New-York tribune., 1910-06-21
TIE GoFERyoR's MESSAGE.

TIE GoFERNoRs MESSAGE.
In the message of the Governor those
who criticised the eonvening OF
special session Of the Legislature on the
ground that no sufficient reason existed
for calling it have their answer. Great
as is the need for satisfactory primary
legislation. il did not constitute the
sole occasion for an extra session. Inc
inadeouacy of the states revenues 70
meet the demands Of this years budget
forms an exigency sufficient TO justify
beyond the possibility Of dispute the re-
converting Of the Legislature. And III
adding TO these subjects his recommen-
daticns for the strengthening OF the
graft tnvestigat ton resolutions the Gov
ernor has brought the Legislature back
TO duty which was performed at the
regular session in a way that fell 1ar
short Of satisfying public opinion
With regard to direct nominations the
Governor necessarily traverses the ia
niliar ground. He restates the argu-
ulents which he has addressed to the
LEGISLATURE and TO the public upon other
occasions with all his customary clarity
and force. The truth o. his crlticlsns
of the existing system admits OF no oe
piaI. It is a system which faVors the
development Of political middlenen VINO
make q trade Of bestowing nominations
and dispensing legislative and admins
trattve favors to selfish interests. lts
evils are familiar to every one. Inc
primaries are regarded with hstless at
tention because they determine nothing
Of anv vital Importance. The delegates
who are chosen at them can in no way
be held to any responsibility by those
who in form elect them. This system
is defended as representative, but it is
mockery of representation. No cure
for its defects has been suggested but
the system Of direct nominations This
will sweep away the political middle
men and enable elected officials TO feel
that they owe no favors TO bosses OF
10 selfish interests which finance the
bosses. The reform which is steadily
snreading all over the country is sure
tqo come in this state, and the Leglslat-
ure will act in dangerous denancel OF
nnblic opinion if it does not give at TINS
rect primaries.
The Governors criticisms Of the graft
INQUIRY resolution as passed come with
neculiar force from man who has had
| the experience he has had in conduct
ing legislative investigations. II any
one could appreciate fully the difficult
ties Of an inquiry hedged about with
such limitations as those placed by the
Assembly amendments in the graft reso-
lutions it would be the counsel of the in
surance investigation. If the Armstrong
committee and its counsel had peeh
barred off from various subjects by the
requirement that charges should be
verified on knowledge and II persons
accused at the hearings had been per-
mitted to be represented by connsel
with authority 70 cross-examine W.T.
nesses and to- subpoena witnesses ID ae-
fence. its work in clearing up the in
surance scandals would almost surely
have been blocked. It is highly in1prob-
able that any effective investigation
conld eyer be conducted upon the lines
laid down in the resolutions passed at
the last session. Those lines were de-
narture from the well established prac-
fices of Congressional committees and
Legislative committees, not only in this
but in other states, and a departure
that is entirely without justifcation,-
With regard TO the provision Of addl-
tional revenue the Governor calls the
Legislatures attention 10 the grave
faults in the graduated Inheritance tax
bill passed at the recent session to meet
the deficiency in income. The fatal de-
feet Of this bill is that the tax is grad
uated according to the size Of estates
rather than according to the size of
beouests. Such fax would operate
unfairly. would tend 70 discourage the
distribution Of property by testament.
and would be pf doubtful constitutional
itv. AS the Governor intends TO veto
the bill. it is clearly the duty of the
Legislature 70 arrange its modification TO
meet the Governors objections or TO pro-
vide some other source for the revenue
which the Governor shows to be greatly
needed.