New-York tribune., 1909-05-01

Speaker Wads5cOrth Tells Of Many
important EnactmcHts.

IUG DUI CGlHL IL EtJC CUUC NLOs
Albany. April Accommodating on the accomplish
ments of the legislative session of 1909, James w
Wadsworth. jr., Speaker Of the Assembly saiu
to-day:
A persistent effort has been made to create the
impression that the IegsIature of 1909 has studous-
y failed TO respond 10 the recommendaIoaaS 0 the
purpose of furnishing accurate information 70 ~. Ie
public to the prominent acconlp
Of the session just closing, somewhat nasty pc pc
rusal of the record mas been made by me AS + q re-
suit It is found that in addition TO the vast @
called to perform. twenty-five exceedingly I'M I'M
portant enactments have been made, an oHD @ 81 tte
or two Of which nave been reconllleiie aSsa yas
chief executive in his regular or special nlessaee s
passed through both houses under the wei con
ceived impression that they Will meet with hls ap
below, and a perusa of them, both as 10 theI[ I'M mn
portance and their number indicates very Gtets
and alacrity the great majority of the governor
With tr9b tb8t no Goyernor has ever secured
enactment Of a greater percentage Oh MS IecOli
mendations than Governor Hughes.
SOME OF THE MEASURES ENACTED.
Measures enacted during tho session included the
following
/ A bill facilitating the location and establish
ment OF tuberculosis hospitals. .,.
second time equazing the salaries OF the Judges o
3 A constitntionai amendment passed for the
second time equalizing the salaries OF the JuSuces
OF the Supreme Court ana aolng s a"dy lem fh the
future. ,.,.s-
l. A bin amending the insurance law by modify
ing some of its provisions. order that New York
insurance companies may compete more success
;. A bin providing the liquidation of insurance
companies under the direction of the SuperlhlehueHI
6 bill reorganizing the State BoarS of Phar-
: A new motor vehicle law, including provi;
sfons for an annual license fee. which Is expected
the t2 oaE q sTss 6 mpf6Td % Toads
S. Important amendments to the game law when when
ri fllpT
@ An act abolishing the Office of quarantine
commissioner and transferring the duties OF that
commission to the health officer OF the FoIt 81
New York. by which considerable saving Is el-
act providing for thorough investigation a
the conditions Of the unempioyed IN the state ana
of the problem OF employers liability ,,...,
law to prevent the importation Of diseased animals
into tho State Of New York.
enumeratng the dangerous occupations in which
children shall not be employed -....,.. -
13 Provision has been made for the further ell
srEemeut Of the state fair establishment at syra-
u Provision has been made by liberal appropria-
lions increased facilities at the state College
Cornell University, also for the agricultural schools
At Alfred Morrisvue and Canton. Also, improve,
ments are provided for at the Geneva experimental
Station. :,
half of the Hudson-Futon celebration and the
Champiain tercentsnarE 49,, .,,...-,.-+ and
government Of a new state institution, known as
~ Also for the establishment Of a prison at
Comstock to take care of the excess prison Popu-
IS An amendment TO the constitution. passed
for the second time. and 20 be submitted 10
sops h bonds sse5 {or th constrTction Of SUB
ways and docks-a measure which ii is confidently
and dock faciIities for the city Of New YORK
transit act through which better opportunltty NY
viii he afforded 70 the city Of New York and the
T3iG Isnal r. me exenson Of the subHaT system
q. 4 referendum bill which, II approved by the
people viii result in an extension of the states
inland waterways through Cayuga and Seneca
q a referendum bIu which If approved by the
people will secure for veterans of the Civil War
pension. the money for which is be raised by d-
p An important amendment to the franchise tax
law TO better enable the enforcement Of the pay
q. The creation of forest preserve in the high
q An appropriation for the further purchase Of
25 important amendments TO the New York
charter enanating from the Cassidy investigating
26. Important amendments to the Public Service
commissions law Passed the Assembly, rr.,
to prevent the pollution Of streams of the state.
PASSED the Assembly,
COMMENT on CONDITIONS
Now that the session OF 1893 is about to close it
may be proper for the chair to comment briefly
Sortrnste tbaf SO T1anT measures of prme fmpor-
tance whose preparation has been intrusted to per-
sons outside Of the Legislature have been iuuo-
that careful consideration the hands Of the
resentatives Of the people which they
titled. In some quarters impatence has been eX-
limited on the part of those who think that the
Legislature should mmediateiy take up and pass
the bills vtalIy affecting the functions OF govern
ment without much the crossing Of
the dDttiuE Of an /.
The majority leader in Of his forceful speeches
from the floor has well said that the time has gone
by when the Legislature of this state will rubber
stamp the eleventh hour proposals such as these
| think conservative people very generally VIII
admit that the State Of New York Is not suffering
through LACE Of legislation and that it is the part
Of wisdom for the Legislature to insist that u be
given opportunity to examine into all sides and
corners Of legislation which may affect vitaQy all
the people OF the state before giving II It's ap-
prevail There have been several Instances OF this
confronting the Legislature OF 1909 during the
last month OF its session, and l contend that the
Legislature in pOstpoHing final action upon these
measures and providing for further investigation
has safegUarded the Interests Of the people and
very properly prevented unwise legislation from
being placed upon the statute books.
Ny experience a member for five years. and as
presiding officer Of this body for four years. has
convinced me that the members Of he Legislature
have Striven to perform their duty, and despite
criticisms, have succeeded.
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