New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-14
DIX MEASURES IN PERIL
Entire Programme Likely to Fail
Without Murphy's Aid.
LEADERS HERE TO SEE BOSS
Agreement May Be Patched Up
Over Sunday-Chaos
at Albany.
IRv Telegranh 20 Tn. Tribune !

lBy Telegraph 10 Tn. Tribune
Albany. May 13.-Unless Governor DIX
and Boss" Murphy Of Tammany Hall get
together very soon and make some working
agreement for the rest of the legislative
session. the Governors entire legislative
programme is likely TO fail. Democrats In
the Legislature now are badly split. and
short of such an agreement. followed by
orders from Murphy TO his Legislature 10
get busy and pass some of the Dix bills
there is small comfort for the Governor IN
the present outlook.
It is the expectation here that such an
agreement-or at least some sort Of un-
derstanding-wil be patched UP In Ne"
York over Sunday. The legislative leaders
went down there on Friday 10 see Murphy
after having had earnest talks with the
Governor. Governor Dix himself was IN
New York over the week end. and people
here suspect he got into touch with Muir
ply about the plans for the rest of the ses-
sion.
In his message TO the Legislature the
Governor recommended two big changes IN
the machinery of the states government
the adjustment of the present State High
way Commission. substituting therefor
hybrid body made UP Of the State Engi-
neer, the Superintendent OF Public WORKS
and a Superintendent OF Highways, and the
creation OF n "Conservati ton Department
This body was TO supplsnt the present
Forest, Fish and Game Department and
the State Water supply Commission. II
was 10 have charge Of the states forests.
its game and its great water resources,
= inc
Deals May Keep Bill Asleep.
Measures 10 carry out these recommen-
dations have been introduced. That's about
as far as they have gone. When the high
way bill was presented 1t suited Tammany
Hall. Then It was amended. the amend
ments having been drafted by William
Church Osborn, the Governors legal adj
wiser. and some Of the insurgent Demo-
Gratis In that fashion II didn't suit Tam
many Hall. No bill embodying that idea
would suit tho Republican legislators.
Therefore Il hasn't been moved 10 passage.
and various deals between Republicans and
some faction or other OF the disorganized
Democracy have been made TO keep II
sleeping until after the Legislature has ad-
journed finally
Indications have not been lacking that
the Governors ardor for this measure has
waned perceptibly. The insurgent Demo-
Gratis have tried at many times to make
him see that this change almost inevitably
would give Tammany the chance TO build
up great political machine In the High
way Department. Then. too. from all over
the state protests have poured in on him
against the break in the policy Of state
road building which would follow such
change. There is considerable doubt
whether this measure will be passed. In
no case can It he passed save by the direct
assistance OF Murphy and his Tammany
people in the Legislature
II seems practically certain now that the
conservation bill" as it is before the
Legislature will not become law There
probably will be passed a constitutional
amendment 10 permit the flooding Of state
forest lands for water power development.
Present indications are. though, that II
won't he the Merritt amendment passed
last year. Against that document the As
sociation for the Protection Of the Adiron-
dacks. the New York Board OF Trade and
TRANSPORTATION and many other bodies have
protested. 1t probably will be used as a
basis but many safeguards to the states
interests now deemed lacking will be in
serted.
Direct Nomination Measures.
Governor Dix recommended the enact
mont Of a direct nominations law but has
done little in that direction since. He ad-
mitted that the bill introduced by Senator
Ferris and Assemblyman a. J. Levy mad
his sympathy" This measure was intro
duced because the Governor didn't like the
Wagner-Smith bill-the so-called 'organlza-
ton measure" The Ferris-Levy bill IS
virtually the Hinman-Green bill or last
year except that It has provisions lot an
official primary ballot, which has been de-
nounced as absolutely wrong IN principe
and indefensible, giving 10 the organiza-
ton" or machine" in any primary contest
hitherto unheard-of advantages Inc IN
sureent Democrats ara lined up strongly
behind the Warren bill, which is Ike the
hill Governor Hughes advocated. some
Republicans will support this; some OF the
old guard Republicans won't support any
direct nominations bill. Among the numer-
GUS measures, the legislative strength OF
the direct nominations advocates seems
likely TO he divided so no bill can obtain
enough votes 10 pass IT,
Governor Dix is much concerned over the
Income tax proposition He wants that
nassed badly. while the Legislature doesn't
seem so anxious TO pass 1t Just now. IL
Murphy algns himself against II there Will
he none. but the Governor is said to be
arguing with him as well as with the legis-
lative leaders that the Rochester platform
demanded the passage Of the resolution as
Congress adopted it.
The bill wiping out the Court OF Claims
las had very hard Shedding. and it seems
unlikely that 1t can pass. This was one az
the Dix Democratic economy measures.
the chief economy, 10 the lay mind. being
I'm that fact that IN the new court 20 be
created Democrats at slightly less salary
would hold the jobs.
The Governor has several appointments
! to make in which Murphy is deeply inter
ested One is the successor to Justice
| O'Gorman, for which place Daniel F. Co
| halan is considered an active candidate.
Another is the State Superintendent OF
Prisons. q job with vast political POSSIBLE
| tiles Most people here think that with
these two jobs hanging in the balance, and
| the fact that Murphy may need the good
will Of the Governor TO kill off the Bronx
| County bill If the Legislature should pass
| It, ne and Dix will get together on give
and take basis which may save some small
shreds Of the Dix dignity through the adop-
ton OF some small part OF the Dix leSisla-
tive programme.