New-York tribune., 1922-10-06

49, -
thought of benefit to the state. They
received the same treatment by the Re-
publican majority that the welfare bills
| received
| Cites Prison Reform
Another special intcrest-men and
women Interested in the welfare Of the
people in our penal institutions called
on me, ] appointed q committee on
survey that made many recommends
tions that were put into force and
effect bettering conditions in our penal
institutions. When that interest called
on the Governor he told them that the
prisoners were too we'll off.
Il had another interest call on me
namely, employers and employees who
were at odds. / appointed board for
the consideration Of strikes and lock-
outs and sat in with them myself and
adjusted great many of the strike
troubles throughout the state. Cover
nor Miller called out the police.
"The water power interests knew
better than to call on me, because they
had known my position on water power
for ten years. They know that l nm
| in favor OF the development, owner
ship and control of the water power
that the people themselves may get
the full benefit of their natural re-
sources. When they called on Cover
nor Miller and the Republican Legisa-
ture they got what they wanted, and
a grant of power was given to them to
divert water from the st. Lawrence
River that they were denied by re-
peal of their charter under Demo-
cratic Legislature in 1913
"The New York traction interests
did not call on me because they knew
| I
city to settle their affairs before the
only tribunal competent to hear them
| They called on the Governor and the
Republican Legislature and were sue
cessful in having the city authorities
lifted entirely out of the picture so
that state-appointed commission
might without regard to existing con-
tracts with the city Increase the car
fares in the City Of New York. The
city or her people did not ask for this
transfer of power. The only other
party in interst was the railroads, so
the special interests won.
Refers to Public Utilities
"The telephone interests and the
gas and electric companies throughout
the state were not unsuccessful when
succeeded in having Public Service
Commission, upon which they are them
| selves represented, so fastened into the
law for years to come that they are
practically beyond the power Of any
body to remove them.
"A special interest visited me to
! speak about the insane soldiers. l
recommended an appropriation of
$3,oco,oo0 for special hospital for
their exclusive treatment. When the
same special interests called on Gov,
4o1. IL.
war heroes in state hospitals we're
much better fed, kept and housed shan
Is per cent of the people of the state
who are paying the taxes which sup
port the hospitals.
II recommended to the legislatures
OF 1919 and 1920 amendments to the
constitution which would empower the
Legislature to reorganize the state
government. The Legislature, starting
in hostile frame of mind toward the
amendments, heard from the folks at
the pressure of public opinion in favor
of them, and reluctantly and grudg-
ingly passed them in the dying mo-
ments of the session. The same inter
est was unable to make its plea to
| Governor Miller.
State Reorganization
Nathan l.. Miller and other prom
inent Republicans approved these
amendments and admitted at that time
that they were essential if real eff
cheney and genuine economy were to
be effected in the government of the
state. Strange to say, that when he
had the opportunity as Governor to
drive them through the Legislature he
turned about-face on the proposal. Had
he approved of them in his first year
| OF office we would to-day have a com