The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-10
SMITHS PET BOARD
LOSES FAVOR FAST
G. O. p. Leaders at Albany
Doom Governors 100000 Re-
construction Commission.
NOT A FUTURE PROBLEM
Walters and Sweet Declare
State Should Spend Money
for Construction Now.

ALBANY, Feb. o.-Defeat for Governor
Smiths bill authorizing him to appoint
the State Reconstruction Commission
and giving Ii 100000 with which TO work
was seen az a certainty tonight when
a statement was issued by Majority
Leader j. Henry Walters Of the Senate
and Speaker Thaddeus c. Sweet Of the
Assembly. declaring that State construc-
ton of public works to end unemploy-
ment "is the actual solution of the re-
construction problems"
New York Stlte can take no more
effective step to control after war con-
diticir than to assume the Initiative
and vigorously urge the building and re-
building of state roads and State In
stitutions. deferred since the war began
in order TO avoid a drain on labor and
material" says the joint statement of
the Republican legislative leaders.
Hospitals and highways are needed.
and the question of men and supplies
to-day Is just the opposite OF what 1t
was. We must now provide work for
the homecoming soldier land we must
place orders for materials so that the
manufacturing plants In this State Will
continue running, not on half time but
or overtime with increased help. II we
adopt this course we will accomplish
more than we will by discussing re-
construction as future problem"
Opposition to Plan Grows.
Republican leaders Of the Senate and
Assembly have had several conferences
on the subject. There was a growing
nntagonism to Governor Smiths Recon-
struction Commission all last week, and
| it was predicted tonight that about all
| the Republicans In both Houses are
about ready TO vote against the Gov
| erncr's Reconstruction Commission and
| the 100000 appropriation. They argue
| that the commission can do nothing that
| the Legislature or existing State de-
| r7rtments already at work cannot do.
| The one great big problem-how the
! State Is to raise sufficient revenues-ts
| being taken up by Il legislative commit
| tee which expects to be able to frame
| a tax bill within two weeks
This Is not the time to theorize II We
| are TO grapple with the enormous indus
trial situation which Is not approaching
but is right here in front of us" the
| statement OF the Republican leaders con-
| tinues. The period for theory may come
/ but now when the path is clear there
should be no delay and we should demon
strate by practical application that we
are capable of meeting an emergency
| just as vital as any that we have en-.
| corntered.
Construction Present Need.
IAN unlimited amount of work for
men is the immediate need, and WI
should begin construction. Our con
structon campaign should be broad
| enough to embrace not only the Skilled
mechanic but the day laborer. Highway
| construction means a market for one
| trade while the erection of public build.
| ings Is a market for building trades
| The completion Of terminals along tht
F., barge canal is another necessity ant
, would enlarge the number of types OF
employees that could be put at work.
There is s5,000,000 available FOL
| maintenance OF State roads. and $4,000.
900 for construction from the two $50
oOO.o 900 bord issues AS to State insti
tuition development. there is a call fol
hospitals at Central Islip. Middletown
| Utica and Kings Park. not forgetting tn,
all important matter OF structures fol
the care of tie feeblemInded.
| "Vicious symptoms make themselve!
manifest when men are out of work, anC
employment of the idle is our duty. Rec
tape and humdrum official procedur,
should be d!scountenanced, and THU
great State should be the leader in
plan OF reconstruction that will speal
for itself.
$50 it is obvious that II we NOV,
speedily. giving men work and keeping
factories open. 1t will mean aniInat
rather than inanimate reconstruct ION, 20
with men and women earning goo,
wages the reconstruction programme a
applied to the future will take care o
itself"