The sun., 1918-08-11

during the past eighteen months nave
been described in the public press
Within this time legislation has hesd
enacted for the purpose OF lettering
conditions OF labor. of agriculture. the
general health Of tho public and TO
change the methods and machinery by
which the conduct of State government
has been improved. Now at the end
sponsibilty. It is proper to make
self-examination to ascertain how far
the state has progressed in the ac-
complishment OF those things TO which
the present administration has pledged
itself With this in mind the follow
survey Of departmental achievements
will be made.
No better example Of administrative
efficiency and cooperation was ever Of
fered In New York State than has been
shown during the last two years by the
effective organization known as the
State Troopers, created through the
urgent effort and support OF every mem
Der OF the State administration This
institution has. already established
itself as an important factor In the po-
lice protective service OF the State.
Tho State Troopers have cooperated
with the sheriffs and district attorneys
throughout the State; have received
hundreds OF letters Of commentator
from citizens and from tho district at
torneys who have handled cases OF
cruelty to children. cruelty to animals;
have aided In enforcing the quarantine
regulations and the rabies regulations;
have brought illegal practitioners In
dentistry and medicine to Justice are
working with the Conservation Com
mission. the Attorney General and In
fact with all departments OF State.
The fines alone on criminal cases
amount to thousands OF dollars. There
have been no false arrests and practi-
cally but few criticisms. There have
been no conflicts with local authorities
but one, and there have been no con-
ilicts in any way with labor organiza-
tons in fact, the Troopers have been
asked by organized labor to help in the
enforcement of their own laws
A comparison OF the annual appro-
priations during the last few years
elbows very large decrease in many
bureaus. despite the fact that consider
able additional revenue has been col
lected, due largely to the efforts OF the
Comptroller's department, improvements
have also been made and greater results
obtained in the collection of revenues
by the more active work OF the stock
transfer examiners. In the Secretary
OF States ONCE 80 per cent more cars
were registered last year than In the
previous one. although the additional
work required in the increased number
OF licenses issued has been accomplished
At reduced cost.
In the campaign OF two Year, ago
the Republican party promised the peo-
pie that the new barge canal, which
had been over twelve years In building,
would be completed and put into opera
ton Last month this great waterway
was opened and is now in operation
throughout its entire length.
Great credit Is due in the completion
of this work TO the persistent and untir-
ing efforts OF the state Engineer and
Surveyor. under whose direction and
leadership this task has been accom-
plished. All this has been done, despite
the greatly increased cost Of materials.
shortage OF labor and many other dis
couraging and difficult problems. all OF
which have been encountered and sur
mounted
Realizing that this waterway would
take a very important part in the prose-
cution OF our war and could do much to
relieve congestion on the railroads run
ming between the East and West, the
Canal Board advocated that the Fed
eral authorities start the immediate con-
struction Of barges to operate upon II,
as under the State constitution this
Commonwealth Is not permitted TO build
barges and operate same. This posi-
ton was Endorsed by numerous com
mercial and transportation bodies, ana
bill appropriating Slo00,0O0 for tae
construction of barges by the State
was introduced in the Leg slature dur
ing the last session.
II ] were to depart from the field OF
finance which is the special province
of the Comptroller, reference would be
made to many other Improvements in
state government particularly in the
Civil Service, Public Service and other
departments Preparations for more
adequate methods OF public defence were
undertaken last year when a system OF
military training in the public schools
was Instituted. During last summer
military camp for boys was conducted
as a feature in this programme OF mill
tary training in schools, and it was
continued during the present summer,
This camp represents only a small
feature OF probably the most compre-
hsnsive system OF universal military
training OF boys ever attempted any
where in the world, inaugurated with
the approval and support OF the entire
state administration. The New York
State plan embraces physical and vo-
cational as well AS strictly military
training and is looked upon as a school
tina aiming for citizenship rather than
simply for soldiers. and the whole
scheme has been formally Endorsed by
the National Security League az a model
for universal military training through
out the entire country.
Never before In the history OF the
Commonwealth have the duties and re-
probabilities OF the Adjutant Generals
Office been more onerous, and never be-