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Alabama.—The Legislature of Alabama on January 22 elected John T. Morgan (D.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913, and Edmund W. Pettus (D.) to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1915. The vote in each branch of the Legislature was unanimous. Messrs. Morgan and Pettus were nominated in a Democratic state primary without opposition.

Mr. Morgan died on June 11 and on June 17 Governor Comer appointed John H. Bankhead (D.) to serve until the Legislature could fill the vacancy. On July 16 he was unanimously elected to fill the unexpired term ending March 13, 1913. Senator Pettus died on July 27 and on August 6 Joseph H. Johnston (D.) was unanimously chosen by the Legislature to fill out the unexpired term ending March 3, 1909, and to serve for the full term ending March 3, 1915. Mr. Bankhead and Mr. Johnston had both been named as "alternate" senators at the Democratic state primary of 1906.

Arkansas.-The Legislature of Arkansas on January 29 elected Jeff Davis (D.) to succeed James H. Berry (D.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Davis, 30; J. L. Worthington (R.), 1. House of Representatives-Davis, 88; Worthington, 4. Mr. Davis was nominated in a Democratic state James H. Berry.

Colorado.-The rado elected on Guggenheim (R.)

primary, defeating

Legislature of ColoJanuary 15 Simon to succeed Thomas M. Patterson (D.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Guggenheim, 22; Charles S. Thomas (D.), 12. House of Representatives-Guggenheim, 46; Thomas, 15; Frank C. Goudy (R.), 4. Mr. Guggenheim was nominated on January 4 by a Republican caucus, receiving 67 out of 68 votes.

Delaware.-The Legislature of Delaware on January 15 elected Harry A. Richardson (R.) to succeed J. Frank Allee (R.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate -Richardson, 11; Willard Saulsbury (D.), 5. House of RepresentativesRichardson, 25; Saulsbury, 10. Mr. Richardson was nominated on January 14 by a Republican caucus, receiving on the ninth ballot 20 votes, to 10 votes for J. Frank Allee, 2 for Caleb R. Layton, 1 for J. Edward Addicks, 1 for G. W. Marshall and 1 for S. Pennewill.

Georgia.-The date for the meeting Georgia of Legislature having been changed by constitutional amendment from November to June, no election was held in November, 1906, to fill the vacancy occurring on March 3, 1907, by the expiration of the term of Augustus O. Bacon (D.). Mr. Bacon received on

February 28 from the Governor an ad interim appointment of doubtful validity. On July 9 he was unanimously elected to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. Mr. Bacon was nominated without opposition in a Democratic state primary.

Idaho.-The Legislature of Idaho on January 15 elected William E. Borah (R.) United States Senator to succeed Fred T. Dubois (D.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Borah, 14; Dubois, 6. House of Representatives-Borah, 36: Dubois, 12. Mr. Borah was nominated

by a Republican state convention.

Illinois.-The Legislature of Illinois on January 22 elected Shelby M. Cullom (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Cullom, 44; C. C. Boggs (D.), 7. House of Representatives-Cullom, 88; Boggs, 61; Daniel R. Sheen (Pro.), 3. Mr. Cullom was nominated in a Republican state primary, defeating Richard Yates.

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Iowa.-The Legislature of Iowa on January 22 elected Jonathan P. Dolliver (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Dolliver, 35; Claude R. Porter (D.), 14. House of RepresentativesDolliver, 75; Porter, 31. One Democrat in the House voted for Mr. Dolliver, who had been nominated unanimously on January 21 by a Republican caucus. Kansas.-The Legislature of Kansas January 22 elected Charles Curtis (R.) to fill out the unexpired term ending March 3, 1907, of Joseph R. Burton (R.), who resigned on June 4, 1906, and was succeeded by A. W. Benson (R.), serving by appointment. On the same day it elected Mr. Curtis for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was as follows: (Short term) Senate-Curtis, 36; Benson, 1; W. R. Stubbs (R.), 1. House of Representatives-Curtis, 84: Benson, 18; W. Harris (D.), 11; Edward Carroll (D.), 1. (Long term) Senate-Curtis, 36; Harris, 2. House of Representatives-Curtis, 86; Harris, 30; J. L. Bristow (R.), 1. Mr. Curtis was nominated for both terms by a Republican caucus held January 11.

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Maine.-The Legislature of Maine on January 15 elected William P. Frye (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate Frye, 23; William H. Pennell (D.), 6. House of Representatives-Frye, 86; Pennell, 60. Mr. Frye was nominated unanimously by a Republican caucus.

Massachusetts.-The Legislature of Massachusetts on January 15 elected

W. Murray Crane (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate Crane, 33; James B. Carroll (D.), 2; Joseph H. O'Neill (D.), 1; George Fred Williams (D.), 1; John A. Sullivan (D.), 1. House of Representatives-Crane, 174; Carroll, 46; Williams, 2. Five Democrats in the Senate and nine in the House voted for Mr. Crane, who had been nominated unanimously by a Republican caucus.

New Jersey.-The Legislature of New Jersey on February 5 elected Frank O. Briggs (R.) United States Senator to succeed John F. Dryden (R.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in joint assembly was: Briggs, 41; James E. Martine (D.), 35; John W. Griggs (R.), 1; Mahlon R. Pitney (R.), 1. Senator Dryden was renominated by a Republican caucus held on January 21, thirty-six Republicans participating. He had previously been the successful candidate at a state primary. On January 22 the two branches of the Legislature voted separately without making an election. The vote was: Senate-Dryden, 12; Griggs, 2; Pitney, 1; Edwin A. Stevens (D.), 3; Woodrow Wilson (D.), 2; J. R. Martine (D.), 1. House of Representatives-Dryden, 24; Griggs, 3; F. O. Briggs, 2; Stevens, 13; Wilson, 9; Martine, 8. At the joint session of January 23 Dryden received 36 votes, Griggs 6, Pitney on 2, Stevens

Michigan.-The Legislature of Michigan on January 15 elected William Alden Smith (R.) United States Senator to succeed Russell A. Alger (R.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Smith, 31. House of Representatives-Smith, 92; Charles E. Townsend (R.), 2; T. E. Barkworth (D.), 2. Mr. Smith nominated by a Republican caucus January 10. On February 5 he was elected to serve out the unexpired term, ending March 3, 1907, of Russell A. Alger, who died on January 24.

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Minnesota.-The Legislature of Minnesota on January 22 elected Knute Nelson (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Nelson, 45; Albert Schaller (D.), 14; John O. Johnson (D.), 1; Frank A. Day (D.), 1. House of Representatives -Nelson, 98; Schaller, 13; W. J. Dean (Pro.), 3. Four Democratic senators voted for Mr. Nelson, who was nominated by a Republican state convention.

Montana.-The Legislature of Montana on January 15 elected Joseph M. Dixon (R.) United States Senator to succeed William A. Clark (D.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Dixon, 18; J. K. Toole (D.), 7; H. L. Frank (D.), 2. House of Representatives-Dixon, 52; Toole, 10; Frank, 4; W. C. Conrad (D.), 2; Norris (D.), 1. Mr. Dixon was nominated by a Republican legislative

caucus.

Nebraska.-The Legislature of Nebraska on January 15 elected Norris Brown (R.) United States Senator to succeed Joseph H. Millard (R.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches was: Senate-Brown, 28; W. H. Thompson (D.), 5. House of RepresentativesBrown, 67; Thompson, 31. Mr. Brown was nominated by a Republican state convention.

New Hampshire.-The Legislature of New Hampshire on January 15 elected Henry E. Burnham (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Burnham (R.), 18; Nathan C. Jameson (D.), 6. House of Representatives-Burnham, 236; Jameson, 117; George B. Leighton, 1. Mr. Burnham was nominated by a Republican caucus.

16, Woodrow Wilson 10, James R. Martine 6 and Gottfried Krueger (D.) 5. The deadlock lasted until February 3, when Mr. Dryden withdrew. On February 5 Mr. Briggs was nominated by a Republican caucus, receiving 19 votes out of 37.

North Carolina.-The Legislature of North Carolina on January 22 elected F. M. Simmons (D.) to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Simmons, 33; Spencer B. Adams (R.), 3. House of Representatives-Simmons, 83; Adams, 21; J. J. Britt (R.), 2. Mr. Simmons was nominated by a Democratic caucus.

Oklahoma.-The Legislature of Oklahoma on December 10 elected Robert L. Owen (D.) and Thomas P. Gore (D.) as the state's first United States Senators. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Owen, 39; Gore, 39; C. B. Douglas (R.), 4; C. B. Jones (R.), 4. House of Representatives-Owen, 89; Gore, 89; Douglas, 18; Jones, 18. The two Senators were nominated in a Democratic state primary.

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Oregon.-The Legislature of Oregon January 22 elected Frederick W. Mulkey (R.) United States Senator to fill out the unexpired term, ending March 3, 1907, of John H. Mitchell (R.), who died on December 8, 1905, and who was succeeded on December 13, 1905, by John H. Gearin (D.), appointed by the Governor. The vote in both branches of the Legislature was unanimous. On the same day the Legislature elected Jonathan Bourne, jr. (R.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches was: SenateBourne, 23; Robert S. Bean (D.), 4. House of Representatives-Bourne, 57; F. A. Moore (D.), 2; F. W. Mulkey (R.), 1. Both Mr. Mulkey and Mr. Bourne were designated for election by a popular vote.

Rhode Island.-The Legislature of Rhode Island, at the session of 1907, failed to elect а senator to succeed George Peabody Wetmore (R.) for the

six year term ending March 3, 1913. On the first ballot on January 15 the vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Wetmore, 14; Samuel Pomeroy Colt (R.), 17; R. H. I. Goddard (D. and I. R.), 8. House of Representatives-Wetmore, 17; Colt, 22; Goddard, 33. The deadlock continued until April 23, when, on the eighty-first and last ballot-in joint assembly-the vote stood: Wetmore, 30; Colt, 39; Goddard, 40.

South Carolina.-The Legislature of South Carolina on January 22 elected Benjamin R. Tillman (D.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. No votes in opposition were cast in either branch of the Legislature. One member of the House of Representatives declined to vote. Mr. Tillman was nominated without opposition in a Democratic state primary.

South Dakota.-The Legislature of South Dakota on January 22 elected Robert J. Gamble (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Gamble, 34; Andrew E. Lee (D.), 8; Thomas Sterling (Ind.), 3. House of RepresentativesGamble, 66; Lee, 9; Sterling, 12. Gamble was nominated by a Republican state convention.

Mr.

Tennessee.-The Legislature of Tennessee on January 15 elected Robert L. Taylor (D.) United States Senator to succeed Edward W. Carmack (D.) for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. The vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Taylor, 25; Nathan W. Hale (R.), 5; Asbury Wright (R.), 1. House of Representatives-Taylor, 73; Hale, 21. Mr. Taylor was nominated in a Democratic state primary, defeating Senator E. W. Carmack.

Texas.-The Legislature of Texas on January 22 elected Joseph W. Bailey (D.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. Mr. Bailey was nominated at a Democratic state primary, but owing to the fact that charges were made against him and were being investigated by a joint committee of the Legislature at the time the election was held many Democratic senators and representatives refused to support him. The vote in the two branches was: Senate-Bailey, 19; W. L. Cabell (D.),

2; A. W. Terrell (D.), 1; Horace Chilton (D.), 1; not voting, 8. House of Representatives-Bailey, 89; T. M. Campbell (D.), 3; John W. Logan (D.), 2; J. E. Yantis (D.), 2; Cecil A. Lyon (R.), 2; 25 scattering Democratic votes for 25 other Democratic candidates; not voting, 8.

The

West Virginia.-The Legislature of West Virginia on January 22 elected Stephen B. Elkins (R.) United States Senator to succeed himself for the six year term ending March 3, 1913. vote in the two branches of the Legislature was: Senate-Elkins, 24; John J. Cornwell (D.), 5. House of RepresenMr. tatives-Elkins, 57; Cornwell, 25. Elkins was unanimously nominated by a Republican legislative caucus.

Wisconsin.-The Legislature of Wisconsin on May 17 elected Isaac Stephenson (R.) United States Senator to succeed John C. Spooner (R.), resigned, for the remainder of the term ending March 3, 1909. Mr. Spooner resigned on March 3, the resignation to take effect on May 1. The first ballot was taken in on April 16, when the vote the two branches for the various candidates was: H. A. Cooper (R.), 18; John J. Esch (R.), 18; William H. Hatten (R.), 15; Irvine L. Lenroot (R.), 19; Isaac Stephenson (R.), 19; Emil Baensch (R.),, 6; E. C. Winckler (R.), 3; G. W. Bird (D.), 23; J. P. Rummel (Soc. Dem.), 5; scattering, 5. The deadlock continued until May 17, when Mr. Stephenson received 87 votes in the joint assembly out of 108 cast. The Democrats present voted for Mr. Bird, and the Social Democrats for Mr. Rummel. There were 25 absentees. Mr. Stephenson was nominated on May 16 by a Republican caucus, which held its first session on April 15. Eighty ballots were taken during the deadlock, the chief opposing candidates being Messrs. Esch, Cooper, Lenroot and Cooper and Lenroot withdrew early in May, and on the final ballot the vote was: Stephenson, 54; Esch, 23; Hatten, 19; scattering, 3.

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COMMERCIAL FAILURES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1877-1906. Reported by R. G. Dun & Co.

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THE REVISED NEW-YORK CITY CHARTER.

A revision of the charter of the city of New-York, which was drawn up by the Charter Revision Commission and passed in an amended form April 4, 1901, by the legislature, was subsequently approved by Governor Odell, and therefore is now a law. After its passage several supplementary acts were passed by the legislature, and these also are laws.

The legislative power of the city was vested in two houses, known respectively as the Council and the Board of Aldermen. The charter revision conferred all legislative power upon a Board of Aldermen. The aldermen were to be elected The Board of in November, 1901, and every two years thereafter. The president Aldermen. of the Board of Aldermen is elected every four years by the city at large. There are seventy-three aldermanic districts, consisting of one in each Assembly district in the counties of greater NewYork, with the exception that two representatives each are granted to the XXIst, XXIIId, XXXIst and XXXIVth Assembly districts of New-York County, four representatives to the XXXVth Assembly District of New-York, two to Chester, New-York County, two to the town of New-Utrecht, in the Borough of Brooklyn, two to the town of Newtown in Queens County, two to the town of Jamaica in Queens County, one to the town of Castleton, one to the towns of Middletown and Southfield, and one to the towns of Northfield and Westfield-the last five named towns all in Richmond County. The president of the Board of Aldermen possesses all the powers of the Mayor during his disability or absence. The Aldermen receive salaries of $2,000 a year.

No ordinance can be passed except by a vote of a majority of all the members of the Board of Aldermen. The act says that "in case the ordinance or resolution involves the expenditure of money, the creation of a debt, or the Powers of the Board laying of an assessment, it shall require a vote of threeof Aldermen. fourths of all the members of the Board of Aldermen to pass it over the Mayor's veto; and if it involves the grant of a franchise, the Mayor's veto shall be final." It declares that "the Board of Aldermen shall have power to make, establish, alter, modify, amend and repeal all ordinances, rules, and police, health, park, fire and building regulations." Also that "the Board of Aldermen is authorized to grant from time to time to any corporation thereunto duly authorized the franchise or right to construct and operate railways in, upon, over, under and along streets, avenues, waters, rivers, public places, park ways or highways of the city, but no such grant shall be made except upon the limitations and conditions of this act elsewhere provided in respect of the grant by the Board of Aldermen of franchises and rights in or under the streets, avenues, waters, rivers, public places, parkways and highways of the city." The Board of Aldermen is given authority to pass ordinances in regard to theatres, the markets, the hotels, the fire, limits, use of vaults, and to fix the annual fee, not exceeding $20, for each streetcar used in the city. The act further says: "It shall be the duty of the Board of Aldermen, upon the recommendation of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, to fix the salary of every officer or person whose compensation is paid out of the city treasury other than day laborers and teachers, examiners and members of the supervising staff of the Department of Education, irrespective of the amount fixed by this act, except that no change shall be made in the salary of an elected officer or head of a department during his tenure of office. The Board of Aldermen may reduce, but may not increase, any salary recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment; but the action of the Board of Aldermen on reducing any salary so mended shall be subject to the veto power of the Mayor, as provided in Section 40 of this act. In case the Board of Aldermen shall vote to reduce more than one salary, the Mayor may approve the reduction of one or more salaries, and may disapprove the reduction of others. In such case the reductions he shall approve shall become effective; and as to those which he shall not approve, the recommendations of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall become effective unless the reductions be again passed by a three-fourths vote of the Board of Aldermen."

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In regard to franchises the act says: "After the approval of this act no franchise or right to use the streets, avenues, waters, rivers, parkways or highways of the city shall be granted by the Board of Aldermen to any person or Franchises. corporation for a longer period than twenty-five years, except as hereinafter provided, but such grant may at the option the city provide for giving to the grantee the right on a fair revaluation or revaluations to renewals not exceeding in the aggregate twenty-five years. Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section contained shall apply to consents granted to tunnel railroad corporations, and the Board of Aldermen is hereby authorized in its discretion to grant a franchise or right to any railroad corporation to use any of said streets, avenues, waters, rivers, parkways or highways in the city of New-York for the construction and operation of a tunnel railroad underneath the surface thereof for any period not exceeding fifty years, and any such grant may at the option of the city provide for giving to the grantee the right, on a fair revaluation or revaluations, to renewals not exceeding in the aggregate twenty-five years, provided, however, that any grant to construct a tunnel railroad or renewal thereof shall only be made after an agreement has been entered into by such a tunnel corporation to pay to the city of New-York at least 3 per centum of the net profits derived from the use of any tunnel which it shall construct, after there shall have first been retained by such company

from such net profits a sum equal to 5 per centum upon the sum expended to construct such tunnel."

The Mayor of the city, the charter revision provided, should be elected in November, 1901, for a term of two years, and every two years thereafter for a like period. In 1905 the charter was amended so as to extent the mayoralty term Powers of the to four years. The salary of the Mayor is $15,000 a year. The Mayor Mayor. may, whenever in his judgment the public interests shall so require, remove from office any public officer holding office by appointment from him, except members of the Board of Education, Aqueduct Commissioners, trustees of the College of the City of New-York, trustees of Bellevue and Allied Hospitals, "and except also judicial officers for whose removal other provision is made by this constitution.”

The administrative departments are as follows: Department of Finance, Law Department, Police Department, Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, Department of Street Cleaning, Department of Bridges, DepartAdministrative ment of Parks, Department of Public Charities, Department Departments. of Correction, Fire Department, Department of Docks and Ferries, Department of Taxes and Assessments, Department of Education, Department of Health, Tenement House Department. The head of the Department of Finance is the Controller, who is to be elected at the same time with the Mayor, and is to have like him a term of two-since 1905, four-years. All of the departments are single headed commissions, except the Park Department, which has three commissioners; the Department of Taxes and Assessments, which has five; the Department of Education, forty-six members of a Board of Education, and the Department of Health, which has three commissioners (two ex-officio).

The Mayor must at least once a year submit to the Board of Aldermen a general statement of the finances, government and improvements of the city, keep himself informed as to the doings of the several departments and Duties of the Mayor. be vigilant in enforcing the ordinances of the city and the laws of the State. The Mayor appoints besides those already named all members of any board authorized to superintend the erection or repair of any building belonging to the city, inspectors of weights and measures, two commissioners of accounts and five Civil Service Commissioners.

The Controller has control of the fiscal concerns of the corporation. accounts of every department are subject to his inspection and revision.

Controller, Chamberlain, Sinking Fund.

The
All

claims against the city, except certain specified ones, are subject to his audit. The assent of the Controller is necessary to all agreements for the acquisition of real estate. He receives a salary of $15,000 a year. He has charge of the Wallabout Market. The Mayor appoints the Chamberlain of the city, who receives all moneys paid into the treasury of the city. His salary is $12,000 a year. The Sinking Fund Commissioners consist of the Mayor, Controller, Chamberlain, president of the Board of Aldermen and chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board of Aldermen. This board administers the various sinking funds.

The Board of Estimate and Apportionment consists of the Mayor, the Controller, the president of the Board of Aldermen, and the presidents of the_boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and RichThe Board of mond. Except as specifically provided by the charter, every act Estimate and of the board must be adopted, if adopted, by "a majority of the Apportionment.

whole number of votes authorized by this section to be cast by said board. The Mayor, Controller and the president of the Board of Aldermen shall each be entitled to cast three votes, the presidents of the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn shall each be entitled to cast two votes, and the presidents of the boroughs of The Bronx, Queens and Richmond shall each be entitled to cast one vote. A quorum of said board shall consist of a sufficient number of the members thereof to cast nine votes, of whom at least two of the members hereby authorized to cast three votes each shall be present." It is provided that this board shall annually "make a budget of the amounts estimated to be required to pay the expenses of conducting the public business of the city of New-York, and of the counties of New-York, Kings, Queens and Richmond for the next ensuing year. Such budget shall be prepared in such detail as to the titles of appropriations, the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with law under which the same may be expended, the aggregate sum and the items thereof allowed to each department, bureau, office, board or commission, as the said Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall deem advisable." The budget is submitted to the Board of Aldermen. The act then says: "The Board of Aldermen may reduce the said several amounts fixed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, except such amounts as are now or may hereafter be fixed by law, and except such amounts as may be inserted by the said Board of Estimate and Apportionment for the payment of State taxes and payment of interest and principal of the city debt, but the Board of Aldermen may not increase such amounts nor vary the terms and conditions thereof, nor insert any new items. Such action of the Board of Aldermen on reducing any item or amount fixed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall be subject to the veto power of the Mayor, as elsewhere provided in this act, and unless such veto is overridden by a three-fourths vote of the Board of Aldermen, the item or amount as fixed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall stand as part of the budget." The Board of Estimate and Apportionment also is directed to include in its final estimate money for the support of a large number of charitable institutions, which are named.

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