New-York tribune., 1922-09-29
Text of Platform Adopted by State Republicans
so ably established through these
boards and bureaus must and will be
continued
Consolidation of Departments

Consolidation of Departments
Our 1920 platform promised a
workable plan for the consolidation
of state departments, with view to
eliminate Implications, reduce over
head expenses and insure all around
efficiency. That promise has been full
collecting agencies under the Tax
Commission, the reorganization of
the Farms and Markets Department,
and the passage of constitutional
amendment to permit the merging of
the Highway Commission, the De-
partment of Public Works and the
office of State Engineer and Surveyor
under one head.
We pledge the Republican Legis-
laturc to the repassage of such
amendment, and, upon its adoption
by the people, to the enactment of
legislation to carry out its provisions.
Social Welfare
While insisting upon economy and
efficiency, this has not been at the
expense of service. The present ad
ministration has provided literally
for education, for public health, for
the care and Improvement of the
wards Of the state, and has set no
limit to any Legitimate effort to re-
move the physical, mental or moral
defects and handicaps OF the help
less and the afflicted.
Human progress results from indl-
vidual effort and initiative. The
state should not impair the thrift
and industry of its citizens or en-
courage reliance upon public agen-
cies instead of that self-reliance
which is indispensable to virle
citizenship. Without departing from
that principle the present admins
tration has accomplished more in q
constructive wa.> for real welfare
than has even been proposed by any
preceding administration. We call
attention to the maternity bill, the
bill extending the jurisdiction Of
child welfare boards, the bill estab-
fishing ohildren's courts, the as
sumption by the state of responsible
lty for the care of the deaf and bli=.;a
under the age of twelve. sac i'm
petus given to the e.7fative work in
the insane hospitals, and particu-
larlv The extension of occupational
therapy, the provision for the spe-
mentally deficient and for extending
the field work of the Commission on
Mental Detectives, the provision for
charging the State Hospital fo-
Crippled and Deformea Children,
and the adoption of plan for the
organization of the prison indus
tries on a business basis to aid in
the reclamation Of the human ma
terial in prisons.
Water Power
The subject of developing the DO
tential water powers of the state has
been discussed for more than quar-
ter of century but no forward step
was taken until 1921 to inaugurate
q definite state policy. Such a policy
has now been established for the de-
veiopment by licenses under state
supervision and regulation, securing
general distribution at fair price
to the consumer and with prefer
entail right in municipalities 10
purchase any power developed on
terms prescribed by public authority.
ALREADY plans are we'll advanced for
oeve!oplng the possibilities of the
Black River and upper Hudson
watersheds which will produce more
than $4,000 continuous horsepower.
representlng an annual saving of
more than 100000 tons of coal IF
the maximum DEVELOPMENT Of snch
watershed and the maximum use ~
the energy thus developed can he
secured it is commercially feasih1,
TO develop at least 100000 contin.
uous horsepower or the intor;or
streams Of the state alone. to saw
nothing of the boundary streams
Where development is impeded bv
hat'onal and international complies,
tlons; After quarter of a century
OF talk the present state admin;stra1,
ton in less than two wears has sro
cceeded in establishing a definite noI
icy and IN actually starting deye1-
opment "o'e'-
Ihe surplus waters of the cano1
anord ano development of at least 40
wv continuous horsepower. renre-
tene'ng te an annual saving of 100000
.ons OF coal. That power only re-
hna.lG I,ia.ns 70 be harnessed, but it has
DeSn "1lo"ed TO run to waste for
who should harness it has been de' eo
bated. The debate has now heen
ended, the plan of development do.
clded on and the work of deve1on.
ment actually started. Inasmuch as
the state has constructed and now
MAINTAINS the canal for navigetion
purposes, the development of wate,
power is to be made by the state IT,
Self IN order that it NAV retain com-
piete control Of the entire nroiect
undertaken by it and safeguard the
NEEDS or navigation. We pledge the
continuance of that policy.
Canals
AT cost of more than S165 900 600
nv steee mas constructed a modern
a assteh1 OF inland waterways. At an
annual saving of more than 5000 ono
as compared with the last Demo.
cratic year the canal is now, for the
nfst tlme, being maintained at mayi-
mum efficiency. Shops are being
constructed, equipment purchased
terminals completed and terminal
machinery installed from current
revenues under the pay-as-you-yo
po!lcy now adopted. A vigorous cam
palgn to develop canal transportation
IS nelng pushed. The results of that
poncy are shown in the tonnage car
.led, winch for the first time in
e"ehty years Is now increasing at a
substantial rate. We pledge the
continuance of that policy to make
1ne states investment serve the pro
ducers, the consumers, the factories
,a and the farms of the state.
Highways
The state is pushing to completion
as rapidly as possible the connected
system OF IL 800 miles of state high
ways now adopted and is giving in-
creased aid to counties and towns
Tor the county and town systems. A