New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07

value OF the property is such as 10 raks n
Imperative either that the amount should De
reduced or additional security furnished The
legislature In the year 1897 did make an amend
ment as suggested above but objections were
raised, perhaps because of calling in OF loans
thereby imposing certain hardships and the law
was repealed at the next session OF the legislat-
ure; IneTe was. therefore. no opportunity az
forded thoroughly TO test the suggestion which
now again make for the handling OF this
money The State Controller has taken this
SUBJECT up IN detail in his annual report and
would respectfully direct your attention 10
the suggestions and recommendations which he
makes. with which am in full accord
The report OF the State Commissioners OF
Health shows that nearly % 900 cases Of typhoid
iever with mortality OF 1.635 cases. occurred
nave occurred in other States. Inasmuch as
typhold fever is very frequently caused BY
polluted supplies of potable water. It is now
cIdsSed as preventable disease. The general
acceptance OF this view resulted in the passage
@, Cha9ter 46S Of the Laws OF 1908. entitled
An act 70 amend the Public Health law rela-
tive 20 the discharge Of sewage ard other waste
matter into the waters OF the State"
Inc proper enforcement Of the various provf-
stons of this law is vested in the State Depart
ment OF Health and upon its wise and judicious
enforcement viii depend the lives ard health OF
the people in a large degree
"A complete record Of the sources OF public
water supplies. and the possible conditions which
may produce epidemcs Of typhoid fever other
infectious diseases, should be secured by the
Health Commissioner. and I recommend that
an appropriation be granted by the legislatures
The Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Depart
ment of Health is the custodian OF all records
OF births deaths and marriages which have &C.
CURED since the establishment of the State
Board Of Health in 1850.
Each one Of this vast number Of certificates
(Which is annually increased by about half a
million) is legal document and NAV be re-
CURED for judicially establishing property rights.
the legittmacy OF children. and other questions
intimately affecting citizens of the State
Enlarged quarters in the Capitol have been
provided during the year for the preservation
OF these documents. which viii suffice for many
years TO come. Additional facilities for fling
and for permitting the inspection and preserva-
ton of these records should be provided
HOME RULE
The object of certain articles in the amended
constitution was TO give 70 every locality in the
State measure of home rule which has been
denied heretofore The many interferences
with the rights of cities it was thought had
oeen suncleHtly guarded against by placing
within the hands OF the respective Mayors veto
power over all acts affecting their cities A
protection in another direction by giving 10
them the absolute control OF all franchises IN
| their localities without interference from the
| State. The State has placed within the munich
pallues the absolute power TO prevent the dis
| pOsal Of valuable rights without securing ade-
| quate compensation therefor, Judicial findings
have frequently set aside laws which interfered
| with these rights which for partisan or other
| purposes were sought to be secured by other
! than municipal control The power which the
state from time TO time has thus placed with the
| cities would seem to be almost ample for abso-
| lutte and positive autonomy. While the State
has reserved 20 itself certain taxing powers. the
| object Of which is of much benefit to tho
| cities as 20 the State, there seems TO be vet
| misunderstanding and friction which il should
| be your duty 10 eliminate. Police power is
| often exercised for partisan effect Laws of
| long standing on the statute books and which
| for political effect or other reasons have been
| left unrepealed. have been made agencies fire.
/ Quently for persecution and intOlerable abuse
/ of authority sentiment has grown up that
! the cities are not securing adequate return for
| their support in maintaining the State The rural
| communities on the other hand resent the
imputation that they are escaping their just pro-
! portion OF the expense OF the States main
| tenance, These disagreements have been the
| outSrOwth of a misunderstanding OF the true
| conditions. Laws however, were made to be
| enforced and complaint can be made OF
! honest enforcement 1t would seem natural
| and proper inasmuch as il has been the policy
| of the State TO afford home rule 10 municipal
| tiles, that in every respect majorities should
| demand within their own boundaries should be
| accorded without interference by other sections
Of the State. provided however. that their &C
ton does not interfere with the rights of any
| or all OF the people.
| 1t might be proper for the legislature to take
up these various issues matters OF difference
| and attempt TO formulate some plan whereby
the matters complained OF can be cured. and q
| more general fuIfilment Of the constitutional
| enactment arrived at. These questions Of differ
| enCe might be submitted to the people. and
| under our theory Of government their eonclu-
| siOns and determinations would probably be
| satisfactory 10 all citizens or the State At
| least th-~e would come from such investiga-
| ton as | have suggested realization OF the
| duty and responsibility or each section OF our
| commonwealth 10 every other. It would doubt
| less result in the correction Of many things
| which are now a constant source OF friction.
| misunderstanding and complaint.
| The legislature annually passes many bills
| under the guise Of general acts which in effect
| are purely local in their character. IL is not
| always possible to entirely eliminate this class
| OF legislation In prior messages have d.
| rected the attention OF the legislature TO this
| subject. and have requested the framing OF
| bills which would enable localities to take ad-
| vantage Of general statutes rather than special
| acts. This is particularly true of measures
| having to do with bond issues, the legaliZing Of
/ the acts Of nOtarieS amendments TO village and
| city charters. and permission TO go to the Court
Of Claims. II would seem that general statutes
/ ought to be provided whereby some authority
| would be empowered to act upon these matters
/ without the necessity of recourse 10 the lesis-
/ lature. These statutes which are intended ap-
/ parently for specific cases sometimes have very
| serious general effects Legislation which had
| for its object the simpIidcaton and codihcatiOn
| every citizen of the State I commend these
| subjects 70 your thoughtful and careful con-
/ sideration.
| AGRICULTURE.
| 1t has been the policy OF the State 10 secure
and disseminate such Information as might
| be OF benefit 10 the farming interests OF the
State Laws have been enacted and rigtdly
enforced for the protection Of food supplies
against adulteration with the object OF guarding
the health OF the people and Of securing to the
farming interests such advantages as they
are entitled to. Competition with the richer
lands OF other States makes scientific farming
to-day more necessary than ever before. A
thorough understanding Of our resources and
the necessities Of our cities IS important. be-
cause il will make the farming industry moro
profitable and consequently OF greater oenerr
TO the commonwealth We have now two tnst-
buttons in the State which devote attention 70
agricultural interests. working along on
experimental scientific lines and the other
teaching the science of farming Other COM
monwealths have contributed largely in support
OF agricultural education, and il is important
that we should also make adequate provision
for this necessary instruction There have been