New-York tribune., 1920-05-28
Citizens Union
Asks Smith for
Extra Session
Housing, Home. Rule for
Cities. Reconstruction.
Welfare, Port Measures
Necessary. Says Letter
Would Save Years Time
Governor Likely to Comply;
Ousted Socialists Places
Must First Be Filled

Formal demand tnat IoNefNOr smith
all an extra session Of the Legisla-
.,-s was made yesterday by the ex-
.,n,ive committee of the Citizens
Union. It asks that measures which
s,eaker Sweet and his friends stran-
lied in the closing days of the Legis-
l.,ure be resubmitted to the law
makers at the proposed session. The
legislation in question includes.
I. Housing measures which will stim-
slste building.
.. The port and terminal problem.
3. The eight-hour day and minimum
wage for women and other so-called
Welfare legislation.
(. Home rule for cities
8. Completion of the program of the
RECONSTRUCTION Commission.
Must Order Elections First
There is a strong possibility of the
Governor issuing the call for an extra
session. In order TO convoke .he Leg
islature he would first have to order
special elections in the five Assembly
districts now without representation
because Of Sweets custer of the So
eialist delegation.
The Governor helped in the fight
for the passage of the identical legisla-
ton which the Citizens Union declares
to be so important that it should not
be left TO await the action of the 1921
legislature
While the legislation was pending
the Governor told leaders of both
houses that if they did not give the
measures a square deal he would con-
woke an extra session.
In its request 20 the Governor for
ar extra session the Citizens Union
says that the housing problem was
merely scratched on the surface" by
the legislature
1T met the emergency which existed
in certain cities,' said the letter to the
Governor, which was signed by Walter
Arndt the UNIONS secretary. land in
particular in the City of New York. bv
the enactment of legislation designed d
prmarilty to check rent profiteering.
These measures were on the whole
well planned and have so far appar-
emily served to accomplish the results
sought. But the great need of the
present. is the erection of new houses
housing problem.
Crisis Must Be Met
None of the legislation enacted
affords any incentive to builders. Be
;ore another year has passed. unles
ent situation will become more seri-
Gus. Some steps must be taken to meet
this crisis We believe the proposals
Of YOUR Reconstruction Commiss on
should be resubmitted to the Legis-
lature and that remedial legislation
should De passed at once"
The Citizens Union believes that
no single thing would go so far to
solve the pressing problems of legis-
tlonal grant of home rule" the Gov
ernor was informed
Regarding the port and termina
problem-delay on which is driving
shipping away from the port of New
lork-the letter to the Governor says
in part:
The Legislature did nothing in re-
gard to the solution of the port anc
terminal problem, which you called tc
rs attention in special message
legislation designed to carry out the
provisions of the interstate treaty
was introduced in the Legislature OF
both New Jersey and New York.
Ihe passage of the welfare bills
which were strangled in the lowe,
house by Speaker Sweet, the Citizens
lnon declares would contribute il
iarge degree to the solution of one OF
the most serious problems in connec.
uon with the labor situation.
In urging the need of The reconstruc.
lion program, the Citizens Union said
=, Inc legislature approved three
alternative constitutional amendment:
introduced by Senator Sage providing
for a reorganization of state depart7
ments and cutting down the number o
elective state officers. One of these
amendments follows very closely the
amendment proposd by YOUR rconstruc.
ton commission.
The Citizens Union believes that
aespite some defects in form, thi.
amendment IS, on the whole, accept
sO'e' Inc Legislature failed, however
:" approve the two proposals of the
.t.tohs'ructon commission, increasing
me term of the Governor and elective
sva.e ofhcers and providing for an
ttAecutlve budget. The Citizens Union
Oeleves that both of these proposals
Sse S, IN the interests of efficiency. or
aesliAeSs and economy in the state
~. sCseIhment and urges that you resub-
my MI, lhem to the Legislature in extra
UFalnary session in order that they
1oayy msy De submitted to the voters in
~ instead of 1928"
en-, IN making its plea for an extra ses-
Gn; a'si 'he Citizens Union argued that,
whit, "nne the membership of the Legisla
bafe vii be the same, conditions viii
De different.
me issues involved in the proposal:
Tlnac9 you submit to them will bt
STb s1sar cut the Governor was told
mere viii be no opportunity for eva
.nn, m ~IIncout the direct fixing of re
opu opUas s.oility therefor. There will be nc
oppy opporlunlty presented for those who
1is ppoSe the proposals to force opposi.
.'Vn oy promises of favorable action
SSa petty local and special bills in the
rau rase Of which every member is
.Oacerned. Opportunities for TRADING
siiu Iu log-rolling' will be very largely
minated. e,a.id There will be no auto,
49, rules committee to determine
maa .mino closed doors the fate of any
c'Ssure. Both houses will continue
.,.n, u0nitol OF the legislation before
w W. throughout the session"
.";naeeVer expense an extraordinary
isioh entails would be offset many
,Jvoa' according to the union, by the
,o,, ,o.ann'ages to the state which will fol-
Cf,