Evening star., 1928-03-18
NATIONAL POLITICS
T|NGE SMITH ACTS
Governors Eye Turns More
and More to Houston,
Observers Believe.

| Special Dispatch to Tho Star.
ALBANY. March 17.--With the sum-
ming up Of accomplishments. results
and activities OF the 1923 legislative
session at hand-adjournmen Is less
than week away---comes the rcaliza-
tion that New York State has been en-
ioying since January probably the most
nationally minded session In Its history.
as far as pure politics are concerned.
It had to be, with Alfred E. Smith, out
standing candidate for the Democratic
presidential nomination, In the gov
ernors chair, and Republican ma
jority controlling both houses OF the
Legislature.
Yet this is in the face Of oft-repeated
avowals on the part Of both execu-
tive and legislative branches that the
governor and legislative leaders have
had their eyes solely on the business
Of New York State and have never
| thought of June conventions or Fall
elections from a national angle.
The attitude on the part of the legis-
| lators has been fairly obvious. Never
| has there been greater disposition TO
steer clear Of controversial subjects
I which might rebound to the credit OF
Gov. Smith. As for the governor. he
has several times declared in substance:
Il have given my time this year
! solely to the Job Of being governor, and
do not intend to do anything but
that"
National Angle Seen.
| Nevertheless, there have been several
| things up during the session that
seemed to have a national political
| flavor. and the governors hackers ap-
parently have been permitting no grass
| to grow under their feet.
The governors first message to the
| Legislature two months ago did not
| contain any new recommendations, but
it did 90 into an exhaustive survey OF
| his claims of accomplishments during
his three previous terms.
Clearly for national consumption,
was the Republican comment.
Two or three matters have very re-
Gently been handled by the governor in
a way which Is taken to mean that at
| least he is not blind to Houston pos
| sibilities. One came out just this week
| at the time OF the passage in the Sen
ate of four bills to broaden materially
the field Of authorized investments for
savings banks in New York.
The Democratic floor leader OF the
Senate. Bernard Downing OF New York
! City. spokesman for the governor IN
| the unper house. started out by raising
objections to the bills when they came
up for debate. He voted against three
OF the bills but switched to an affirm
ative vote on the fourth--a bill de-
| signed to permit banks to invest in the
securities Of certain municipalities.
OF Interest to Nation.
It was understood generally that the
governor was responsible for Senator
Downing's change Of heart and the
significant fact in connection with the
incident was that this bill was OF
particular interest TO various COM
Another indication OF Gov. Smiths
attitude OF at least having an ear to
the ground for national rumblings was
seen in his handling the criminal charges
made agaist Mrs. Florence E. S. Knapp,
former secretary of state. In connection
with her conduct OF the 1925 State CEN
sus. The district attorney OF Albany
County had dropped the charges, AL
leging four felonies, virtually with the
acquieScence OF the governor. But when
surprisingly bitter storm OF public
protest came against such action. the
governor quickly called upon the at
torney general to present the evidence
before grand jury.
The Republican State Committee pub
licity bureau has not been slow In
emphasizing every possible contrast be-
tween Coolidge economy" and Smith
extravagancs. 1t has frequently been
pointed out that the present 1897, ,3l7 900
State debt is largely due to abandon
ment by the State under Smith of the
Republican pay-as-you-go policy for the
Smith program OF bond issues for per-
manent public Improvements.
Friends Defend Budget.
But II the governor Is mum on finances
from national viewpoint, there
are many close to him who are cor
reSpondingly active. They are prepar-
Ing to show that although the States
budget has doubled under Gov Smith,
this Is not a sign OF extravaganza. but
a brave facing OF inevitable growth OF
expenses with growth OF the States
activities.
Most direct reference TO national pol
tiles here was the recent statement OF
Controller Morris s. Tremaine that
he at least OF Smiths administration
expects to deal at length in the course
of the next six or eight months" with
n comparison OF national and New York
State finances.
THOMAS c. sTOWELL.