New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
Miller Cites IL
Benefits Given
State Farmers
Real Estate Tax Reforms,
Better Schools, Interstate
Tunnel and Port Plan
Listed i'm Oswego Speech
Says Smith Ignored Them
Rivals Only Moves Were to
Try to Fix Milk Price and
Hamper Board, He Holds
From a stag Correspondent,

Fron, stag Correspondent
OSWEGO, N. Y, Oct. 21.--Twelve
specific and important steps in behalf
OF the farmers of the state were cited
tonight by Governor Miller in answer
to his Democratic adversary's charge
last night that the present administra-
sion has completely broken down in
respect to safeguarding the interests
of agriculturists. In addition, the Gov
crnor also fiatly challenged Mr.. Smiths
gtatement that the workmen's compen-
saticn law has been emasculated, and
characterized it rs misstatenient.
Governor Miller not only defended
his own administrations acts in re-
spect to agriculture, but also launched
a sweeping attack on the Smith record
on the same subject.
"Mr. Smith last night took occasion
to express his deep concern for agri-
culture said the Governor. "But,
somehow when he mentioned in his
opening speech the list Of groups
which he said waited on him at AL
bany and whose every request he
boasted was granted, he forgot to
mention the agricultural group. He
did mention labor. He put their rep.
resentatives second in the list, head
ing 1t with the League of Women Vot-
ers. Was it a mere accident that when
he enumerated the groups Of what he
called the special interests of the
people, whom he said his administra-
tion was run to please, that he ut
terly forgot the great group Of agri-
culture, or was it the one group in
the state that did not get every re-
quest that it referred to Governor
Smith granted?
Tried to Fix Price of Milk
"Whilst he professed great interest
in agriculture, so far as any one can
recall, the principal things that he at
tempted to do, while he was Governor,
for agriculture was to disrupt the ag-
ricultural department and destroy its
morale and to establish commission
to fix the price Of the farmers milk"
Tho Governor then summarized the
acts which he declared were his ad-
ministration's achievements in behalf
of the farmer rs follows:
t. Twenty-nine million dollars in di-
rect taxes on real estate, including
farm property lifted in the Miller
administration, together with tax re-
vision plan for further tightening of
the burden on real estate.
2. Definite plans under way to pro-
vide rural education TO tAe standard of
urban education.
3. Department cf Farms and Markets
taken out of politics and made moro
serviceablc.
4. State highways improved and sys-
tenn extended with special reference to
development of motor truck transporta-
tion.
s. Barge canal transportation de-
veloped to the highest point in twenty
years with the aim Of a great terminal
market, from farmer direct to con-
sumer, at the Harlem River.
6. New York-New Jersey vehicu'ar
tunnel, projected by a Republican ad-
ministration over Governor Smiths op-
position, and practically iinanced by
the Miller administration. providing
another avenue of access to New York
City, markets for farm products.
Port Authority Cited
z. Port Authority created in the met
ropolitan district to coordinate old
terminals, create new terminals and
generally hasten and cheaper dlstripu-
tion Of necessaries Of life.
8, Traffic bureau with a traffic expert
institute to advise farmers on shipping
facilities and to assure fair transporta-
tion rates.
9. Daily up-to-aate market reports
supplied, giving Information to AID IN
insuring best possible distribution and
to prevent gluts Of produce.
10. Interior water power developed
~.1.. IN
electric energy.
III. cooperative movements encour-
aged with a system OF proper grading
and storing Of produce so as to benefit
the farmer. instead OF the food specu-
later, introduced.
IL. Banking facilities provided by
amending the banking laws to make
farm loans legal investments for
savings banks.
Turning to the Smith charges that
his administration has been unfriendly
to labor, which were repeated last
night, the Governor told his audience
of 1900 in Richardson Theater that he
has constantly challenged any one to
specify single act of that nature In
the last two years.
Repeats Compensation Rejoinder
'tThe one specification SO far made
has been that emasculated the labor
law and the workmen's compensation
law and that / destroyed the effective
ness Of the administration of the In
dustrial commission" he said. II have
referred to that in previous addresses,
but wish tonight completely to dis
pose of it. Mr.. Smith is nightly say
Ing that wa have reintroduced the
vicious direct settlement plan in the
workmen'e compensation law, thus de-
liyering the workmen to the tender
mercies of the insurance carriers.
"a lie Is so fleet of foot that you
can never catch up with it. A mis-
statement constantly reiterated takes
fight and it is impossible to overhaul
it. used an ugly word. do not
apply it to my adversary, because do
not think he Is consciously misstating.
He has got this subject of direct set
Element on his mind. 1t was one OF
the things that he had TO do with.
have no doubt he thinks he is stating
the truth, but I wish now, so far as
this campaign is concerned, to set at
rest the discussion on this head by
stating to you in precise terms what
was accomplished by the amendments
to the workmen's compensation law"
Governor Miller then read the pro-
vision of the act which Mr.. Smith
charged had reintroduced the vicious
direct settlement principle, and de-
clared emphatically that IT obviously