State Credit. In order to prevent public money from being used to sanction a vast mass of private enterprises in which public rights and public interests become the sport of speculators," the state is forbidden by the constitution to loan its credit to any private undertaking. The state, like the individual, refuses to allow any claims against it which have become outlawed by lapse of time.

Forests and Canals. Besides these provisions which have to do with its finances, the state is also debarred from making any disposition of its forests and canals. The preservation of the water supply is of such importance that forest lands owned by the state or hereafter to be acquired as part of the forest preserve must be maintained as wild forest lands. They may not be leased, sold, or exchanged, nor be taken by any corporation, public or private; nor can the timber growing there be sold, removed, or destroyed. In like manner, the state cannot sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the Erie, Oswego, Champlain, Cayuga, Seneca, or Black River canals; nor can it enforce any tolls on the persons or property which may be transported on them.

State Protection. The protection of the state against invasion and domestic violence is secured by making every male citizen between the ages of eighteen and fortyfive years residing in the state liable to military duty unless exempted by United States law or by the laws of the state. This body constitutes the militia. Members of local fire departments; local officers such as justices of the peace, county judges, and sheriffs; professional men such as doctors, ministers, teachers, and a few others are among those exempted by law from military duty. Those mentally or physically incapacitated are also exempted. This force has been partially organized by the legislature. The

organized land force is called the national guard; the naval force, the naval militia. The state must, according to the constitution (Art. XI, § 3, p. xlv), provide for a force of "not less than 10,000 enlisted men, fully uniformed, armed, equipped, disciplined, and ready for active service." The legislature has by law increased this number to 20,000, of whom 2000 are naval militia. The governor is commander in chief of this force. It is his duty to "appoint the chiefs of the several staff departments, his aides-de-camp, and military secretary," the officers commanding the naval militia, the officers of the signal corps, and, with the advice and consent of the senate, all major-generals. The legislature has provided by law for the appointment of the remaining officers. The national guard is commanded by a major-general; the naval militia, by a commodore or a captain. The organization of the national guard is left partly to the governor. The law, however, provides that a regiment shall consist of eight to twelve companies, troops, or batteries. All enlisted men must serve at least five While on duty they years. receive a compensation which varies from $1.25 to $2.00 a day. The officers are also paid by the day.

State Mounted Police. The legislature of 1917 authorized a department of mounted police consisting of four troops of fifty-eight men each and a headquarters force of five. The organization is known as The New York State Troopers. Barracks have been located near Albany, Batavia, Syracuse, and White Plains, with many sub-stations scattered over the state. A state police officer may pursue a criminal, operate upon a case, make an arrest, and exercise the full authority of a state peace officer in any city, any borough, any village, or any section whatever of the state. The state police cooperate with the departments of health, excise, and education; with the secretary of state; with sheriffs, district attorneys, and

societies for the prevention of cruelty to children and animals; and with automobile clubs and other similar organizations. State police made their first appearance at the state fair in September, 1917. By January 1, 1918, they had made over six hundred arrests, with ninety-five per cent resulting convictions. Their presence upon state highways, at fairs, in cities, and their patrol of the country generally, have done much to make life and property secure. To get in touch with the state police, call "Central" on your telephone and you will be put in communication with their headquarters in your district.

Corporations, Banks, etc. The state exercises definite control over corporations for the general benefit of the individual citizen. The term "corporation" is defined by the constitution as including all associations and joint-stock companies having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships. All corporations except municipal corporations are formed in accordance with general laws, except where, in the judgment of the legislature, the objects cannot be attained under general laws and are subject to a special tax for the support of the state. Municipal corporations are formed by special act of the legislature. The control over banks is especially stringent. Banks that issue paper money must register their notes and bills and provide ample security for their redemption in specie. The legislature is forbidden to enact any law authorizing these banks to suspend specie payment. If a banks fails, it must pay the holders of its bills in preference to any of its other creditors. The stockholders are personally liable for debts of the bank in proportion to their amount of stock. Savings banks are not allowed any capital stock, and the trustees are not allowed any interest, direct or indirect, in their profits nor in any loan or use of the

money. Thus the people of the state very definitely point out what may and may not be done by their representatives, retaining for themselves the ultimate control of their own affairs.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

1. Give in substance the provision of the constitution in reference to freedom of worship and of religious opinion; in reference to disfranchisement of citizens; in reference to damages for injuries causing death.

2. What is the greatest length of time for which agricultural lands may be leased? Why is this restriction made?

3. Give in substance the provision of the constitution in reference to opening private roads; to contracting debts on the part of the state; to the forest preserve; to tolls on the canals and the manner of providing funds for canal maintenance and improvement; to prison labor; to liability of stockholders of banks.

4. Describe the military system of the state.

5. Mention four classes of persons who are exempt from military duty. Give a reason for such exemption.

6. What is the provision of the constitution regarding the number of the militia that must be ready for active service?

7. Describe the militia of the state, touching on (1) persons composing it, (2) duties.

8. State the powers of the governor with reference to the militia. Has the president of the United States authority to call out the state militia? Give a reason for your answer.

CHAPTER X

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Organization. The state legislature, like the national legislature, consists of two houses, the senate and the assembly. This division can be traced back to colonial times, when the legislative power was divided between the council and the colonial assembly, but there is now no such reason for its continuation as exists in the case of the national legislature. Both houses of the state legislature are representative of the people in exactly the same way, and the qualifications for membership in both are the same. The term of the senator is, to be sure, longer than that of the assemblyman, but this difference in time is not sufficient to give added weight or dignity to the upper house. The chief difference lies in the fact that the senator represents a constituency three times as large as does the assemblyman. There is an important advantage in the two-chamber plan, however, in that more time is required for the passage of a bill through the two houses than through one. In this way the public is sometimes able to express its opinion in such a material way as greatly to influence legislation.

The Assembly. The number of assemblymen is fixed by the constitution at 150. These are apportioned throughout the state on the basis of population, aliens excluded. At the conclusion of each census the legislature immediately defines the boundaries of the new assembly districts; thus at each census the boundaries of the assembly