New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-18
DIX HAS NEW SCHEME
FOR PREPARING BILLS
Conference Will Block Out New
Measures Prior to Their
Introduction.
TAKES PLACE OF COLLIN
Governor, His Legal Adviser,
Legislative Leaders and Heads
of State Departments
to Consult.


Albany, March l7-With the dishandinC
Of the Legislative branch Of the executive
DEPARTMENT through the severance Of the
relations Of Governor Dix with Charles a.
Collin a now era of considerable impor-
lance is 10 begin in the Dix administration
Governor Dix maintains that he is con
stitutional Governor. though some people
here considered Professor collins methods
I'm drawing bills and advocating them
rather extra constitutional. In the new
era. though. there will he none Of that
The new thought will he a beautiful.
harmonious cooperation between executive
and legislative departments on admins
tra,ion measures" In preparing these bills
each department wlll bear its proper bur
den. though the labors of both will 10
united toward bringing forth finished
product of surprising excellence. Har-
n.ony and efficiency will he the watch
words. and the constant hope of everybody
implicated will be that Democracy III the
future may escape some of the di1erences
between legislative and executive which
rendered notable the last four years of Re-
publican administration Of the states af-
fairs.
Tho summary breaking up Of the '1esls-
latiyc branch of the executive department
loft mos, Of the recommendations made by
Governor Dix in his message to the Legs
lature unembalmed in proposed laws. MT
Collin had drawn one big lil-that propos-
ing REORGANIZATION OF the Highway Com
mission. which arttlsed much opposition.
FINALLY IL succeeded " arraignng the Gov
ernor and Tammany interests against each
ether. and now lies in committee. awaiting
important amendments not yet drafted. or
Two other bills drafted by the ''eSl>io.. -
branch" one. proposing 10 wipe out the
canal hoard of advisory engineers. is like
wise sleeping in committee. When 1t comes
out il will merely reduce the number OF
advisory engineers from five to three, or IL
will he defeated by the Republicans and
,nsurgent Democrats They will not stand
Tor the complete wiping out of the ooard.
The second, grabbing the Canal Terminal
Commission 10y the addition Of five Demo
cratic members was rendered useless by
prompt presentation Of the report OF the
commission. which Immediately passed out
Of existence.
Measures Await Completion.
~ ere remain 20 DO completed the water
storage and cons, walton bill, various hhan-
cial measures designed 10 produce larger
Income and smaller expenditures. ana the
highway commission measure, as wei DIS
several less important measures.
If is the new plan to have the geheral
policv Of the bills blocked out at CONFER
ence similar to the present governor
"cunci." In this conference will he IN
Governor. his legal adviser. the legislative
lenders. chdirinen OF tho committees 10
which tho bills. when drawn, would De
referred. and heads of state departments
affected nv the proposed legislation. Mat
ters of general policy Will be thrashed out
bv this conference. questions Of pracucal
on.rt OF the legislation. and To some eX-
tent its details.
ActuaI drafting of the bills will he taken
IN under the proposed scheme. by SUD-
committees Of legislators from the com
m.ttocs which would handle the bilis
These subcommittee would confer with
the Governors counsel, and would have the
aid Of the legislative bill drafting depart
n,cn,. a corps Of experts The measures
when completed. would be introduced by
somebody entirely familiar with them as
administration measures.
This scheme. OF course, has not been
worked out thoroughly yet. but, as sug-
gosted roughly. appears 20 those interested
10 have certain important advantages over
.be work Of the Legislative branch, etc.
ono is that no bill would he introduced
until il had been pretty thoroughly dis
cuseed and points of possible difference
eliminated If TammanyS interests might
be considered TO be represented In the CON
fo,enco low the legislative leaders, the Gov
crnor's counsel and heads OF departments
might be regarded as representing the
Democratic League. high brow, msur-
gent element in their party Differences
cf course. would arise. bat they could De
,hrashed out in conference instead of in
the open air as was tho case with the
canal terminal commission bill and the
measure proposing the reorganization or
the Highway commission.
This bill. which still needs great deal
Of tinkering. is TO be the first of the al
ministration" bills advanced 10 passage
il IS expected 10 produce the biggest nght
of the year and the leaders of both houses
want 10 get il out OF tho way before the
other important bills are advanced. 1t Is
their hope TO have tho amendments ready
I'm about a week and 10 push u along
within a fortnight. The appropriation Dill
IS apnroaching completion. and the leaders
hone IN have that introduced in ten DAYS
After that. II things are not knocked
.skcv shaw" they think. legislation can be
rushed. They have hopes Of finishing the
So ss!cn early in MAY. Skeptics are talking
about June l or June II as a more likely
adjournment date.