which probably
viii result in the eradication Of veXatious and
dangerous conditions prevalent in the magis-
trates' courts Much i'll considered and poorly
digested legislation affecting New York city was.
presented during the session. That much of it
failed to be acted upon due 10 the efforts Of
q few New York City legislatOrs-in almost every
case Republicans In this connection must be
noted the work of Edward J. NcGoldrick, Assist
ant Corporation Counsel, detailed to follow legis
lation. who watched carefully the workings Of
! committees and both houses, and certainly OBJ
tanned better results for the city and depart
mental legislation than has been the case before
In several years
in general bills the banking reform measures.
particularly those stiffenng the reserves OF banks
and trust companies and increasing the jurisdiction
and supervisory power Of the Superintendent of
Banks are os great Importance to the state. The
new highway code for the first time gives the
state a definite policy the building OF its good
roads provides stable machinery for this work
and lays ont comprehensive scheme Of trunk
lines reaching all sections Of the state. The
forest fish and game law, a revision of the badly
muddIed local laws which have been enacted large
~ the principle ny which quilt
built. represents in the opinion of the forest. fish
end game committees. Commissioner Whipple and
many sportsmen who have communicated with him
branch of the states work So also the revision of
the military code, although somewhat unpopular
with officers Of the national guard for a time
and the Wainwright bill, conforming the national
guard to the form OF organization Of the United
States army. were measures which seem certain to
bring about much benefit
About 900 bills introduced in both houses
this year OF the 512 thirty day bills IA are al
ready I'm tho executive chamber and tho others IN
record. city bills in the hands Of local au-
thorities for approval or rejection. The Governor
10 date his approved 10 bills.
when the regular session Of the Legislature ad-
jourued June &c last, 557 bills had been signed
and there remained thirty-day bills about 460 Of
which the Governor signed 207 making the total
number Of laws 7Si for 1891 Of about 100 bills
passed IN all