The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20

night to prevent the passage OF n final
adjournment resolution, declaring they
would hold the Legislature In session
until the Ave big measures they put
through had been considered in the As
sembly. Their flibuster was successful
and the Assembly voted on their meas
ures on Wednesday, Thursday and Fri
day. killing all OF them by big majori-
ties in accordance with n plan prepa red
by caucus of the Republican Assem-
blymen.
Two measures favored by the Women's
Legislative Conference. OF which Mrs.
Norman de II. Whitehouse was chair
man after the retirement OF Miss Mary
Dreier. who went abroad, were finally
put through the Senate and Assembly
and sent to the Governor. One
regulated the employment OF women
in elevators and tho other was aimed
to cure evils found to have arisen since
the employment Of conductorettes on the
B. II. T. lines. other bills favored by
the women, putting female office work.
ers under the protection OF the state
Factory laws. failed to paes in either
the Senate or Assembly
Many Of Gov. Smiths Recommended
lions to the Legisla ture went untouched.
The list includes the plan to construct
state water storage reservoirs; extern
sion OF the workmen's compensation law
to cover occupational diseases; elfmina-
tion of the middleman between farmers
and consumers in the distribution of
milk, eggs, butter and produce: physical
examination OF children in all employ
meuts; publication Of campaign con-
tributions Ave days before elections !;
legislation lifting labor out OF the cate
CORY of articles Of commerce abolition
OF the State Police Department: aboli-
ton of the Board Of Port Wardens OF
the port of New York consolidation OF
existing State departments and commits
slons.
Counsel Salaries Approved.
The Governors message also asked the
abolition of all special counsel for State
departments. but when the State budget
was being made up II was pointed out to
him that II the specialcounsel were abol-
ished nothing would be saved, as an APP
preparation OF $3.50, 900 would have to be
made to permit the State Attorney Gem
erals office TO carry on the work these
counsel are doing. The Governor con-
scented to the salary items. y
Gov. Smith recommended adequate pay
and pensions for school teachers of the
State. and the Legislature passed on to
him for consideration a series of salary
increase bills, including one providing
additional pay for New York city teach
ers and an appropriation of $500. 900
for additional State aid to districts in
raising their teachers salaries. This
measure was drafted by the Senate Pub
lie Education Committee after n thor
ough survey Of the teaching situation.
The Governor also asked for legisla-
ton providing for construction OF State
Eydro-electric plants, and although this
was one OF the bills sent through the
Senate with the aid of the Republican
insurgents It failed to get out Of the AS
sembly Rules Committee. The measure
was framed by the State conference of
Mayors
Practically the whole water mower
programme fell through at the last min
ute. even that developed by Republican
leaders. except that provision was made
for an investigation OF the power situa-
ton at Niagara and the Long Sault
Rapids in the st. Lawrence, with con-
ferences with Federal and Canadian off,
Gals, to determine Just how much power
Is available at those points for State de-
velopment and how much 1t would cost
the State to develop it and erect trans
mission lines for distributing the power
and using II.
The Sage bill, which called for the
sale of surplus barge canal water power,
reached as far as final reading in the
Senate only to be killed. So many con-
ditions that are different exist in various
cities along the canal that it was found
next to impossible to frame a power bill
that could be agreed upon.
Gov. Smith found that he could ac-
complish what he asked in two of his
M N
One Of these was for a relaxation of
what he termed the iron discipline of
some Of the State prisons and the other
called for reinstatement OF former Ma
conal Guardsmen who have been over
seas in the old organizations of the
State Guard. To accomplish what he
wants in the prisons the Governor has
named a special committee to work with
Supt. Rattigan. Adjt.-Gen. Berry and
Major-Gen. John F. Organ are taking
care OF the guard reorganization.
Smith Avoids Primary Change.
The Legislature considered repeal of
the direct primary laws and a return to
tho party State convention system OF
nominating State and judicial officers
Efforts were made to get Gov. Smith to
commit himself on this subject, but he
refused and after a meeting in Albany
of the executive committee of the R--
publican State committee the primary
law repeal project was dropped.
The Assembly passed the Wells bill
making an appropriation Of $4,000, 900
to pay former National Guardsmen who
were sent to the Mexican border the
difference between their State and me
Federal salary. but the measure failed
to get through the Senate. shortage of
III
excuse given.
Another bill that failed to get through
was that proposed to double the tax on
transfers of stock, which was aimed to
Increase the revenues from this source
by about 100000.
Promoters of the bills designed to re-
store legalized boxing in this State