New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
Record of Administrations
Activities Issued in
"White Book"
STRESS IS LAID
UPON ECONOMIES
Appeal Made to Farmers
and Labor on LegiS-
latiOn Basis.

Something brand new in politics
was used by Governor Whitman yes
terday, when he sent TO every en-
rolled Progressive voter in the state
a white Book" of his admlnistra-
ton. II is a complete account Of his
conduct in Office, and contains no de-
fence and no apologies. but is per-
sonal accounting to the. voters and
record of his constructive acts"
Later the book will be mailed to all
enrolled Republicans.
Accompanying the seventy-elght-
page document is letter signed by
forty-four leading Progressives and
members Of the independence League
No notice is taken of any attacks
or criticism of the Governors admin
istration that have been made. except
that in chapter entitled "Pay as You
Go" he sets forth in considerable de-
tail a statement of the financial defi-
cts with which he was faced in the
first year of his administration. In
his treatment of this question Whit
man puts the blame for these def
ciencies squarely upon the preceding
administration. II is evidently TO be
the keynote and foundation for his re-
election.
Demonstration" Period.
The Governor contrasts what he calls
four years of Democratic destruction
with his own administration. termed
1.-TWO years of reconstruction"
an the finances OF the state he
writes. "a tremendous accumulation OF
unpaid debts and the system OF lump
sum appropriations which concealed
the purposes for which the money was
10 be expended, were found. In. the
face of adverse criticism provision
was made for payment of the states
debts and for a system of itemlZed ap-
preparations whereby every dollar Of
public money is traced. Items Of bills,
totalling s4,466,366, have been vetoed,
and these vetoes were decided in open
public hearings where. for the first
time in the history of the state, the
department heads were called upon TO
justify their demands for appropria-
tons.
THE four departments of the state
which formerly held jurisdiction over
various phases of the labor problem OF
the state have been consolidated in one
Industrial Commission, bringing
great saving TO the state and great
benefit to the wage earners. The scope
of the compensation act has been
broadened, the widowed mothers PEN
sion bill has been signed. Measures
which tended TO increase the hours OF
work for women and the number of
days in a week have all been vetoed.
"The militia organizations of the
h.. +n a
standard required by Federal law.
Deficits of former administrations in
various branches have been provided
for and wiped out.
Summed up thereafter, the Gov
errors report shows that in the De-
partment of Highways 1900 miles OF
roads have been built, the political
blackmailers banished and contractors
held TO strict liability by Commission
er Edwin Duffey. The Governor says:
an agriculture, with Charles s. Will
son. a member of Cornell Agricultural
College, recommended as the best man
for the place, accumulated indemnities
owed for years to farmers for the de-
structiOn of cattle have been paid, the
farmer producer protected and educa-
tional work extended.
zone hundred and fifty-four miles Of
new nayigable waterways, out of the
290 now open, were put into service By
the Department of Public Works,
headed by Major General William w.
Wotherspoon, former Chief Of Staff Of
the United States army
Public Service Progress.
"The Public Service commissions Of
the state have been taken entirely out
of politics.
"A scientific. systematic method of
procedure has been worked out where
by the two years arrears of work have
been caught up, and a uniform system
of accounts of railroad, electric and
gas companies has been undertaken.
Drastic reforms and efficient admin
istration have been brought about
under the State Tax Commission, of
which former State Senator Martin
SAKE is president.
Laws have been passed which have
centralized the operation Of taxation in
the state IN the one commission.
Special franchise taxes and mortgage
recording taxes have been increased
and local assessments adjusted. The
largest amount of real property value
ever placed upon the assessment roll
of the State of New York will be found
in 1916. Ii is an increase over 1915 of
approximately s300,000,000, which can
not fail TO lower the tax rate in nearly
every community in the state"
The entire book aims to present the
Governors constructive report of the
work done by the organization of de-
partment heads he has called into the
states service.
The Governor also referred TO fnan-
cal returns in state management
brought about by the segregated
budget system he inaugurated.