552 



NEW YORK (STATE). 



people. Besides these there are several hundred arti- 

 cles among the 4,182 articles now taxed which should 

 be swept off the tax-list into the free list, thereby 

 diminisning the cost of collecting all our seaport taxes, 

 and casting away those which are petty, needless, and 

 vexatious. We also urge the immediate enactment of 

 the measure prepared by Mr. Manning and Mr. 

 Hewitt, and reported to the last House by the Com- 

 mittee of Ways and Means, to systematize, simplify, 

 and economize the machinery for the collection of the 

 customs revenue, and especially for making correct 

 appraisement of foreign values on ad valorem rates of 

 duty shall be retained. 



To all citizens born in foreign lands, and to the 

 multitude of our native citizens who desire to obtain 

 and securely hold their homes, the Democratic party 

 has rendered inestimable service in reclaiming from 

 speculative railroad corporations the public lands 

 which such corporations, by the corrupt aid of Re- 

 publican administrations, had seized, to be disposed 

 of for their private gain. Many millions of acres in 

 these lands have been recovered by the Democratic 

 administration and returned to the people for the use 

 of actual settlers. 



The Dsmocratic party is the proved friend of all 

 who have come to our country seeking to be partners 

 in our welfare and citizens obedient to its laws. 

 There is in our America bread enough and work 

 enough for all, and the Federal laws now on the statute- 

 book for the promotion and protection of foreign emi- 

 gration do not, in our opinion, if they shall be faith- 

 fully executed by the proper Federal and State au- 

 thorities, require present enlargement or amendment. 



The Democracy of New York reiterate their sup- 

 port of the civil-service laws of the United States and 

 of the State of New York and their purpose to uphold 

 them both. In view of the radical changes in the 

 administrative methods which grow out of the civil- 

 service laws and the differences of opinion which ex- 

 ist in relation thereto, we deem this subject one which 

 might properly be submitted to the popular vote. 



Notwithstanding the decided decrease in the ordi- 

 nary expenses of the Government, the faithful sol- 

 diers, sailors, and their families have been generously 

 remembered, and the annual pension list under Demo- 

 cratic control shows payments in number and amount 

 largely in excess of those during the years of Repub- 

 lican administration. 



The Democracy of the State of New York deplore 

 the wrongs inflicted on Ireland by the coercive and 

 despotic power of the English Government, and ex- 

 press to that suffering people the earnest hope that 

 they may speedily enjoy the blessings of home-rule 

 and of self-government. 



In order to secure the necessaries of life to our peo- 

 ple and raw materials for the employment of our in- 

 dustries and the building up of our towns and cities 

 at the lowest practicable cost, we favor the continu- 

 ance of the work of lengthening the locks and of clean- 

 ing out channels of the canals upon the plan recom- 

 mended by the late Governor Seymour and in prog- 

 ress by the State. The State of New York needs and 

 will accept no Federal aid for such improvements. 



We favor a revised excise law applicable without 

 unjust discrimination throughout the State. We op- 

 pose all sumptuary laws grievously interfering with 

 the personal liberties and reasonable habits and cus- 

 toms of any portion of our citizens. We believe that 

 excise revenues, like other local revenues, should be 

 applied in lessening local expenditures. 



We assert the right of local self-government for the 

 cities, and demand that the Legislature shall provide 

 alike general laws for the exercise of that right. 



We heartily approve of such legislation as shall give 

 the fullest protection against simulated products of the 

 farm and dairy interests, The oppressive hours of 

 labor demanded of their employes by many corpora- 

 tions deriving large profits from the use of public 

 streets, or land accrued for public use, should DC so 

 regulated by law that no more than ten hours shall be 



required for a day's work, and all corporations, other 

 than municipal, should be required to pay their em- 

 ployes whose wages are by the day, once a week, and 

 in money. The Democratic party, the party of the 

 people, which in the past has inaugurated and carried 

 through all legislation of genuine and lasting benefit 

 to those who work for wages, is always ready to favor 

 such legislation as may justly be required to promote 

 their interest and welfare. New York State now enjoys 

 the benefit of a Democratic State administration, 

 which has well filled the trust committed to it by the 

 electors in 1885. In every branch of the State govern- 

 ment under Democratic control the laws have been 

 carried into effect with rigor, with vigor and justice, 

 and every right of the people has been" jealously main- 

 tained. Wherefore we heartily indorse the adminis- 

 tration of David B. Hill, Governor of New York, and 

 pledge to him our full confidence and support. 



The Democracy of New York approves the adminis- 

 tration of Grover Cleveland, President of the United 

 States. It has won the respect and confidence of all 

 citizens without regard to party. It has removed that 

 apprehension of the dangers which would attend a 

 change of party in Federal administration which had 

 become a serious obstacle to the maintenance of our 

 free government dependent upon the popular will. It 

 has brought back honesty and simplicity to the con- 

 duct of affairs. It has checked the waste of public 

 moneys and insisted upon their devotion to constitu- 

 tional purposes. It has effected a practical reform 

 with the civil service. It has maintained the national 

 character for justice and forbearance in dealing with 

 foreign countries. Its management of the treasury 

 has been signally wise and prudent, and it has begun 

 the reconstruction of our naval establishment with 

 thoroughness that promises the restoration of our 

 ancient prestige on the sea. Wherefore, we repeat, 

 the Democracy of New York, in convention assembled, 

 again pledge to the President our strong and unwaver- 

 ing confidence and support. 



At the election in November the Democratic 

 ticket was successful. Tlie vote for Secretary 

 of State was as follows : Republican, 452,811 ; 

 Democratic, 469,888; United Labor, 70,055 

 (37,477 in New York and 15,635 in Kings 

 County); Progressive Labor, 7,622 (5,889 in 

 New York and 1,130 in Kings County); Pro- 

 hibition. 41,850; all others, 3,149. The lowest 

 Democratic plurality was 11, 026 for Treasurer. 

 The Legislature consists of 21 Republicans and 

 11 Democrats in the Senate, and 72 Republicans 

 and 56 Democrats in the House. 



Insurance Legislation. Perhaps the most im- 

 portant law passed by the Legislature in 1887 

 was one amending the general acts relative 

 to the incorporation and regulation of co- 

 operative or assessment life and casualty as- 

 sociations and societies. After a great strug- 

 gle between the "old" companies and what 

 are known as the "people's" companies a 

 compromise was effected, which requires a 

 deposit of $100,000 by all the popular compa- 

 nies before they can commence business in the 

 State. Another important law is the one con- 

 tinuing for ten years the payment to the ex- 

 empt firemen of New York city of the two per 

 cent, on gross receipts exacted from all foreign 

 companies that do business in that city. The 

 present force of paid firemen attempted to gain 

 control of the funds, or, at least, to have one 

 half of it, but they signally failed. The Gov- 

 ernor signed the bill, although he declared that 



