The New York herald., 1922-05-08

law Is simply machine which the Gov
ernment uses to regulate the lives of the
less fortunate. Let us have done with
all this process Of regulation interfer-
ence and censorship and return to the
fundamental principles of the American
Republic. which allow each man to rely
on his own initiative, industry and in
telligence and protect him in the fruits
OF his work HERBERT C. PELL, Jr,
Chairman Democratic State Committee.
NEW York, May 8.
Mr. Pell is quite aware, of course,
that The New YORK HEuLD's compli-
mentary remarks about him applied
specifically to his admirable stand.
when he was a member of the House
of Representatives, against the bonus
He deserved the credit he then re-
ceived for that action; he deserves II
now. But that has nothing to do with
the wrong impression he seeks to give
about the economies and savings of
Governor Miller.
Governor Miller happens to have
based no economy claims on the
changes in the State insurance fund
law by which 125 inspectors were
dropped and in the automobile law
by which plates were distributed by
County Clerks. Neither has THE New
YORK HERALD. The insurance fund
amendment was recommended by the
Knight committee to put the admin
Nistration of the fund on a more eff.
cient and businesslike basis.
For long time efforts have been
made to have the insurance fund ad-
ministered the same as any private
insurance corporation and to have It
pay for itself instead of being q bur-
den on the general taxpayers. Pre-
viously about 125 inspectors were en-
ployed on fixed salaries appropriated
out Of the general fund Of the State.
Under the new law the administrators
Of the fund can engage as many OF
as few inspectors as 1t needs at all
times and their pay is to be taken
out of the premiums from the insurers
before ii IL turned over to the State.
To the State Board Of Estimate and
Control Is given complete check
upon all its expenses
The change in the automobile law
was made on the recommendation OF
the Davenport tax committee for the
purpose of greater efficiency and for
conveniencing motorists all over the
State.
The County Clerks are allowed II
cents for each pair OF plates they dis
tribute. The money comes from the
/ 90 per cent. OF the automobile tax re.
turned to tie counties The extra
| nx 70 ho l..
In only few instances have any OF
them had to engage an extra clerk
because Of the work.
The Miller economies are actual saw
lings of many millions OF dollars that
cannot be dismissed with vague allu-
sions to few thousand dollars spent
somewhere else. Unless Chairman
Pell can show explicitly where the
Miller savings to the State taxpayers
have cost other taxpayers an equal
amount, dollar for dollar, Il Is petit
fogging Of him to chatter about petty
sums here or there. It is not as
worthy of him as his frank, manly
stand against the bonus was.
| Under Governor Smiths administra-
ton the appropriations went up very
heavily; under Governor Millers they
have gone down. 1t was under Smith
that they got up to the point from
which they have been pulled down by
| Governor Miller. Smiths ran up In
1919 to $95,s4o,OoO from ss1, ,525, 900 in
1918; and in 1920 further to s145,-
100000. 1t was under Smith in 1919
20 that the appropriations we're made
for the fiscal year OF 1921, ending with
June of that year, for which year they
reached the high water mark of s145,-
79S,000.
The close of Chairman Pell's letter
indicates that he grasped at the ex-
pcnditure opportunity merely as an
excuse to turn loose his personal lib
erty propaganda, which he does much
bctter.-ED.