The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20
SESSION ENDS
IN HURRAH AS
BIG BILLS PASS
State Income Tax Measure
and One Limiting City
Realty Tax Win.
GOVERNOR rs DELUGED
Teachers Salary Question Is
Practically Left to Him
for Decision.

for Decision.
Special Despdtch 10 TBE SuN.
ALBANY, April 19.--A.mid scenes Of
turbulence such as never before we're
produced at the Capitol the 1919 session
OF the Legislature ended just after 9
o'clock tonight, nine nouns after the
clocks in both houses had heen stopped
so the adjournment could be accom-
plished at moon
Scores of measures were januned
through both houses in the last hours OF
confusion. but the last ten minutes saw
some of the most important bills carried
10 passage and sent TO the Governor for
signature. Among them were:
The State income tax bill. which went
through the Assembly, having been
passed earlier by the Senate.
The Downing Halmill bill. limiting the
tax on New York city real estate to
s2.25 from 1920 on.
The Sage bill, appropriating. 100000
for Americanization work among aliens
under the direction of the State Educa
ton Department.
The Foley bill. appropriating $4,000
10 permit the Public Service Commission
10 prosecute its fight against the Con-
solidated Gas Company, which is seeking
20 have the so cent gas law declared un-
constitutional.
Measures That Failed.
Among the measures that failed in the
last minute scramble were:
The Foley hill which would withdra w
the right of reviewing Public Service
Commission orders by writs of certorari.
which was killed in the Assembly.
The so-culled "conductorette" bill,
which would limit working hours of
women employed by, transit corpora
tons.
The McCue bill. which authorized
the city TO set aside the site of the old
Grand Union Hotel as Pershing Square
and use it for park purposes instead Of
selling it. as required by the rapid tram
sit act.
The bill legalizing boxing and the one
repeating the direct primary law and
restoring the party convention system
for choosing State and judicial officers
AS result Of the hundreds of bills
that were damned through both houses
to-day Gov. Smith will have his hands
full for the next thirty days. the statu-
measures. Both houses sent to him a
series of bills designed to increase the
pay OF school teachers, and the Governor
II he wants the teachers to have the
increase. will be compelled to select one
and bear the responsibility. One OF the
bills would give New York city teachers
an average increase of 5000 year and
appropriates s5,30O,0OO for State con-
tributions to teachers salaries in other
n hn TOT - Al,
teachers bills which passed provides
equal pay for men and women teachers
in the elementary grades.
New Records Established,
The 1919 Legislature established many
records. In the first place 1t was the first
time in many years that a Legislature
controlled by Republicans had to deal
with a Governor of the opposite politi-
cal faith. Yet the session went along
without any political earthquake
Provision for the largest State budget
In history was made by the Legislature
and Gov. Smith is expected to sign bills
which will bring the total OF appropria-
tons for the next State fiscal year well
above $9O,O0O,O00, or more than S10.-
100000 in excess of last years budget
Bills sent 10 the Governor total $685.
j94,175.
For the first time State income
lax Is to be levied, this having been
determined upon as a result OF thorouch
investigation Of tax systems by a spe-
cIsl legislative committee. OF which
Senator Frederick NJ. Davenport OF
Oneida is chairman, and in the closing
hours OF the session a bill limiting the
tax that may be placed upon real esta te
in New York city at SECS from 1922
on was put through.
The first thing the Legislature did
was to ratify the Federal prohibition
amendment. to the Constitution, and
from then/until the closing hours a
enforcement measures. This Walters
3 per cent. beer bill was killed by the
Senate without a record vote, and only
an hour before adjournment the AS
sembly passed measure providing for
prohibition enforcement by the State
Excise Board, but the Senate killed it.
Dry situation in TangIe.
Gov. Smith had recommended the
Legislature submit a referendum to the
voters of the State on the question of
ratification, but though the Democrats
in the Legislature tried their best TO
accomplish this they failed. The re-
fusal OF the Legislature to pass any
form of prohibition enforcement bill
probably will mean a series Of test cases
in the courts to determine what is an
Intoxicating liquor In New York State
One OF the most important bills OF
the session provided for the construc-
ton of a vehicular tunnel from Centre
street In New York to point in Jersey
city. This bill was put through by the
Republican leaders in spite of Demo-
cratic efforts to delay the measure, and
GOV, Smith signed N, term!ng it the
most constructive measure sent 10 him
10y tho Legislature.
The Governor and the Senate did not
even get into disagreement over the con-
nrmation OF Democrats named 10 sue
coed Republicans IN certain Offices This
was especially remarkable in view OF
the fact the Legislature killed the Gov
e"nor's suggestion that the Republican
controlled State Narcotic Drug Com
mission be put under the jurisdiction OF
the State Health Department, controlled
by Democrats, but afterward the Senate
confirmed tho Governors nomination OF
Democrat to succeed the Republican
fcad OF the Drug Board.
The Democrats obtained control of
los Ii0h