The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-06
DOING rae GOVERNORS WEE.
a Review q ths Record ~ tn Recent
IegfalNflVe aranlaN,

legislative session.
To rHR EDITOR OF THE SUN-Siv: A.
considerable unfair criticism has been
printed OF late with regard 10 the alleged
hostility Of the LEGISLATURE TO Governor
Hughes. should like 10 have tho oppor-
tunity Of directing your attention 10 the con-
currenco Of the Legislature IN practically
every one u the recommendations that the
Governor made In his recent annual message
10 the legislature Ia looking over the
message yOu will find that the Governor
recommended legislation 10 provide fOr the
acceptance Of the Eift Of State park by Mrs
Hartman. providing for suitable training
IN education la agriculture. the amending Of
the Public Servics Compassion Law 30 10
To include the telegraph and telephons
companies, a general revision Of the rail-
road law. the passage Of legislation 10
prevent corrupt practices az and before
election. q constitutional amendment en-
abling the placing In the hands u voters
at the time Of registration Of q copy Of the
text Of the amendment 10 the Constitution
to BE- voted for a. tho ensuing election,
new automobile law. amendments 10 the
boOkmaklng Law, remedies affecting EN-
DlOyers liability and compensation for work
meas injuries. and 'he defeat oi the pro-
posed amendment providing for a Federal
income tax. All Of these recommendations
have been acted upon favOrably and are
now Incorporated in bills that have passed
the Legislature and have either become law
or are before the Governor for his signature.
lnoonstructive work The Legislature through
We COMMITTEES has drawn uD a nsw charter
Tor the city Of New York and has passed a
law Temedylng many Of The evils that we're
present Ia the Inferior courts of this city,
also bills 10 prevent corruption a. primaries
and elections. commonly known a. the Re
pnhllosh county committee bills
The Snly bill which the Legislature did
not adopt IN accordance with the views of
the Governor was with regard 60 the subject
Of direct nominations
Several Of the prominent membarz Of the
party approached the Goyeruor upon the
subject Of amending the Hinman Green
bill 40 that II might meet with less obiec-
ton. The. Governor, however, said that a.
the Human Green bill had been discussed
at considerable length he would not con
slider any amendments to Il. but that the
identical bill should be voted upon and that
he would stand by the result
4 number Of leading citizens Of New York
city. believing that the Hinman-Gre bill
was not adapted TO the needs Of New York
city, submitted a memorial TO the legisla-
ture and TO the Governor recommending
suggestions for a reform Of our primary
election system and suggesting the defeat
Of the liinman-GTeen hill This memorial
was signed by such prominent men a. Seth
Low. Joseph n ,hoate. Henry " Taft
Marcus " Marks and others Neyerihe-
less on May 10 the Governor Ia a specially
prepared speech, two days before the vote
on the Hinman -Green hill spoke In the course
Of his speech "a follows
It has been ny earnest desire thai II shou,d n.
brought out upon the door OF each houss Of the
Legislature: that II should he debated according
20 is merits and tina, II should be voted upon BY
each member according 10 his Judgment N the
light OF me wishes OF the people Who constitute
his constituency.
The ball was. however. defeated In the |
Assembly and subsequently defeated IN
the senate
Surely the ability and efficiency Of the 7
legislative branch Of our state Goyern- /
ment are not 20 be measured by IT, failure
% adopt recommendation Of tho EXeCu- |
tive which after having been debated upon F.
At great length and after much thought put /.
upon u was decided By a vote 81 the lrgis- |
lature 10 he Imptacticahle
4 commission appointed vear ago 10 I
investigate the subject Of direct primaries /
had reported 10 the Legislature a. the he .
ginning Of the last session against the pro- T.
visions Of the hinmau-t'reen bill and as
a result NJ ~ lahors had drawn up me .
Meade Phillips hill The legislature agree .
ing With the Governor that some primary I
reform vas necessary, then passed the /
Meade Phillips bill, which vas about 70 he /
sent to the Governor Tor his signature I
whom the Governor sent r special message .
10 The Legislature saying that A. soon +
~ he should receive the Meade Phillips nm /
he would veto Il and suggesting that the .
Legislature adopt another BIN Nhirh VA, .
before 4. namely the cobb hill A. .
tho Assembly and senate had already /
voted In favor ~ the Phillips hIlI II seemed .
ridiculous for tho Legislature N commit .
itself In favor Of another primary reform |
hill which II did not believe 100 and would |
have voted for 0ny because the Executive
wanted h The Executive. however. fol- .
calling for action on this Cobb bill aud u