New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
GOV. F0SS |NAUGURA|tO
Suggests Many Sweeping ne
forms in First official Speech.
FAV0RS GREATER BOSlUN
Other Recommendations Are Dl-
rect Primaries, Initiative and
Referendum and Income Tax.

Boston, Jan. 5.-Eugene n. Foss. native
Of Vermont and business man oil Massa-
chusetts. realized a long cherished wish TO-
day in assuming the office Of Governor OF
the Commonwealth, while Eben sumner
Draper Of Hopedale, stepped down into
private life. after five years OF active Work
on Beacon Hill.
In its recommendations the Governor
address was radical departure from the ut
terances Of his predecessors. The Governor
declared in favor OF establishing system
OF direct primaries in order TO eliminate
political bosses" with a provision Attached
making possible the recall " an unsaus-
factory public servant. lie also favored the
initiative and the referendum.
Workinemen's Compensation Act.
The new Governor In referring to the
rights of labor to organize and be protect
ed, came out with n declaration In favor
of the enactment OF workingmens COM
pensation act, to provide for the reiief of
persons injured at their employment.
Mr. Foss, I'm discussing the question OF
transportation. INDUCED in severe criticism
of one OF the most important legislative
acts enacted during the administration OF
his predecessor. Governor Eben ;. Draper,
when he denounced the Boston Holding
Company bill. This bill enabled newly
formed corporation, the Boston Holding
Company, TO acquire the controlling inter-
est in the Boston & Maine Railroad and
vote the stock I'm the interests OF the New
York. New Haven Hartford Railroad
Company.
Opposing government by commission, the
Governor advises the abolition OF tho iol-
lowing, which relate TO quasi-public cor
porations: The Railroad Commission, the
Gas and Electric Light Commission, the
Boston Transit Commission and the High
vav Commission. In their place he recon-
mends the creation of Public Service
Board. which should consolidate all the
functions of these commissions. with the
stipulation that the taX-collectng function
of the Highway Commission shall revert
to the state Treasurers Department. This
board, in the Governors belief. should be
composed of five members, whose terms
should be for ten years. subject TO the re-
call of any member at any state election.
The chairman should be lawyer.
Home rule for cities was advocated and
tho recommendation was made that all
municipalities Wlthln a radluS OI ten IllieS
be consolidated into greater Boston, or
ganzed on the borough plan.
Governor Foss also declared his belief
I'm the direct nomination Of United states
Senator'S He said that the majority OF
| IS COO votes cast for Democratic members
OF the present Legislature indicated that
the people OF the state were opposed to the
return OF the senior Senator. He referred
70 the fact that the state must be redis-
tricted this year. and said that he desired
that this be done by an engineer instead OF
by politicians; that the boundaries OF tho
various districts be determined by latitude
and longitude. and that the work OF re-
districtng be carried out on geographical
rather than on political lines He also
wged the Legislature 70 ratify the consti-
tutional amendment providing for federal
income tax.