The New York herald., 1922-01-05

as at least WIN bring about a better CO.

Congress has passed the so-called
'Sheppard-Towner act TO promote the
welfare and hygiene OF maternity and
infancy The benefits Of the act may be
accepted for the State either by the Gov
ernor or the Legislature. These benefits
are $4,000 for the year ending June 80.
1922, and 5000 each year thereafter for
five years: also $4,000 annually for
i've years to be divided among the States
in proportion to population and to Re
matched by the States accepting the
benefits. The State of New York would re-
ceive. under the latter provision. approx
mately $4,000 per year. In case the
State accepts the benefits OF the act, the
division Of child welfare in the Depart
ment OF Health Is the proper agency to
supervise the work. The moneys con-
tributed by the State and Federal Gov
ernment should not be consumed by
overhead or administrative expenses, as
will be the tendency. but should be
turned over to local agencies which alone
can do effective work.
Il submit to the Legislature the ques-
tion Of accepting the benefits of the act.
and IL accepted. the method to be
adopted to carry it out
Rural School Reform.
mo more important educational prob
lem exists In the State than that sug-
gested by the present condition Of The
rural schools. The State has gradually
increased the amount or its contributions
to the support OF common schools. but
the rural schools have not improved. The
cost OF maintaining inefficient schools Is
now an excessive burden In many dis
tricts even with the Increased State aid.
The variation in the tax rate among the
rural schools Is so great as OF itself to
establish the need of a reform. All
competent to speak upon the subject
agree that there should be a different
unit both for purposes OF taxation and
administration.
IAN act was passed in 1917 to establish
township system, but the attempt was
unfortunately inaugurated and produced
conditions which led to the repeal OF the
act the next year. Any change now
made to be successful must have back of
It the support of those Immediately and
vitality concerned In the rural school
problem. No new system imposed upon
the rural population OF the State from
Albany will be likely to succeed. For
schools composed largely Of representa-
ttves Of farm organizations has been
studying the problem for nearly two
years. understand that that commit
tee Is about ready to report. I trust
that Il VIII be able to recommend a
definite plan of Improvement and I urge
that the subject receive the considera-
ton which its vast importance demands.
1t Is unnecessary to emphasize the i'm
portarce to all OF our people. the city
dwellers and those on the farm, OF solv-
Ing our rural school problem. The mod
ern methods Of communication tend to
kt,roI I<nxf 60
essential to the maintenance Of the
proper balance. between our rural and
urban population that the means Of
educating children in the rural COM
munities compare moro favorably with
those in cities and villages.
Telephone Investigation.
'erhe Public Service Commission has
upon its own motion entered upon a
Statewide inquiry Of the business and
property and intercompany relations or
the New York Telephone Company for
the purpose Of determining the facts
upon which to base a rate structure for
the different localities OF the State. The
various municipalities of the State for
the last two years have been urging such
a course. One hundred and thirty-five
complaints Of telephone rates have been
fued, most or them more IMAM tWo years
ago, but hearings have been had to date
In only three cases. thus proving the
necessity Of the inquiry which has now
been inaugurated
''It is not practicable for each OF the
municipalities OF the State to be repre-
sented at this inquiry. Moreover, the
public generally both within and with
out the cities and villages are inter-
ested. The inquiry Is judicial in its
nature as the commission must finally
decided as between the public and the
telephone company. The latter viii. of
course, be represented. think the
public should also be represented by
counsel. and recommend that 1t be made
the duty of the Attorney-General to rep
resent the public in said proceeding.
1 am advised by a committee represent
ing the municipalities. who have filed
the complaints above referred to with
the Public Service Commission. that that
course will be satisfactory to them.
"The Legislature will have no more
important subject to deal with at this
session than that presented by the re-
port of the Port Authority which ! shall
presently transmit with special mes
sage"