New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-11

We have, In connection with our agricultural
department, lost no opportunity to make IL el-
fcieut strong capable and representative,
worthy of all confidence When the last COM
missioner of Agriculture resigned, TO uhuertake
other work / fortunate in finding 10 take
his place one of the best skilled men In tne
country-a man who had been connected WIN
the National Department of Agriculture; Mno
had had important work in relation to private
enterprises, and who at the time was at tne
head of the dairy department of the Agricui-
tural School at Cornell UNIVERSITY, Suu mI~
to-day, under the administration OF Commis,
sioner Pearson, we have the most capable ana
efficient, straightforward agricultural depart
ment in the history of the state.
DEPARTMENT EFFICIENCY.
Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the
necessity of bringing our state departments up
to the highest point Of ehciency; Inc peop .n,s
state activities necessarily. because as the pop
ulation increases and the needs OF the STATE IN
crease. other work must develop and expand.
But the responsibility for its wise expenditure,
for honest and impartial departmental WORK,
increases with the increase of the acfivlues
themselves, and we must be consistently on our
guard against any explorations of the ma
chinery of government for any private or poll
tical purposes Parties must snow tnat they
are worthy of being trusted by putting men
in these departmental places who VIII use
these places with but single object, or get
ting the best possible results Tor the stare
a dollars worth of work for every dollar ex-
pended by the state for work; dollars worth
of property for every dollar expended by the
state in the purchase of property, and zeal ana
devotion 10 the interests of the public tho
part of officers which you cannot measure III
any dollars, but only in terms of patriotism.
In connection with Labor Department
much has been done to strengthen II. better to
equip il, to make 1t more capable Tor the en-
forcement of our labor laws we nave aooeo 20
that department those VINO are efnpioyeo ~,
the purposes of supervision, in order that needed
inspection might be made. We have LATELY
provided for bureau OF mercantile 1nspec.ion ls
a. tAo} ha
more the small than the great-mercantlle es-
Establishments should be under proper inspection
We have reinforced the labor laws by adding
IN those salutary provisions in regard to sani-
tation and conditions OF employment, with re-
gard to hours of labor in certain vocatlons.
We have provided, In accordance with the
policy of the weekly pay bill for those en-
ployed by corporations, the semi monthly pay
biIl for those employed by railroad companies.
Every labor bill that has been before the Legis-
Iature has received an honest consideration, &C
cording to its merits While we do not give TO
agriculture or TO labor or to anything else what
cannot fairly be demanded. on the other hand.
there has been the strongest and most sincere
desire to do everything that properly can be
done to maintain our Labor Department IN a
high degree of efficiency and TO secure the en-
forcement Of our labor laws and to amend our
labor laws for the just protection OF lapor'
This has been the policy OF the ADMINISTRATOR
THE FINANCIAL DISTURBANCE
We had last fall a financial disturbance which
threatened several Of our banks, and drew at
laws regarding the supervision of our f1nan-
cial institutions In order that there might De
no delay, took the liberty, unoficaIy, before
the meeting of the Legislature to ask a few
men of known probity and great experience 10
examine into these matters and TO make recon-
mendations. They did so. In addition, we were
fortunate in calling to the services Of the state
one Of the best men in the state, Well aple 10
take charge Of Banking Department, ana
to-day under the superintendency OF Mr. clark
Williams and by reason Of the laws that have
been passed providing for a more thorough and
complete supervision. our financial institutions
and the interests of the great public, necessar-
fly depending upon them for the security or
their businesses and their homes. are in better
condition and under more faithful superinten-
dence than ever before in the history OF the
state.
The provision for the economical liquidation
of banking institutions. to make unnecessary
the fattening of receivers and referees and other
appointees, is a most important policy In which
every citizen must take deep interest. / have
very little confidence in general schemes Tor
regenerating human nature, or in making over
society overnight. / see very little advantage
in the advocacy of plausible doctrines to attract
Tor a moment, but which can in no way work
solution Of difficult problems. / have every
confidence in quiet, effective, earnest study OF
particular matters, and any improvement of the
state administration. wherever there is chance
OF Improvement, to the end that we can have
genuine reform. and not simply the dream Of
fancy.
GOOD ROAD WORK.
One of our great purposes in the state is to
develop our roads and the putting into opera
ton of a proper system of road building and
maintenance. We have a wonderful financial
provision for this in the plan for the issue of a
very large number of state bonds This question
of proper management and state supervision has
been under the most thorough investigation
with the result that upon the report Of the COM
nittee TO the Legislature last year, and in &C
cordance with the legislation then passed, we
shall have appointed by the next Governor a
bureau of highways, which will constitute a
permanent system Of administration, modelled
upon the best experience of this and other coun-
tries and promising the greatest Improvement
in our road system that we could get by care
and intelligent effort. There is a great depart
ment of work which has received the quiet study
of many out of the gaze of those intent only
upon sensationaism, but which will mean much
for the benefit of people in the coming years.
couple of years ago I was engaged in an
undertaking of no little importance, which had