Frank W. Clark, former managing editor of the Albany Knickerbocker Press and recently of the Binghamton Press, is now managing editor of the Syracuse Herald. Mr. Clark succeeds James E. Doyle who is assistant State superintendent of public works.

Harold McGrath a well known author and former Syracuse newspaperman is spending the summer at Cape Vincent on Lake Ontario. Mr. McGrath is a great fisherman.

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. will be the speaker at the celebration held in Lowville, August 2, in honor of the soldiers and sailors from Lewis county who served in the world war.

Jerome B. Fisher, former county judge of Chautauqua county and for the last thirteen years supreme court reporter of the State, died at his home in Jamestown, June 18, following a long illness, aged 68 years. Judge Fisher, has for more than 50 years been closely identified with the public and professional life of Chautauqua county. As one of the leading orators in western New York, his services have for more than a decade been in demand in political campaigns, although all the political preferment he has had was two terms as county judge for Chautauqua county and his present position of State court reporter. Born in the little village of Russell, Pa., February 13, 1851, Mr. Fisher came to Jamestown in his boyhood days and graduated from the Jamestown schools in 1872. He attended Cornell university, taught school during his college course, worked in a grocery and on a farm and eventually commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1878.

Godfrey Goldmark, who became chief counsel to the public service commission for the first district on January 1 last, has tendered his resignation to Commissioner Lewis Nixon. He is a member of the law firm at 120 Broadway organized by Col. William Hayward when the latter returned from France last February, under the firm name of Hayward, Clark and Goldmark, Major John Holley Clark, who served with Colonel Hayward in France is the other member of the firm. Mr. Goldmark came to the public service commission as secretary to Chairman Oscar S. Straus, and in quick succession became assistant counsel, chief counsel in charge of legal matters in connection with subway construction, and finally chief

counsel.

Clinton G. Abbott of the State conservation commission delivered an illustrated lecture at the Binghamton high school before members of the Broome county sportsmen's association during June. He explained the work of the commission on steam control, methods of combating forest fires, fish culture and reforestation.

3,000 signatures for candidates to be voted by all voters of State.

1,500 signatures for justice of supreme court, judge of court of general sessions, judge of city court, New York city, or any other office voted for by all the voters in a city of over one million inhabitants. 1,000 signatures for any office to be filled by all the voters of any other city of the first class or of any county or borough containing more than two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants.

500 signatures for any office in a county or borough containing more than twenty-five thousand and not more than two hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, or city of second class or any congressional or senatorial district.

250 signatures for any office to be filled by all the voters of any other county or any city of the third class or of any assembly district.

- Last day to decline designation.

Last day to fill vacancy after declination. Certification by secretary of state, to custodian of primary records, of designations filed in his office.

September 2 - FALL PRIMARY. Hours for voting in New York city: 3 p. m. to 9 p. m. Hours for voting outside New York city: 7 a. m. to 9 p. m.

September 8- Last day for custodian of primary records to certify result of election to secretary of state. Custodian must also furnish to secretary of state, on same date, names and addresses of nominees of various parties for justice of supreme court, representative in congress, State senator and member of assembly, where original designations were not filed with said secretary of state. August 26 to September 8- Dates for filing town nominations.

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September 13- Last day to decline town or independent nominations.

September 16-Last day to fill vacancy of town or independent nominations.

Board of elections or county clerk should immediately certify list of nominations together with address of nominees of all parties to secretary of state.

Registration

New York city. Personal registration. October 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-5 p. m. to 10.30 p. m. October 11 - 7 a. m.

to 10.30 p. m.

Cities and villages of 5,000 or more inhabitants (except New York city). Personal registration. October 10, 11-7 a. m. to 10 p. m. October 17, 18-7 a. m. to 10 p. m.

Outside of cities and villages of 5,000 or more inhabitants. Non-personal registration. October 11, 18-7 a. m. to 10 p. m.

November 4 GENERAL ELECTION. Polls open 6 a. m. and close 6 p. m.

Statements under Corrupt Practices Act and
Penal Law

November 14 Last day to file candidate's expense statements.

November 24 - Last day to file committee statements of expense.

Note. Candidates should file statements in accordance with the provisions of section 776 of Penal Law as follows: Where district is greater than a county, except districts in New York city, with secretary of state. In New York city candidates should file with commissioner of elections. Candidates for town, village or city offices should file with town, village and city clerks, respectively, unless there is no city clerk, then it should be filed with the clerk of the common council.

All committee statements of expense should be filed with the secretary of state.

George H. Whitney, former State senator from the Saratoga county district, has resigned as first deputy of the State narcotic drug commission.

In a lecture recently in Ithaca, Professor C. K. Burdick of the college of law, Cornell university, declared that he was in favor of the election of all judges. He said he had been opposed to their election but had changed his mind. The most important function of the United States courts, said Professor Burdick, is that of deciding the constitutionality of a statute, a judicial power unknown in England or France. The reason for conferring this great power was that the congress might be kept subject to the constitution. The power was not clearly defined until 1803, when Chief Justice Marshall decided that a statute conflicting with the constitution might be declared invalid. Since then we have had judge-made law added to common and statute law.

DEPARTMENTS

State Highway Commissioner Frederick S. Greene has abolished the position of chief clerk of the maintenance bureau in that department held by Joseph Curren. Commissioner Greene says that the position is no longer necessary. Mr. Curren is an expert in road building and during the Sulzer administration acted with John A. Hennessy as an investigator. His work resulted in indictments of road builders. During the administration he was engaged in collecting evidence on highway construction and presenting it to the court of claims. Commissioner Greene declared that there was no fault to find with the work of Mr. Curren but that he considered the place no longer necessary.

Walter R. Herrick, commissioner of narcotic drug control, has promoted Mrs. Sara Graham Mulhall of New York city to first deputy commissioner to succeed George H. Whitney of Mechanicville, the appointment taking effect July 1. He also appointed Fred Morrill of Sherrill, Oneida county, as second deputy commissioner.

Mrs. Mulhall's appointment is a promotion within two months, she first having been appointed third deputy commissioner. Mr. Morrill succeeds Dr. Addison T. Halstead. Dr. John Seeley of Woodhull is the third deputy commissioner.

Former State Senator George H. Whitney of Mechanicville, father of the act affecting State narcotic drug control, and first deputy commissioner of the commission which was created to enforce the law, severed his connection with that department on July 1.

"How can I get rid of those pesky ants?" is the wail going up from more than one housewife these days.

"I have tried everything, it seems to me," says one, "but nothing seems to work."

Those who have had this experience might try the following bait, says the New York State college of agriculture: 1 pound of sugar, of an ounce of arsenate of soda, and 1 quart of water. After the sugar has been dissolved in the water, add the arsenate of soda, boil the mixture, strain it, and allow it to cool.

Small sponges should then be dipped in this liquid and placed where the ants are found.

Great care must be exercised in handling this syrup, as it is poisonous.

Arthur Gibson, assistant dominion entomologist of Canada, also reports excellent results from the use of powdered sodium fluoride. This powder is applied by means of a small puffer, or dusted, from a bottle or box, into the cracks or crevices where the ants have their runways.

The demand for help is still on the increase, according to a statement made today by Daniel A. Hausman, superintendent of the State employment bureau. He said there was a large shortage of farm hands and many calls were being made due to the hay harvesting season. The summer resorts are continuing to call for female employes and Mr. Hausman said many hotel men had prophesied that 1919 would be the best year the mountain resorts have had for a long time.

Frederick Stuart Greene, commissioner of highways, has received notice from the Federal government that 108 motor trucks have been apportioned to New York State for use in highway work. The only cost to the State is the freight.

The State agricultural department is arranging to have five farm tractors and machinery demonstrations in various parts of the State this summer. The first is scheduled in Utica, July 24 and 25. The demonstrations will be for the counties of Onondaga, Oswego, Madison. Otsego, Herkimer, Lewis, Jefferson, Montgomery and Oneida.

The New York State law is said to be one of the most advanced in respect to the destruction of surplus and stray cats, and provides that any person over the age of 21 years, who is the holder of a valid hunting and trapping license, may humanely destroy a cat at large found hunting or killing any bird protected by law. Recognizing the value of birds to agriculture, the New York State college at Ithaca calls attention to the cat menace and quotes John Burroughs as saying that cats probably destroy more birds than are destroyed by all other animals combined, while A. K. Fisher of the U. S biological survey estimates that each year in New York State about 3,500,000 birds are killed by cats. Since birds eat insects and weed seeds there is a direct relation between their numbers and the production of food on farms. Fewer cats mean more birds and more crops. Farmers are therefore urged to take every possible step to get rid of the harmful and unnecessary cat.

The 1920 automobile plates for New York State will be in green and black, the background being a light pea green and the numerals being black, with the hyphenated effect. They will be the same size as this year's plates, but with slight changes which will prevent imitations on the part of unscrupulous motorists.