The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-30

responsibility. The Legislature agreed
with nv. and for the lev post George
l.. Pratt Of Brooklyn vas selected.
MIR. Pratt has reduced the number OF
employees. brought the whole service
under strict civil service regulations. has
worked out a great IRE map and he II
making the first detailed study Of the
fishing waters Of tho state as a basn
for scientific working plans for fsf
stocking and protection.
The New York Service Beard.
"ft has been my duty 70 reorganise
the Public Service Commission In the
First district from top TO bottom. Oscar
Stratus. a great and honorcd name;
Henry ". Hodge. "a master builder who
took the position at large monetary sac.
rihce: Travis Whitney. a public utility
expert: William HAYWARD. a trained law
yer. and Charles Hervey. Of specialized
talent In analysing the intricacies Of
figures. However much these appoint.
ments may have d~lspleased some. I am
convinced that their activities will please
the taxpayers.
New York spends S3.0oo.0 900 a year
on h Department OF Agriculture. help
ing farmers. dsirymen and fruit growers
to increase their product. guarding con.
sumer against fraud and impurity and
lighting insect pests and diseases OF live
stock. When II became my duty to ap.
point a COMMISSIONS OF Agriculture I
went to President SchurmAn and asked
him to pick me the best man for the
place from among those trained IN the
agricultural college maintained by the
state at Ithaca. He suggested Prof.
Charles =. Wilson. n member Of the Cor
nell faculty. There Ia not n farmer In
the state that will not ray that Wilson
has made good.
Magazines and newspapers alike have
thrilled over the prison reform Of West.
ern States. M yet II II one Of our own
Institutions ut Great Meadow that stands
before the world to-day us tho greatest
and most successful experiment In cor.
rection and reclamation For years I
had watched the work of Warden W. J.
Homer. and when I came 90 be Governor
one of my fret acts WAS 10 assure this
simple. whole souled miracle worker that
the full power Of my administration was
behind him.
with all my soul ] hold TO the Homer
idea of prison reform. and as fast 40
may I've ] intend that this idea shall
dominate every prison I'm the State Of
New York. Sing Sing must 20. and Il
is my hope TO see d new Sing Sing rise
OH "a farm site. self-supporting without
competition with free labor and rich In
the physical values afforded by upbuiid.
ing activities carried on in the sun.
Expert Tax Asseasors.
similar confusion existed In the State
Tax Department. Upon my recommen.
dalton. the Legislature created A new
State Tax Commission BY the ap.
pointment OF experts 10 assess special
franchises over $4,000. 900 has been
added 10 these assessments. For the
first time In history. the state TAX De-
partment has cooperated with local tax
officials In the matter of the assessnR Mt
OF real estate and personal property
of corporations. In New York city alone
this has resulted In An increase Of 49,
600. 600 In the assessment Of real es-
tate OF public utility companies. Scores
Of such instances could lie cited 70 show
the energy and efficiency of the new
regime.
Nowhere IL the public spirit OF the
people of New York displayed more
s~pl,ndidly hat. IA connection with
the publ highways. In 1907 We issued
100000, 900 In bonds for highway I'm.
prov-ment and In 1912 n second issue
OF 100000. 900 WAS authorised. In Nd
i! dition to these state money!. the coun-
, ties have contributed upward of $780,
Vu',o'', a tOtdi OF SlJV,VVO,UUO devoted
10 better roads.
"Because ! deem good roads an I'm.
' perative necessity, because ] wanted the
people of New York 10 get a dollars
worth OF value for every dollar ex-
pended. because I wanted TO put an END
TO ine.tciency and political pull. | chose
Edwin Duffey of Cortland county 10
be Highway Commissioner. In his FRS,
year he save-i $4,000 IN one item OF
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