New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-15
REDUCING STATE EXPENSES.
SOMD COMMISSIONS NAY BE ABOL-
IsHED AND OTHERS CONSOLIDATED.
SENATOR MULLIN TO. INTRODUCE REsoLU'
TON FOR INVESTIGATION BY SEN
ATE COMMITTEE GOVERNOR
FLOWERS POSITION.

FLOWERS POSITION
Albany, JAN 14-There Is a general feeling
among the Republican members OF the Legisia-
ture that strong movement should be made to
reduce the cost OF the State Government nota-
bly, that of the State commissions, which have
multiplied fast OF late years. each one with fuii
quota OF deputies. clerks, stenograI hers assist
ants and messengers There is no need in the
opinion Of leading Republican Senators and AS
semblymen, Of having these petty bureaus
equipped with the machinery of a big State De-
par,ment. A good many Of them also are OF
dubious value to the voters of the state, ana IL
is urged, should be abolished and the none!
they now cost retained in the State Treasury
Senator Mullin. Republican, of WATERFOWL TO-
morrow night will Introduce a resolution pro-
viding for an inspection Of the various state de-
partments and State commissions by a commit
tee Of the Senate. with the aim Of seeing IL ther
expenses cannot be reduced. whether some OF the
commissions cannot be abolished and others con-
sodated. Such resolution will come properly
from the hands Of Senator Mullin, since he Is the
head Of the Senate Finance Committee, and
charged as such, with supervision OF the APP
preparation bills of this Legislature
MY idea In presenting such a resolution said
IL
have careful investigation made by some Leg
islative committee as to the cost and worth Oh
each State department and State commission
There is suspicion. which think will be Juso-
fled, that many of these commissions are over
manned, and that some having analogous duues
to others might well be consolidated win thenl'
tn Us saving one set of servants Each one OF these
State commissions seems to think II need1ui 10
have as many employees as a full-fledged State
Department UnquestiCnably there Is a great
waste of the peoples money. but the Legisatuic
should not act bndy in the matter III snouiu
learn precisely what State departments anu
State commissions are eXtravagantly managed
and then reduce thei' expenses. mat VIII pc
the thought Of the investigating conlimttee.,o
learn where the axe of economy ought 10 lali.
In times of profound business depression IKE the
present IL is the duty Of the Legislature to keep
at low point the State tax rate and that can
be done by dismiss,ng all State employees VINO
not needed"
1t was rather expected that Governor Flower
might in his annual message 10 the Legislature,
under the circumstances of hard times" now
prevailing repeat the earnest words ne used III
1892 against the State commissions. and call
upon the Legislature to reduce the cost or main
tanning them. But Roswell =. Flower. no doubt,
has discovered that every one of these state
commissions has a Democrat as its chief ana
Democrats In all Of its clerkships. and that THESE
Democrats are active politicians; therefore he
will not speak q word for the taxpayer. Pos
sibly also. Mr. Flower Is conscious that he would
be embarrassed In talking loudly TO the Legis-
lature upon the subject Of economy. since during
the two years that he has been Governor he has
permitted the annual charge for the support OF
State commissions to be largely increased Inc
year before he assumed office in 1891. these
commissions cost 1863 1SS II. At the close Of 1892
they had cost for that year the sum of 75s6$ 81
an Increase of s206.675 &c. Mr.. Flower occasion
ally should look upon this comparative table
showing the cost Of the State commissions In
md