New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
nix CHANGES TUNE
ON STATE ECONOMY
after TRADE Against Extrava-
nance. Now Sees Need OF
Finding Sources of Income.
WOULD PUNISH VOTE BUYING
covernor in Annual Message Fa-
vors Making 1t Felony-Amend-
ments to Primary and Public
Service Laws Urged.
rRv Telegraph to The Tribune. J


.rrual message went to the Legislature to-
,.r If was notable chiefly for its COM
.,.,e and diametrical divergence from its
.odscessor on the subject of state
.oonomy. The salient feature OF the first
n,x message was economy, that brand OF
.,.rn rock bound Democratic economy
which would slash appropriations anG
snare not. Economy was mentioned only
onoe In this second message, and then 1t
,r.s distinctly I'm qualified phrase-"the
most reasonable economy
last year the Governors message sound
Al like Democratic campaign speech
uarr1ed over-Republican eXtravagances,
waste OF public funds. and all the rest of
II. This year the tenor of his remarks is
mite different. He talks about the ever
growing demands on the state government
and the necessity for a discovery OF new
sources Of state income If the state is TO
make progress. it is apparently a sadder
and wiser Dix I'm the matter of finances
who stands sponsor for this second mes
sage, a man with some slight recognition
OF the scope OF the states business and
the breadth of the states responsibilities
and the demands of the states citizens
for a government Of progress, even II the
ledger each year does show a larger eX-
penditure than that of the previous year.
The Governors message was one OF the
longest on record. II took three clerks to
read It in the Senate and all were hoarse
and tired before they finished. 1t advo-
Gated some changes in Tammany's so-called
direct primary law. chiefly the election of
oil state committeeman at one time, thus
removing the discrimination regarding New
York City, which was inserted Tor the
benefit OF Charles +. Murphy. Also II
recommends the enlargement Of the state
committees TO a membership Of 150 one
committeeman from each Assembly dis
trict. II does not say word about the
correction of various other notable defects.
The Governor recommends more stringent
laws regarding vote buying and vote selling,
that the former be made a felony and that
immunity be granted one guilty Of the lat
ter If he turn states evidence. He advo-
Gates the adoption of plans for the devel-
opment Of water power sites under state
control, but the recommendation is rather
vague The Governor suggests an "ef-
fcency bureau" for the benefit of mu-
inequalities and uniform charter for third
class cities, designed TO foster home rule"
lie urges also amendments to the public
service commissions law TO give those
bodies more power over capitalization OF
corporations under their Jurisdiction than
they have now under interpretations OF the
Law as il stands Also he would extend
their jurisdiction 10 include supervision OF
private water companies.
Sharp Discussion in Senate.
In the Senate the reading of the message
started a sharp discussion. Senator New
comb. who foresaw in the message year
ago, "A releasing OF the hungry and thirsty
OF Tammany on the state and portent OF
disorga nization of the state service. criti-
ciscd this document even more sharply. He
practically accused the Governor of deceit
and hypocrisy in his economy utteTances
year ago by comparing that message and
This one. and carried the line of thought
further TO include the Governors position
on urinary and election reforms"
Governor Dix. said Senator Newcomb
was I'm an unfortunate political position
Fyervbodv knew II. and for that possibly
he should not be judged too harshly. That
unfortunate situation should have resulted
IN his acquiring much knowledge and
soma humility. although there was doubt
about the Governors progress In those U-
rections On the whole, the Sentaor thought
the Governor was the head of an admlhis-
tration wholly discredited" and stamped
with the seal Of disapproval by the people
Discussing the Governors utterances OH
economy a year ago. Senator Newcomb salu
they were calculated by insinuation ano IN
nuendo 10 produce the idea among the peo-
pie that Republican administrations had
been guilty OF lavish and unjustiied eH-
pendtures of state funds.
Nov a more experienced and more chas-
tened Governor" said he. talks ABOUT III
creased responsibilities on the part or inc
state and increasing cost Of government
which necessitates new sources Of revenue.
II ali that is true now was 1t not true
year ago in the same measure? what
then. of the Governors insinuations OF a
year ago? Was he ignorant OF all this then?
What kind OF light does this throw on
his sincerity II ne did know, or on his un-
derstanding II he did not? The Governor
should retract his criticisms of former ad-
ministrations on the score OF alleged eX-
iravagance, for they were wrong and un-
just. Now I think he has far overshot the
mark IN the other direction. OF course,
there are numberless calls on the state for
extension and development of its activities.
Some Of these demands should be granted.
Others unquestionably should be denied. I
don't believe there is any necessity now
Tor unlimited increases"
Doubts Governors Sincerity.
Senator Newcomb said there was no sign
In the Governors message that he had
learned his lesson regarding primary lcgis-
lation. IL probably would not be-profltable
10 discuss the ideals and hopes of ardent
direct primary advocates. Nevertheless. II
The Governor had been really sincere last
year in hoping when he signed an imper-
feet law that It would be improved this
year. direct nominations men might feel
that he would recommend specific changes
IN tbe law where IL was admittedly wrong.
Yet ] am surprised and disappointed 20
IND that he has not noticed one Of the
wrongs in the law which are already
stamped with the disapproval of the peo-
PIE" said Senator Newcomb
These wrongs, he said, were the use OF
party funds TO perpetuate factions of the
party a provision regarding the number
OF signatures required for petitions for in
dependent nomination against the party
candidate at the primaries which made 1t
practically impossible TO beat the bosses
seiection for party nomination, and the use
oi tne party emblem in the primaries-"a
misuse OF the party emblem inexcusable
and reprehensible. yet OF 1t the Governor
says not one word"
senator Newcomb paid much attention