Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07


republican when really he is for himself,
I do net appeal to him.
With grim sarcasm the governor looked
around over the heads OF several hunureu
officeholders and "expecttants, and re-
marked that he knew nobody present
wanted an office: hence he was able to
speak freely. Then he proceeded to say
that he did not consider individual claims
or party. obligations of any importance.
The only motive that would actuate him
in making nominations was to secure the
highest degree of efficiency in the trans
action of the business Of the state.
There are now in the executive cham
ber.'' he said. "a very large and rapidly
accommodating set of recommendations
for different appointments. l know l am
not addressing any one here that desires
ANYTHING. so l may speak with freedom.
There are host OF applications for every
position. There will he Of necessity a
great many who will be disappointed to
one who may be satisfied and possibly
surprised. But I wish to say that wheth-
er you agree with me or not in what
intend to do. I intend to do what will be
for the best interest of the state and Sc
cure the best possible administration"
And the "exrectants' howled with en-
thusiasm, although their hearts were as
heavy as if they had heard their death
sentence pronounced.
Will Continue Reforms.
In addition to this pronunciamento con-
corning patronage. Gov. Hughes an
nounced that he proposed to continue his
work of reform. He did not specify def
nitely where he was going to strike, but
intimated very plainly that as soon as
the legislature meets he proposed to get
busy With plans to remedy some OF the
wrongs and remove some OF the evils that
were apparent to everybody. In this con-
nection he intimated that he was looking
]
the governorship instead Of entering upon
second term. and were in a position to
give word OF advice to my successor, |
should say. When you have a conviction.
never think that you cannot afford to act
In accordance with it because of any an
you may create That is a great
source of weakness. Consider the right
first. Oh! the hours that are wasted in
the discussion of whether thing is popu-
lar, instead Of considering whether It is
right. Oh. the waste Of ingenuity and
talent in trying to give an administration
that Is palatable instead Of one that Is
square!" And few further remarks of
the same tenor have caused a great deal
has up his sleeve. Thus far he has not
taken anybody into his confidence, but
those are ominous words. and were ut
tered with great seriousness. They all
agree that something is going to happen.
and are in most painful uncertainty as
to what it may be.
May Strike at Wall Street.
There is a strong impression that Gov
Hughes intends to strike at Wall street.
and 1t is based upon a preliminary skir-
mish which occurred before the adjourn
ment of the legislature last spring. You
will remember, perhaps, that he insisted
upon the passage of law prohibiting
bucket shops. and making it felony pun
a IsN6 f1~ nvnl h.
Of offer to make any contracts or any pur-
chase or sale either upon credit or mar
gins without intending bona f1de pur-
chase or sale or delivery and receipt.
Bills to this effect had been offered in
the legislature annually for several years.
but they never received any serious atten-
ton until Gov. Hughes. with his extraor-
binary energy and determination, too hold
OF the matter and told the members of the
legislature that he would not permit
them to adjourn until it had become q
law. and it became a law
1t may be remembered also that bill
requiring all stock brokers to pay a large
fee for license to do business and pro-
yiding that the licenses should be for
feited If they continued to indulge in
transactions that are now quite common,
was also introduced.
Resolution to Investigate.
There was resolution for an investiga-
ton of the New York Stock Exchange,
which was based upon the charge that the
state treasury is cheated out of 1900, GOO
a year by brokers who evade the payment
of the tax Of cents a share on every
Another bill provided for an
increase of this tax of from . to cents
There were several other propositions
looking to the restriction Of speculation in
food products. stocks and bonds, and the
Indications were that a general raid upon
Wall street was contemplated, but Gov
Hughes did not go any farther than the
bill. Whether he intends to
make an effort to restrict speculation will
not be known until his message to the
legislature is received by that body
and his inaugural address is pronounced
His attitude toward betting and bucket
shops justifies the rumors that are in cir
culation.