The sun., 1915-11-01
POLITICS SEEN BY ROOT
IN PERKINSS OPPOSITION
Asserts Attack Upon New Constitution Is Unfair Owing
to Bias-This He Says, Was Caused by Uncon-
scious Yielding to Influences

debates Of Congress are printed upon the
ground that the printing would be con-
fined to Albany county printing nrms.
and you declare In favor OF the estab-
lshment of State printing department.
Under the present printing law the State
printing is let to the lowest bidder upon
competitive bids open to all the printing
offlces OF the State. am inclined to
think that II would be wiser for the
state TO do Ms own printing rather than
to do II by contract, but surely no one
would claim that that Is a matter that
ought to be regulated by the Constitu-
ton OF the State rather than by legisla-
tion. The printing OF debates in the
Legislature so that the people OF the
state will have an opportunity to know
what Is being done there. what reasons
are given for or against the action
taken or refused. 90 that legislative
action will be really public, furnishes
an additional argument In favor Of a
State printing Office.
"You object to the prohibition against
the Legislature creating new depart
ments in addition to the seventeen
enumerated in tho revision into which
the l52 departments. boards. bureaus and
offices OF the present State government
are to be concentrated. Yet without such
prohibition II is manifest that there
continuance Of the same process OF
creating a multitude OF irresponsible
agencies accountable TO no one. inspected
and supervised by no one. which has pro-
duced the present condition.
You object that there should be a
department Of. markets and urge the
Importance OF bringing the producer
and consumer together 20 that the prod
ucts of our farms may be disposed Of
h..
which now absorbs so large part Of
their value. ] fully agree TO this and
SO did the convention in creating a
constitutional department OF agricul-
ture the head OF which will have no
more important duty than to deal with
this subject. The subject involves far
moro than mere markets. 1t involves
the conditions Of production. consign-
ment and transportation as we'll as mar
ket facilities. To cut or one end OF this
long and somewhat complicated process
and confins IL to one independent de-
partment while the other end of the
same process IL confined to another in
dependent department would be to make
any progress inpracticable and would
hinder rather than promote the interest
which you have at heart. I am con-
vinced that the convention has provided
wisely for this subject in creating a
"
naturally direct the whole process from
the farm to the consumer.
You object to the provision FOR q
Conservation Commission OF nine un-
paid members, one from each judicial
district of tho State. one to go out Of
office each year. and the executive OFF,
Ger OF the department to be appointed
by the commission. You think II will
work badly. Such an organization has
a ,.sl.
OF Education. but has served its pur-
pose admirably for more than a CEN
tury without any desire by the people
OF the state to change It. The Associa-
ton for the Preservation OF the Adiron-
dacks. OF which Mr.. Agar Is the head.
considers the plan TO bo admirably
adapted to keep tho great business Of
conservation out OF politics and to pre-
vent undue control by special influences
OF the forest regions and to secure con-
tinuity OF policy undisturbed by the
frequent changes In state government
which in recent years have been regu-
lsrly followed b. complete overturns of
the Conservation Commission. and a
great majority Of the convention agreed
with that view
You criticise tho provisions giving
,he commission Jurisdiction over the fish
supply because OF the exception OF migra-
tory uSn OF tnS Sed WltnlH the llfnltS OF tne
marine district. Those provisions repro
duce the existing statute law on the sub
ject and authority remains in the Legis-
lature to enlarge the power of its dis
cretion. The exception you mention was
created by the Legislature 4nd now
exists and without disturbing 1t tho
Constitution gives the Legislature
authority to swsep away the exception
# IT Is deemed wise
''I afn Impressed. nv dear Mr. Perkins,
both by the substance OF your communi-
canon and by the manner In which you
have carried on our correspondence with
Il conviction THAT YOU have not really
given TO this revised Constitution the
benefit Of impartial consideration, but
have, unconsciously perhaps. permitted
the sntagonisms of your political situa-
tion 10 bias your mind and to put YOU
irto an attitude OF hostility TO the meas
ure and 10 the men who have been en-
gagged IN it - that insead OF basing
your conclusion upon the reasons which
you have stated you have without know
ing II sought for rxresaeons to sustain q
foregone adverse 6onclusion. I regret
she attitude and I submit that the
reasons given are wholly inadequate to
stiat AIN it,