The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-29

place our great marketing problem in the hands of a sub
ordinate of some other department.
The proposed Constitution is careful to perpetuate the
Public Service Commission, created to regulate the trans
portation affairs of the people; yet only about 10 per cent.
of the average mans income gees for transportation. The
proposed Constitution not only abolishes what we now have
in the way of a State Market Department, but actually pro-
hibhs the establishment of such a department in the future;
yet about 40 per cent. of the average mans income goes
for food.
IGH eos OF LIVING.
u,.,,r pfr RI ,;s the then. most si.n burning n' n Ss question yaIp {; of t the s dSE' d pstti sf
diving. We will never get anywhere in the solution OF IT
recognized as such and that IS given the dignity Of a depart
ment with all the power necessary to serve the produce1s
my experience in this matter, I regard the omission to ere
ate a Department of Markets and the provision prohibiting
tai to the people of the State that | would vote against the
adoption of the Constitution for this if for no other reason.
CONSERVATION.
regard the entire scheme of conservation as outlined
Objectionable. We have until recently had IA three-headed
commission. and in my judgment. one of the very best
serves great credit is the establishment of the Conservation
Department en- IN in the BE-, HANDS d p of one co or mis- and the
Here we have centralized power: responsibility and a bust
nissIy man 3ha n wnS RS wnh of a do peraprM p" WHICH se aIl the adve.
Gates of the proposed Constitution claim is the objective of
the entire Constitutional scheme: yet in this matter of con-
servation. exactly the opposite course has been taken. A
commission of nine men is to be set up. selected by the Coy.
ernor, one from each of the nine Judicial districts of the
State. They are to receive no compensation but are to EN-,
ploy a superintendent on a salary to conduct the affairs OF
the department. These nine men. living as they will i'll
nine different parts of the State, will have very slight OPP
portunity to get together often enough or for sufficiently.
long periods at a time to understand the vast problem of
conservation in this State. The result will be. AS it always
has been in such cases, that the hired man will actually
do the work. Who will know who this man is? He will
have no pride of place, no responsibility to the people, and
will be far removed from them. Does anyone suppose, for
instance. that a man like Mr.. Pratt would accept the posi-
ton of superintendent? If the Commission does anything
to which the people object which one of the nine is going
to be responsible?
In short, in place of centralizing power and placing It
where the people can put their finger on it, the new Consti-
tuition broadly scatters it and places such executive power
as there is in the hands of a superintendent.
One provision prohibits the Commission from selling any
wood that it may cut in its forestry work. happen to be
fairly familiar with forestry work and know that much of the
wood that is properly cut has "A marketable value. If this
nine-headed commission can be so greatly trusted, as we are
told it can be. why not give it the power to sell any wood that
can properly be sold and tury the money into the State treas
ury? Uadcr the present pyorjHi"H they are p"rc1fcd from
selling il. bt. thCu arc not prCr'HtCd troW gir1R0 il dW0N. If
they are dishonest and therefore should not be entrusted with
the power to sell. why should they be entrusted with the
power to give it away?
CURTAlLS FISH SUPPLY.
Among the other serious objections to the Conserva-
ton programme is the exception of migratory fish of the
sea" from the jurisdiction of the Commission. This of