be lawful for the said city of New-York or for any department thereof to make any contract touching or relating to the public water supply, and especially the increase thereof, with any person or corporation whatsoever, save in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this act, which said provisions and requirements are hereby declared to establish the exclusive rule for the making of such contracts. All proceedings relating to the making or approval of any such contract may be reviewed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the first or second department, on the application of any resident taxpayer."

Charter Revision

Commission.

Chapter 465 of the Laws of 1900 authorized Governor Roosevelt to "appoint a commission of fifteen persons to examine into the local government of the city of New-York and the counties contained therein, and the effect and working of the charter of Greater New-York-and the various acts amendatory thereof, and the several acts relating thereto, and to suggest such legislation as it may deem advisable relating thereto." Chapter 751 amends the charter of New-York City so as to provide ample funds for the support of the city's schools. It says that "the Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall appropriate for the general school fund for the year 1901 and annually for each year thereafter, an amount equivalent to not less than 4 mills on every dollar of assessed valuation of the real and personal estate in the city of New-York liable to taxation, inclusive of so much of the State school moneys apportioned by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the payment of teachers' wages as is actually paid into the said general school fund."

School Appropria

tions Law.

Schools for Colored
Children.

Chapter 492 repeals "Section 28, Article 11, Title 15 of Chapter 556 of the Laws of 1894, which reads as follows: "The school authorities of any city or incorporated village the schools of which are or shall be organized under Title 8 of this act, or under special act, may, when they shall deem it expedient, establish a separate school or separate schools for instruction of children and youth of African descent, resident therein, and over five and under twenty-one years of age; and such school or schools shall be supported in the same manner and to the same extent as the school or schools supported therein for white children, and they shall be subject to the same rules and regulations, and be furnished facilities for instruction equal to those furnished to the white schools therein."

Chapter 408 of the Laws of 1900 appropriates $3,500 for the use of the Society for the Preservation of Scenic and Historic Places and Objects "to lay out, improve, manage and maintain the land and premises known as the Stony Point Peninsula."

Stony Point Preservation.

The Franchise

Tax Act.

Chapter 254 of the Laws of 1900 amends Sections 42 and 45 of the Tax act so that hereafter they will read as follows: "Section 42. Assessment of special franchises.The State Board of Tax Commissioners shall annually fix and determine the valuation of each special franchise subject to assessment in each city, town, or tax district. After the time fixed for hearing complaints the Tax Commissioners shall finally determine the valuation of the special franchises, and shall file with the clerk of the city or town in which said special franchise is assessed a written statement duly certified by the secretary of the Board of the valuation of each special franchise assessed therein as finally fixed and determined by said Board; such statement of valuation shall be filed with the town clerk of the respective towns within thirty days next preceding the first day of July in each year, and with the clerks of cities of the State within thirty days before the date set opposite the name of each city in the following schedule. In the city of New-York such statement shall be filed with the Department of Taxes and Assessments.

SCHEDULE OF DATES FOR FILING OF ASSESSMENTS OF SPECIAL FRAN

"Each city or town clerk shall, within five days after the receipt by him of the statement of assessment of a special franchise by the State Board, deliver a copy of such statement certified by him to the assessors or other officers charged with the duty of making local assessments in each tax district in said city or town and to the assessors of villages and commissioners of highways within their respective towns and villages. The valuations of every special franchise as so fixed by the State Board shall be entered by the assessors or other officers in the proper column of the assessment roll before the final revision and certification of such roll by them, and become

part thereof with the same force and effect as if such assessment had been originally made by such assessor or other officer. If a special franchise assessed in a town is wholly within a village, the valuation fixed by the State Board for the town shall also be the valuation for the village. If a part only of such special franchise is in a village, or is in a village situated in more than one tax district, it shall be the duty cf the village assessors to ascertain and determine what portion of the valuation of such franchise, as the same has been fixed by the State Board, shall be placed upon the tax roll for village purposes. The valuation apportioned to the town shall be the assessed valuation for highway purposes, and in case part of such special franchise shall be assessed in a village and part thereof in a town outside a village, the commissioners of highways of the town and village shall meet on the third Tuesday in August in each year and apportion the valuation of such special franchises between such town outside the village and such village for highway purposes. In case of disagreement between them the decision of the supervisor of the town shall be final. The town assessors shall make an apportionment among school districts at the time and in the manner required by Section 39 of this chapter. The valuation so fixed by the State Board shall be the assessed valuation on which all taxes based on such special franchises in the city, town or village for State, municipal, school or highway purposes shall be levied during the next ensuing year. It shall not be necessary for the State Board of Tax Commissioners to give notice to any person, copartnership, association or corporation of the valuation of a special franchise located in any village for village purposes except in a case where such valuation is required to be made for such village purposes by the State Board of Tax Commissioners. The assessors or other taxing officer, or other local officer in any city, town or village, or any State or county officer, shall on demand furnish to the State Board of Tax Commissioners any information required by such Board for the purpose of determining the value of a special franchise.

"Section 45. Certiorari to review assessment.-An assessment of a special franchise by the State Board of Tax Commissioners may be reviewed in the manner prescribed by Article 11 of this chapter, and that article applies so far as practicable to such an assessment, in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if the assessment had been made by local assessors; a petition for a writ of certiorari to review the assessment must be presented within fifteen days after the completion and filing of the assessment roll, and the first posting or publication of the notice thereof as required by law. Such writ must run to and be answered by said State Board of Tax Commissioners and no writ of certiorari to renew any assessment of a special franchise shall run to any other board or officer unless otherwise directed by the court or judge granting the writ. An adjudication made in the proceeding instituted by such writ of certiorari shall be binding upon the local assessors and any ministerial officer who performs any duty in the collection of said assessment in the same manner as though said local assessors or officers had been parties to the proceeding. The State Board of Tax Commissioners on filing with the city, town or village clerk a statement of the valuation of a special franchise, shall give to the person, copartnership, association or corporation affected written notice that such statement has been filed, and such notice may be served on a copartnership, association or corporation by mailing a copy thereof to it at its principal office or place of business, and on a person either personally or by mailing it to him at his place of business or last known place of residence."

STATE APPROPRIATIONS.

The annual Appropriation bill as it passed the Senate amounted to $16,441,751 55. This does not include a reappropriation of $535,252 15. The chief items of the bill are: Executive Department.

$51,900 State Prison departments.

Court of Appeals..

198,100

Matteawan Hospital.

$646,920 70,800

Supreme Court.

8,526

Miscellaneous court reporter.

477,000

Attorney-General

34,900

Court of Claims..

30,700

Labor Bureau..

34,494

Secretary of State.

38,400

Fish, Game and Forest Com'sion. 128,350

State Controller (canal fund)

134,415

County treasurers' fees..

65,000

25,850

Soldiers and Sailors' Home..

190,000

State Department of Public In

Elmira Reformatory.........

215,000

struction and Public Schools...4,122,900

State Board of Health...

37,000

State Engineer and Surveyor

Deaf and dumb...

274,400

(canal fund)..

864,800

Railroad Commission.

State Prison Commission..

13,000

Banking Department.

88,190

Insurance Superintendent.

201,080

State Board of Charities.
Cornell University interest.

81,140

94,428

State Tax Commission..

78,900 State Historian..

6,350

WILLIAM J. BRYAN, of Nebraska.

ADLAI E. STEVENSON, of Illinois. *PEOPLE'S PARTY (FUSION)—MAY 10.

*SILVER REPUBLICANS-JULY 6.

WILLIAM J. BRYAN, of Nebraska.

WILLIAM J. BRYAN, of Nebraska.

ADLAI E. STEVENSON, of Illinois.

ADLAI E. STEVENSON, of Illinois. *POPULIST (MIDDLE OF THE ROAD)-MAY 10. WHARTON BARKER, of Pennsylvania. | IGNATIUS DONNELLY, of Minnesota. SOCIALIST LABOR-JUNE 6.

JOS. F. MALLONEY, of Massachusetts. | VALENTINE REMMEL, of Pennsylvania. SOCIAL DEMOCRATS JULY 10.

The Republican National Convention began its sessions at Philadelphia, Penn., on June 19. The ante-convention interest centred in the choice of a Vice-Presidential candidate, the renomination of President McKinley for the first place on the ticket being universally conceded. The Western States, aided by Senator Platt, of NewYork, who controlled the delegation from his State, were practically a unit in favoring Governor Theodore Roosevelt of New-York for the second place. The latter was anxious to avoid the nomination, preferring to run for another term as Governor of New-York, and on the afternoon of June 19, the day before the Convention, he issued a statement earnestly requesting that some one else be nominated for Vice-President. Senator Mark Hanna, of Ohio, chairman of the National Committee, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, of Massachusetts, aided Governor Roosevelt in trying to stave off his nomination. Other Vice-Presidential possibilities were John D. Long, Secretary of the Navy; Congressman Dolliver, of Iowa; Lieutenant-Governor Timothy L. Woodruff of New-York and Cornelius N. Bliss, of the same State. The Convention met on June 19 for a short session, which was devoted entirely to preliminary and routine work. Senator Wolcott, of Colorado, the temporary chairman, made a speech. After the Convention's adjournment for the day the New-York delegation indorsed Woodruff for Vice-President. The second day's session-June 20-was devoted principally to the speech of Senator Lodge, the permanent chairman, and the adoption of the platform. Vice-Presidential sentiment had crystallized in favor of Roosevelt, Senator Hanna had faced about and declared for him, and his nomination seemed assured. The Convention completed its work on June 21 by unanimously nominating McKinley and Roosevelt for President and Vice-President respectively. The most striking feature of the Convention from start to finish was the harmony prevalent. McKinley received every vote in the Convention, 926; Roosevelt every vote but his own. The Convention adjourned The Platform.

sine die on June 21.

The platform, which was adopted on June 20, was as follows:

Party Achievements.

The Republicans of the United States, through their chosen representatives, met in National Convention, looking back upon an unsurpassed record of achievement and looking forward into a great field of duty and opportunity, and appealing to the judgment of their countrymen, make these declarations: The expectation in which the American people, turning from the Democratic party, intrusted power four years ago to a Republican Chief Magistrate and a Republican Congress has been met and satisfied. When the people then assembled at the polls, after a term of Democratic legislation and administration, business was dead, industry paralyzed and the National credit disastrously impaired. The country's capital was hidden away, and its labor distressed and unemployed. The Democrats had no other plan with which to improve the ruinous conditions which they had themselves produced than to coin silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. The Republican party, denouncing this plan as sure to produce conditions even worse than those from which relief was sought, promised to restore prosperity by means of two legislative measures-a protective tariff

and a law making gold the standard of value. The people by great majorities issued to the Republican party a commission to enact these laws. This commission has been executed, and the Republican promise is redeemed. Prosperity more general and more abundant than we have ever known has followed these enactments. There is no longer controversy as to the value of any Government obligation. Every American dollar is a gold dollar, or its assured equivalent, and American credit stands higher than that of any nation. Capital is fully employed and labor everywhere is profitably occupied. No single fact can more strikingly tell the story of what Republican government means to the country than this-that while during the whole period of one hundred and seven years, from 1790 to 1897, there was an excess of exports over imports of only $383,028,497, there has been in the short three years of the present Republican Administration an excess of exports over imports in the enormous sum of $1,483,537,094. And while the American people, sustained by this Republican legislation, have been achieving these splendid triumphs in their business and commerce, they have conducted, and in victory concluded, a war for liberty and human rights. No thought of National aggrandizement tarnished the high purpose with which American standards were unfurled. It was a war unsought and patiently resisted, but when it came the American Government was ready. Its fleets were cleared for action. Its armies were in the field, and the quick and signal triumph of its forces on land and sea bore equal tribute to the courage of American soldiers and sailors and to the skill and foresight of Republican statesmanship. To ten millions of the human race there was given "a new birth of freedom," and to the American people a new and noble responsibility.

We indorse the Administration of William McKinley. Its acts have been established in wisdom and in patriotism, and at home and abroad it has distinctly elevated and extended the influence of the American Nation. The Administration Walking untried paths and facing unforeseen responsibili-Indorsed. ties, President McKinley has been in every situation the true American patriot and the upright statesman, clear in vision, strong in judgment, firm in action, always inspiring and deserving the confidence of his countrymen. In asking the American people to indorse this Republican record and to renew their commission to the Republican party, we remind them of the fact that the menace to their prosperity has always resided in Democratic principles, and no less in the general incapacity of the Democratic party to conduct public affairs. The prime essential of business prosperity is public confidence in the good sense of the Government and in its ability to deal intelligently with each new problem of administration and legislation. That confidence the Democratic party has never earned. It is hopelessly inadequate, and the country's prosperity when Democratic success at the polls is announced halts and ceases in mere anticipation of Democratic blunders and failures.

We renew cur allegiance to the principle of the gold standard, and declare our confidence in the wisdom of the legislation of the LVIth Congress, by which the parity

Gold Standard

Upheld.

of all our money and the stability of our currency upon a gold basis have been secured. We recognize that interest rates are a potent factor in production and business activity, and for the purpose of further equalizing and of further lowering the rates of interest we favor such monetary legislation as will enable the varying needs of the season and of all sections to be promptly met, in order that trade The volmay be evenly sustained, labor steadily employed and commerce enlarged. ume of money in circulation was never so great per capita as it is to-day. We declare our steadfast opposition to the free and unlimited coinage of silver. No measure to that end could be considered which was without the support of the leading commercial countries of the world. However firmly Republican legislation may seem to have secured the country against the peril of base and discredited currency, the election of a Democratic President could not fail to impair the country's credit and to bring once more into question the intention of the American people to maintain upon the gold standard the parity of their money circulation. The Democratic party must be convinced that the American people will never tolerate the Chicago platform.

We recognize the necessity and propriety of the honest co-operation of capital to meet new business conditions, and especially to extend our rapidly increasing foreign trade, but we condemn all conspiracies and combinations Trade Conspiracies intended to restrict business, to create monopolies, to limit production or to control prices, and favor such legislation as will effectively restrain and prevent all such abuses, protect and promote competition and secure the rights of producers, laborers and all who are engaged in industry and commerce.

Condemned.

We renew our faith in the policy of protection to American labor. In that policy cur industries have been established, diversified and maintained. By protecting the home market competition has been stimulated and producProtection. tion cheapened. Opportunity for the inventive genius of our people has been secured and wages in every department of labor maintained at high rates, higher now than ever before, and always distinguishing our working people in their better conditions of life from those of any competing country. Enjoying the blessings of the American common school, secure in the right of self-government and protected in the occupancy of their own markets, their constantly increasing knowledge and skill have enabled them finally to enter the markets of the world.

We favor the associated policy of reciprocity so directed as to open our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce, in return for free foreign markets.

Reciprocity.

Immigration.

In the further interest of American workmen we favor a more effective restriction of the immigration of cheap labor from foreign lands, the extension of opportunities of education for working children, the raising of the age limit for child labor, the protection of free labor as against contract convict, labor, and an effective system of labor insurance.

Shipping.

Our present dependence upon foreign shipping for nine-tenths of our foreign carrying is a great loss to the industry of this country. It is also a serious danger to our trade, for its sudden withdrawal in the event of European war would seriously cripple our expanding foreign commerce. The National defence and naval efficiency of this country, moreover, supply a compelling reason for legislation which will enable us to recover our former place among the trade carrying fleets of the world.

It was the plain

The Nation owes a debt of profound gratitude to the soldiers and sailors who have fought its battles, and it is the Government's duty to provide for the survivors and for the widows and orphans of those who have fallen in Pensions. the country's wars. The pension laws, founded in this just sentiment, should be liberal, and should be liberally administered, and preference should be given wherever practicable with respect to employment in the public service to soldiers and sailors and to their widows and orphans. We commend the policy of the Republican party in maintaining the efficiency of the Civil Service. The Administration has acted wisely in its effort to secure for public service in Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippine Civil Service. Islands only those whose fitness has been determined by training and experience. We believe that employment in the public service in these territories should be confined as far as practicable to their inhabitants. purpose of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution to prevent discrimination on account of race or color in regulating the elective franchise. Devices of State governments, whether by statutory or constitutional enactment, to avoid the purpose of this amendment are revolutionary and Public movements looking to a permanent improvement of the roads and highways of the country meet with our cordial approval, and we recommend this subject to the earnest consideration of the people and of the Legislatures Public Works. of the several States. We favor the extension of the rural free delivery service wherever its extension may be justified. In further pursuance of the constant policy of the Republican party to provide free homes on the public domain, we recommend adequate National legislation to reclaim the arid lands of the United States, reserving control of the distribution of water for irrigation to the respective States and Territories.

Fifteenth

Amendment.

should be condemned.

We favor home rule for and the early admission to Statehood of the Territories of New-Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma.

The Dingley act, amended to provide sufficient revenue for the conduct of the war, has so well performed its work that it has been possible to reduce the war debt in the sum of $40,000,000. So ample are the Government's reveWar Taxes. nues and so great is the public confidence in the integrity of its obligations that its newly funded 2 per cent bonds sell at a premium. The country is now justified in expecting, and it will be the policy of the Republican party to bring about, a reduction of the war taxes.

We favor the construction, ownership, control and protection of an isthmian canal by the Government of the United States. New markets are necessary for the increasing surplus of our farm products. Every effort should be Isthmian Canal. made to open and obtain new markets, especially in the Orient, and the Administration is warmly to be commended for its successful effort to commit all trading and colonizing nations to the policy of the open door in China. In the interest of our expanding commerce we recommend that Congress create a department of commerce and industries in the charge of a secretary with a seat in the Cabinet.

The United States consular system should be reorganized under the supervision of this new department, upon such a basis of appointment and tenure as will render it still more serviceable to the Nation's increasing trade. Consuls. The American Government must protect the person and property of every citizen wherever they are wrongfully

violated or placed in peril. We congratulate the women of America upon their splendid record of public service in the volunteer aid association, and as nurses in camp and Women in War. hospital during the recent campaigns of our armies in the Eastern and Western Indies, and we appreciate their faith

ful co-operation in all works of education and industry. President McKinley has conducted the foreign affairs of the United States with distinguished credit to the American people. In releasing us from the vexatious conditions of a European alliance for the government of Samoa Foreign Affairs. his course is especially to be commended. By securing to our undivided control the most important island of the Samoan group and the best harbor in the Southern Pacific, every American interest has been safeguarded. We approve the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States. We commend the part taken by cur Government in the Peace Con