New-York tribune., 1912-01-04

ers. Good roads must be the feeders Of the
great canal enterprise. or the latter cannot
fulfil it's mission as a factor in the growth
Of the development of the commonwealth.
The message adds:
The territory and counties adjacent 10
the canals and waterways enjoy means OF
communication, built In part by the state.
which connect them with the great centres
of trade. with the metropolis of the conti-
on W6y S should ns no great eat port Of Of
the state have similar facilities? And how
can these facilities be created except by
the construction Of state system of high,
ways that VIII traverse every county ana
connect the most remote settlement with
It's market and the outside world?
Whenever practicable, Governor Dix says.
local labor material and machinery should
be employed in the repair and maintenance
of the unimproyed portions of the state
highway system and the state should pro-
vide as much as Is raised by the towns.
Homo Rule for Cities and Villages.
Much attention is given to home rule. The
Governor says:
TO Americans no right is more sacred
than that of self-government The funda-
mental principle of home rule, which Is
but another term of self-government, is IN
theory the basis of the American system OF
government 1t Is the principle upon when
rest our federal and state governments.
II Is the foundation of our constitutions
both national and state; yet in the actual
government OF municipalities and their
local subdivisions within the state, the
principle is not simply violated-it Is for or
time of every legislature Is consumed in
the consideration of local bills dealing with
purely local matters that should no more
be discussed and settled by the State Leg
lei f,tr tn "a cho
matters be discussed and settled by the
National Congress i'm Washington.
The last Legislature is to be commended
for the passage of proposed amendment
to the state constitution guaranteeing to
cities and incorporated villages the right of
municipal elf-government, and restricting
the power Of the Legislature to the enact
ment Of general laws in reference thereto.
The present Legislature can perform no
more beneficial service 10 the state than
to establish. so far az possible, In the
fundamental law of the state. the boon and
right OF home rule and self-government to
the cities and villages within the state.
desire 10 repeat what ] have said on an
other occasion. that local self-government
should be as clearly and definitely estab-
lished a state government. or as the rights
of the nation within the lines of the federal
Constitution.
cities Of the third class. six Of the second
and three of the first. There is total ot
forty-nine cities. In the single year 1910
the LEGISLATURE HmpnneO tne III
thrty-one cities. passed sixty-two amend
atory city acts. and amended. revised or
repealed three hundred and fifty-seven sec
tions OF city charters. not including the re-
vision of an entire charter of four hundred
and siXty-two sections governing a single
municipality. 49,
Tho time has come when the cities
should demand that instead OF being gov
erned as subject provinces. they should be
endowed with mowers OF government as
complete and efficient as those vested in
the state and nation by the state and fed
eral constitutions.
The need OF the state, In its municipali-
ties and it's county. village and local gov
ernments. IS said 10 be a scientific sys-
TEN Of administration and expenditure.
There Is a statewide need Of measures
that will promote. II not guarantee, a
maximum OF benefit 10 taxpayers for the
money they pay into local treasures The
Governor recommends the attention oil
the Legislature TO these matters with a
view Of adopting practicable and reason
able measures that will establish the fol-
lowing results:
A state central efficiency bureau which
at local expense. will place expert criu-
cism. expert advice and expert service
within the reach OF communities too small
10 organize their own STATS of efficiency
experts. an
cheney I'm accounting and business procedure
TO be exacted By the State Controller or
separate bureau upon all municipalities. In
Guiding counties and villages.
compulsory minimum standard or
health supervision, at local expense, in all
public schools, no matter how small the
administrative unit. such supervision to
Include q minimum standard Of material
conditions surrounding children at school.
as well as inspection for physical defects
and contagious diseases heretofore in
cluded in the permissive acts provided Tor
medical inspection and medical examina-
tion.
The message declares that much was ac-
complished last year 10 improve the tax
system OF the state. II refers 10 lhe re-
writing OF the Inheritance tax, which Is