erefore, I
explained, I would reconvene the Legislature in special session, and if
the legislators chose to amend the bill by placing the power of taxation
in the State instead of in the county or municipality, I would be glad;
but that if they failed to amend it, or amended it improperly, I would
sign the original bill and let it become law as it was.

When the representatives of Mr. Platt and of the corporations affected
found they could do no better, they assented to this proposition.
Efforts were tentatively made to outwit me, by inserting amendments that
would nullify the effect of the law, or by withdrawing the law when the
Legislature convened; which would at once have deprived me of the
whip hand. On May 12 I wrote Senator Platt, outlining the amendments I
desired, and said: "Of course it must be understood that I will sign the
present bill if the proposed bill containing the changes outlined above
fails to pass." On May 18 I notified the Senate leader, John Raines,
by telegram: "Legislature has no power to withdraw the Ford bill. If
attempt is made to do so, I will sign the bill at once." On the same
day, by telegram, I wired Mr. Odell concerning the bill the leaders were
preparing: "Some provisions of bill very objectionable. I am at work on
bill to show you to-morrow. The bill must not contain greater changes
than those outlined in my message." My wishes were heeded, and when I
had reconvened the Legislature it amended the bill as I outlined in my
message; and in its amended form the bill became law.

There promptly followed something which afforded an index of the good
faith of the corporations that had been protesting to me. As soon as the
change for which they had begged was inserted in the law, and the law
was signed, they turned round and refused to pay the taxes; and in the
lawsuit that followed, they claimed that the law was unconstitutional,
because it contained the very clause which they had so clamorously
demanded. Senator David B. Hill had appeared before me on behalf of the
corporations to argue for the change; and he then appeared before the
courts to make the argument on the other side. The suit was carried
through to the Supreme Court of the United States, which declared the
law constitutional during the time that I was President.

One of the painful duties of the chief executive in States like New
York, as well as in the Nation, is the refusing of pardons. Yet I can
imagine nothing more nece