NEW YORK (STATE). 



571 



I deem it my duty to remind you of the importance 

 of giving effect to the law lately passed by the Legisla- 

 ture " to amend the laws relating to alien immigrants 

 and to secure an improved administration of alien im- 

 migration." The statute was the result of investiga- 

 tion which demonstrated that the present management 

 of this very important department is a scandal and a 

 reproach to civilization. The money of the State is 

 apparently expended with no regard to economy, the 

 most disgraceful dissensions prevail among those hav- 

 ing the matter in charge. Barefaced jobbery has been 

 permitted, and the poor immigrant, who looks to the 

 institutions for protection, finds that his helplessness 

 and forlorn condition afford the readily seized oppor- 

 tunity for imposition and swindling. 



As a result of the failure to confirm the ap- 

 pointment of a Commissioner of Emigration, 

 the old board continued in power. There was 

 some controversy as to the right of the harbor- 

 masters to continue their functions, but it was 

 not brought to an actual contest, and they con- 

 tinued as though no change had been made in 

 the law. The question of calling an extra ses- 

 sion of the Senate to dispose of these appoint- 

 ments was agitated for a time, but the Gov- 

 ernor was not disposed to take that course, 

 and renew the controversy. 



Political Canvass. The political canvass of the 

 year presented no features of exceptional in- 

 terest. The State officers to be chosen were, 

 Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, At- 

 torney-General, and State Engineer and Sur- 

 veyor, and both branches of the Legislature 

 were to be renewed. The advantage which 

 the Democrats had gained by their sweeping 

 success in 1882 was somewhat offset by the 

 conduct of the Legislature in creating new 

 offices and increasing public expenses. The 

 differences among the Republicans had sub- 

 sided, and the action of the party was gener- 

 ally harmonious, while the Democrats were 

 more or less divided, especially in the city of 

 New York. The consequence was a marked 

 reaction, as shown in the result of the election. 



The first convention of the year was held 

 by the National Greenback Labor party at 

 Rochester, on the 4th and 5th of September. 

 The most important features of the platform 

 were the following : 



That railroads and telegraphs are public institu- 

 tions, deriving their existence under the fundamental 

 law of eminent domain, or right to take private prop- 

 erty for public use ; that under that law no legislative 

 sanction can constitutionally confer on companies own- 

 ing such property a right to tax commerce or travel, to 

 pay interest or dividends on fictitious capital, or to 

 make such property a source of private gain beyond a 

 reasonable remuneration for services actually rendered. 

 ' and a fair return on the money actually and in good 

 faith expended by stock and bond-holders for its con- 

 struction and equipment. . . . That pooling associa- 

 tions which allow railroad officials representing roads 

 outside of the State to have a voice in determining 

 transportation charges between points in the State are 

 an outrage on the citizens, and should be prohibited 

 by law. . . . That the outrageous contract prison-la- 

 bor system still remains in force, notwithstanding the 

 pledge contained in the platforms of the old parties to 

 correct it, showing that no reliance can be placed in 

 either to remedy the evil. We hold that prisons 

 should be located on the mineral lands owned by the 

 State in northern sections ; that the prisoners should 



be employed in developing the mineral resources of 

 the State, so that their labors will not come in com- 

 petition with the products of honest mechanics' toil, 

 and that the prisoners should be paid for all they earn 

 in excess of the actual cost of their keeping ; and that 

 the ballot-box is the only place through which Amer- 

 ican working-men can strike and obtain permanent 

 relief from their present wrongs. 



The ticket put in nomination was as follows : 

 For Secretary of State, Thomas K. Beecher, of 

 Chemung county; Comptroller, G. L. Halsey, 

 of Otsego county ; Attorney-General, Louis F. 

 Post, of New York county; State Treasurer, 

 Julian Winne, of Albany county; State En- 

 gineer, Edwin A. Stillman, of Ontario county. 



The Republican State Convention met at 

 Richfield Springs, on the 19th of September. 

 Secretary of State Joseph B. Carr, Comptroller 

 Ira Davenport, State Engineer and Surveyor 

 Silas Seymour, and Attorney-General Leslie 

 W. Russell were renominated, and Pliny T. 

 Sexton, of Wayne county, was nominated for 

 State Treasurer. The essential features of the 

 platform were as follow : 



We rejoice in the successful inauguration of civil- 

 service reform, a result of Republican agitation and 

 national progress, and insist that the work thus au- 

 spiciously begun be prosecuted to complete success. 



We favor a system of tariff laws under which, while 

 revenue for the Government is provided, American 

 producers are justly protected, American labor ele- 

 vated, and home markets are secured to home products 

 for the advantage alike of the producer and laborer. 



We favor the removal of all unjust burdens upon 

 American shipping, and the awarding of ocean-mail 

 contracts to the lowest bidders among owners of Amer- 

 ican vessels after open competition. 



The tendency to create monopolies requires check- 

 ing by adequate legislation. Unjust discrimination 

 in transportation should be prohibited. 



The free-canal policy of this State has in practice 

 justified its adoption by restoring the canals to their 

 usefulness. 



We approve the plan of party reorganization in the 

 city of New York. 



The Democratic State Convention met at 

 Buffalo. All efforts to secure unity in New 

 York city had failed, and the Tammany and 

 Irving Hall organizations refused to take part 

 in common primaries as recommended by the 

 State committee. 



When the convention met, on the 26th of 

 September, each of the three city factions ap- 

 peared with separate delegations. There was 

 considerable contest against the admission of 

 the Tammany delegates, but the question was 

 settled in advance by the State Committee, by 

 deciding on a division of the representation on 

 the basis adopted the previous year. This was 

 done in the committee by a vote of 22 to 10. 

 The following is the full report of the Commit- 

 tee on Resolutions : 



The Democracy of New York reaffirms the platform, 

 adopted at its last State Convention, which has re- 

 ceived the approval of the people, as shown by a ma- 

 jority of nearly 200,000 at the last election, and they 

 'especially denounce the proposition that the people 

 should be taxed to raise a surplus fund for the Federal 

 Government to distribute among the States. We claim 

 with pride and satisfaction that every pledge therein 

 made has been in good faith redeemed. Valuable re- 



