New-York tribune., 1922-10-18
Miller Refutes
Politics Charge
In Road Maxine
Highssay Chief Net Ke-
moved. bu. Quit ON Re-
qfaest, as Governor Be-
lieved Work Isaef1icienf
Contrasts Smith Record.
Adversary BuiIt Fewer Miles,
ON Bonds Than I, Pay,
ing Cash. He Asserts
Frors star corrsspoudsnt,

ELMIRA, NJ u, Oct. H.. RepIying
tonight to Alfred Smiths charge that
the present administration disrupted
the Department of Highways by remov-
ing Colonel r. Stuart Greene. iss head,
purely for patronage reasons. Governor
Miller for the first time told; the full
story off the reasons for this act, and
revealed the fact that he had been
prompted to the step by discovering
that the department had been run
alphabetically and inefficiently under
the Smith administration.
The townspeople OF Elmira and Mil
Ter supporters from Chemungs County
turned out we'll Tor the Governor,
1900 Of them packing the Mozart
theatre TO the doors, and their approval
of the speakers explanation OF what
actually happened in the Highway De-
rartn,eBt, rs we'll as of what that bu-
reau, after it's reorganization. has done
for the outlying districts of tfie. county
In the way OF providing good roads, was
warmly manifested by prolonged APP
plause.
Dir. Smith has referredsto the High
way Department, and as that very we'll
illustrates how the state government
was run under him and how it is now
being run, and also sheds much light
upon the business methods, now, in
force, am very glad to discuss it. all
though he seems to think that it would
be a. poser" said the Governor. ale
charges, first, that | removed Oommis-
sioner Greene in high handed fashion.
! did not remove Commissioner Greene
During the campaign of 1920 the then
Ioyerfor Smith and Comm issieneF
Greene happened to be on the same
train with me, and Commissioner
Greene voluntarily stated to me that
he believed. in view of the Importance
of the Highway Department and Of the
great amount of work under cortem.
piation, that the department., of ALI
state departments, should be run i'm
conformity to the views of the Gov
ernor, and said that if / were elected
his resignatio would be at my, dis
posay on January l.
Resignation Accepted
ION January / / sent for Commits
sionerf Greene and asked him if he was
still of that mind. He said that he did
not wish to volunteer a resignation,
but that IL | would ask him for his
resignation it would be at my disposal
I hat was simple thing TO do, and, as
/ had decided that for the best inter
est of the state and the development of
its highway system change was
needed in the methods being pursued, [.
did ask for and received Colonel
Greene's resignation"
Now. 1t may be possible to fool
somebody about the cost of govern
ment, because, though figures do, not
lie, ali sorts of people can figure. But
the Highways Department is the one
department in the state government.
which,, of all others, is under. the eyes.
OF the people. Mr.. Smith may assert
as often as he pleases that the cost of
government is still going. up, and may
fool some people in that assertion, but
whether or not the Highways Depart
ment has been we'll managed, and how
II has been managed in comparison
with the preceding administration, are
we'll known to the people of this state.
It's work is done under the eyes of the
people everywhere, and / am willing to
take their verdict.
II will state, however, few facts.
Mr.. Smith has, in feeble attempt to-
explain some of the increases in the
cost of government under him, assert
ed that construction work had been
completely suspended during the war,
and that therefore his administration
was compelled to make up for the stop
rage of construction work. including
the highways incident to war condi-
tions The fact is that under the last
year: of his administration contracts
were let sor the construction of ITO
miles of Highways
Records Poorly Kept
@They kept their records in such
shape that 1t Is impossible to say ac-
cnrately just how many miles of high
ways were cosn eIeted that. year. We
can now tell 10 the exact milo how
many miles are completed each year
Approximately 800 miles of highways
were completed the last year Of Gov.
ernor Smiths administration, however
and contracts for ITO miles let. Las
year $50 miles of new highways were
completed and contracts were awarded
for 6l5 miles of additional highways
Under Governor Smith the highway
were being constructed, so far as the,
were being constructed. from bont
moneys, The bond moneys are nov