APPROVED. This bill makes an appropriation of $25,000 to continue work on Fulmer creek, at Mohawk, in the county of Herkimer, which work was started by the State some years ago. A mistake was made in ever appropriating any money of the State for this improvement, but the State having begun it the condition resulting from its failure to finish it is such as to leave the State liable for claims for damages growing out of flood conditions. Much as I disapprove of the policy of local improvements at the expense of the State, this one having been begun must be finished or the State must suffer heavy damages. The bill is, therefore, approved. (Signed) ALFRED E. SMITH. Making an Additional Appropriation for the Improvement of Limestone Creek in the Village of Fayetteville, Onondaga County STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920 Memorandum filed with Senate bill, Int. No. 914, Printed No. 1020, entitled: "AN ACT to amend chapter seven hundred and fifty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred and seventeen, entitled 'An Act to provide for deepening, widening, straightening and otherwise improving Limestone creek in the village of Fayetteville, Onondaga county, and making an appropriation therefor,' relative to the method of performing the work, and making an additional appropriation therefor." APPROVED. The State is already committed to this improvement by an appropriation heretofore made. If this work is to be done and the good faith of the State is to stand, this additional $6,000 must be added to the money already appropriated. The bill is, therefore, approved. Making an Appropriation for Completing Work in Protecting the Banks of Griffin Creek in the County of Allegany STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920 Memorandum filed with Senate bill, Int. No. 514, Printed No. 552, entitled: "AN ACT making appropriation for completing the work of clearing the channel and protecting the banks of Griffin creek, between the junction of said creek with the old Genesee Valley canal and a point on said creek approximately two thousand feet up stream and easterly from said junction." APPROVED. This bill makes an appropriation of $15,000 for completing work already begun by the State in protecting the banks of Griffin creek in the county of Allegany. What I said about the Fulmer Creek bill applies also to this bill. This improvement should never have been begun with State money, but the State having started the work must finish it. Already several claims have been filed against the State in the Court of Claims as a result of conditions that grew out of the uncompleted condition. of this work. The bill is, therefore, approved. (Signed) ALFRED E. SMITH. Making an Appropriation as the State's Share of Rebuilding Bridge Across the Hudson River Between the Cities of Troy and Cohoes STATE OF NEW YORK - EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920 Memorandum filed with Senate bill, Int. No. 1108, Printed No. 1766, entitled: "AN ACT providing for the reconstruction and rebuilding of the bridge crossing the Hudson river and barge canal and connecting the cities of Troy and Cohoes between the counties of Albany and Rensselaer; apportioning the expense thereof to the state of New York, the counties of Albany and Rensselaer and the cities of Troy and Cohoes; making an appropriation for the share of such expense to be paid by the state and otherwise providing for the payment of such expense." APPROVED. This bill makes an appropriation of $300,000 as the State's share of rebuilding a large portion of the bridge across the Hudson river between the cities of Troy and Cohoes which was destroyed by fire. Some time ago, the State, with the city of Cohoes, the city of Troy and the counties of Albany and Rensselaer, became partners in this bridge. It was acquired by the State in a condemnation proceeding, the State paying its share and the counties and cities paying their share as provided by statute. A railroad company operated a trolley line across it and paid for the privilege, the proceeds of such payments being divided equally between the State and the localities in partnership with the State. Its reconstruction is an absolute necessity, and while the localities stand ready to meet their share of the expense the State must meet its share. For the above reasons the bill is approved. (Signed) ALFRED E. SMITH. Making an Appropriation for Necessary Repairs to Bridge Across South Bay in the County of Washington STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920 Memorandum filed with Assembly bill, Int. No. 521, Printed No. 556, Senate Reprint No. 1842, entitled: "AN ACT to amend chapter five hundred and eighteen of the laws of nineteen hundred and twelve, entitled 'An Act to provide for the rebuilding of a bridge across South bay, in the county of Washington, and making an appropriation therefor,' in relation to the repair thereof, and making an appropriation therefor." APPROVED. This bill makes an appropriation of $5,000 to make necessary repairs upon a bridge across South bay, in the county of Washington, which bridge is the property of the State of New York and was built by the State. There is no other way in which these necessary repairs can be made, no appropriation having been made to any department. It stands by itself in the county of Washington as a piece of property that the State is obliged to take care of. The bill is, therefore, approved. (Signed) ALFRED E. SMITH. Amending the Education Law so as to Provide for the Training of Teachers in the Principles and Methods of instructing Foreign Born and Native Adults and Minors and Making an Appropriation Therefor STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920 Memorandum filed with Senate bill, Int. No. 1122, Printed No. 2047, entitled:, "AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to teachers of foreign born and native adults and minors over sixteen years of age, and making an appropriation for expenses." APPROVED. This bill authorizes and directs the Commissioner of Education to provide courses of study in normal schools and other institutions to train teachers in the principles and methods of instructing foreign born and native adults and minors over sixteen years of age in evening, extension, factory and community classes. I am advised by the State Department of Education that better results can be obtained in the instruction of the foreign born, particularly of adults, by training teachers in the principles of adult education in the adaptation of these principles to the foreign born, and in methods of teaching English to foreign-born adults and training them for citizenship. There can be no higher function of State education than such training for citizenship. The bill is, therefore, approved. (Signed) ALFRED E. SMITH. Amending the Education Law, in relation to Providing Courses of Instruction in Factories and Other Places of Employment to Foreign Born and Native Adults and Minors, and Making an Appropriation Therefor STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920 Memorandum filed with Senate bill, Int. No. 1119, Printed No. 2091, entitled: "AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing for educational extension facilities for foreign born. and native adults and minors over the age of sixteen years, relating to the employment of teachers, the payment of their compensation, and making an appropriation for expenses." APPROVED. This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Education to establish courses of instruction in factories and other places of employment for the purpose of giving instruction to foreign-born and native adults and minors over the age of sixteen, and permits a course of instruction which shall include English, history, civics and other subjects tending to promote good citizenship, and to increase vocational efficiency, and carries an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars for this purpose. I regard education as the best remedy for mistaken or false political conceptions. In the language of Thomas Jefferson: "Error of opinion may be tolerated when reason is left free to combat it," and the best way to meet the evils of ultra-radical agitation is with the reason which proper education supplies. This bill is recommended for approval by the State Department of Education, and I approve it. Making an Appropriation as the State's Share of Acquiring Toll Bridges Across the Delaware River Between this State and the State of Pennsylvania STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 20, 1920. Memorandum filed with Assembly bill, Int. No. 112, Printed No. 112, entitled: "AN ACT making an appropriation for the acquisition, and jointly with the state of Pennsylvania, of the rights, franchises and property of the several bridge corporations, municipal corporations, companies, partnerships or individuals owning or operating bridges across the Delaware river between this state and the state of Pennsylvania." APPROVED. This bill makes an appropriation of $125,000 as New York State's share toward taking over the toll bridges across the Delaware river between this State and the State of Pennsylvania. Some time ago the State entered into an agreement with the State of Pennsylvania to acquire these bridges. Pennsylvania has lived up to her obligation, and New York is in duty bound to do the same thing. Pennsylvania's money is available and waiting for the State of New York to make good it's end of the bargain. The bill is therefore approved. Amending the Highway Law, in relation to County Aid for Construction, Improvement and Maintenance of Town Highways STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER Albany, May 21, 1920. Memorandum filed with Assembly bill, Int. No. 1611, Printed No. 1933, entitled: AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to county aid for construction, improvement and maintenance of town highways." APPROVED. I do not fully agree with the provisions of this act. I believe that some system of accounting should be provided for so that the Highway Department will have some check upon the expenditures permitted under the provisions of the Highway Law. However, I am informed by the Highway Department that this act is necessary for the purpose of permitting the repair of motor trucks recently given to the State by the Federal Government and distributed among the counties and towns by the Highway Department; that unless this act becomes a law, there would be no provision for the repair |