New-York tribune., 1922-10-31
Smith Denies
Graft i'm His
Labor Board
Quotes Letter From Miles
NJ. Dawson, Counsel al
inquiry Of Commission,
in Opening Speech Here
Attacks Albany Address
Says Miller Didn't Reply
to Accusation of Grip
piing Industrial Laws

Opening the final week of the cam.
paign with his first speech in the
greater city, Alfred E. Smith denied
last night Governor Miller's charge
that graft fiourishcd in the Industrial
Commission while Smith was Governor
In support Of his denial, Mr.. Smith
read to those who heard him in the
Ncwtown High School. Elmhurst
queens, letter from Miles M. Daw.
son, who was employed by lGovernor
Hughes as actuary in the insurance in
vestigaticns in 1906 and was counsel
IN the investigation of the Industrial
Commission to which Governor Miller
referred In his charges
Mr.. Dawson said that, although he
was n Republican, he considered 1t his
duty to write "the plain truth" to Mr.
Smith in regard to the investigation,
which, he said, disclosed nothing that
indicated to the slightest degree dis
honesty or incompetence on the part of
Thomas l.. Curtis, Deputy Commission
er in the Smith regime. Curtis was re-
moved by Governor Miller.
The former Governor told his audi
enee that he had charged Governor
Miller, in all parta of the state, with de-
stroying the efficiency of the labor laws
and the workmcn's compensation act
by starving tho Labor Department in
the matter Of adequate appropriations,
and pointed out that organized labor,
women in industry and all those in
sympathy with them throughout the
state have deeply resented the Cover
nors attitude toward this state de-
partment.
Says Miller Hasn't Answered
FINALLY, in the Capital CITY on Sat
urday night Of last week." said Mr..
Smith, "hc makes the remarkable ex-
planation Of the whole proceeding by
referring to my failure to remove a
man in that department by the name
Of Curtis, who, I am informed was
in the employ of the Compensation
Commission since it's inception. II that
is his answer and the only one that
he can make 20 what have charged
in all parts of the state it would be
infinitely better for his canvass that
he refuse to speak about it entirely,
because information that comes to ME
by letter from Mr.. Dawson not only
takes sharp issue with the Governors
expressed Judgment Of Curtis but de-
nies in toto what the Governor hes
formed as his own conclusion. Among
other things Mr.. Dawson says:
"'My attention has been called to
Governors Miller's speech crticising
you for failure TO remove Deputy Com
missioner Thomas J. Curtis, of the
State Industrial Commission, by rea-
son of disclosures before your Com
jeremiah +. Conner, who
investigated the operation of the
Workmen's Compensation law.
Gas counsel, ! conducted the in
quiry before Mr., Connor. Though a
Republican, I think it is my duty to
write you for such use as you care
to make Of it, the plain truth--that
there was absolutely nothing dis
closed in the investigation which in
dicated in the slightest degree dis
honesty or incompetence on the part
of Mr.. Curtis.
"'The whole evil disclosed before
Mr.. Connor was directly attributable
to the vicious provisions of the law
and to practice Of allowing the com
mutation of claims for temporary dis
ability in the form of so-called final
settlements, by means of which claim
ants were induced by insurance COM
panies to take lump sum rather than