The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-11-04

transit argument If he will answer just
a few questions.
"For the purpose of getting votes he
Is posing as q five cent fare Governor.
II he expects anybody to believe that
he must first explain his purpose when
he took away from the city OF New
York all of her power over the dual
contracts. as well as jurisdiction that
she had enjoyed for years over all Of
her franchises.
Gov Miller, when he promises five
cent fare, is promising something that
he cannot deliver. Under the provisions
of his law. the very amendment die
tated by him before the original act
was one month old, leaves his commits
sion poweress. il the companies supply
facts upors which to base an application
for an increase. The only way the
Governor can insure the five cent fare
in New York city is to restore to the
city the power over its own contracts
with the railway companies. That. he
says he will never do. and that prom
Use to do.
eat Hampstead last night Gov. Miller
attempted to defend his attitude TO the
labor laws OF the State and the Depart
nent of Labor and workmen's compen-
sation. The whole record on this SUBJ
jest is as clear as the MONDAY sun.
Nobody can be mistaken about 1t that
has taken any trouble whatever TO in
vestigate it, To the building up Of our
labor code, gave during all my iegisla-
tive career the very best that was in
me.
After 1913, when the bulk of these
statutes became law, there was organ
lied in this State what came to be
known as the Associated Industries for
the ostensible purpose OF promoting the
welfare Of industry. Its real purpose
was to maintain paid lobby at Albany
to defeat future amendments intended
to strengthen the labor law and to
weaken, wherever possible, existing sta
tutes.
Prior to my return to Albany as
Governor after 1 had left THE Legisla-
ture, the Associated Industries were
fairly successful. My Inauguration was
setback to them because during my
administration not only did 1 stand for
the labor laws as they were on the sta
tute books, but I strengthened them
even in the face Of hostile majority in
both houses Of the Legislature. But this
lobby came into the heyday of their
power and they made their influence
felt as soon as Gov. Miller arrived in
Albany.
Gov. Miller wrecked the Labor De-
partment, he abolished the Bureau of
the workmen's compensation act ard 1t
is an interesting thing for me to recite
here tonight among my friends In The
Bronx, that only In this mornings pa
per is there a positive indication of this
lobby's gratitude to the Governor. They
organized for campaign purposes under
a high sounding name, what they are
pleased to call the Sound Government
Association. The pamphlet Ut the
Sound Government Association Is mailed
throughout the State with a. circular
letter signed by Mark A. DAILY, the chief
of the Albany lobby Of the Associated
Industries.
No Mystery Any Longer.
II have asked the Governor on ten
different occasions to make known to
the people of the State what group
sought the destruction of the Labor De-
partment at his hands. He has failed
to reply But 1 don't need to ask the
question any longer. 1 think you and
/ can find the answer for ourselves. For
H. is significant that the one group in
the whole state willing TO defend the
Governors labor record is the group
that desired the destruction of the La
Dor Department"
Mr.. Smiths speech continued:
The Governor told tne people Oh
Nassau county last night that / was
Sinking. or course he didn't tell them
what l waY shirking and used that ex-
preston asa catch phrase.
Taking the Governor at his own
word that he saved s22,000,00o. where
is It? Who has got 1t and In what par
ticular way is 1t reflected? He would
not give in Nassau county the argument
that he gave in New York. He said that
IL was absorbed by the high tax rate In
New York. He knows as well as do
that II has nothing to do with the tax
rate. He knows perfectly well that his
first years appropriation bill was a
half million greater than my last years.
although he has himself stated on many
occasions that mine was the highest In
the history of the State.
1.-THE truth is that he Increased taxes,
saved no money had budget larger
than mine and 1 will permit him and his
budget secretaries to make figures from
now until Christmas. but he cannot run
out one fact. and that is that his ad-
ministration cost the people of this State
S44.0O0,000 more than mine. He knows
that is true and he knows that 1t cannot
be successfully denied"