New-York tribune., 1895-09-12
SAVES THE STATES MONEY
MORE INSTANCES OF CONTROLLER ROB-
ERTss ECONOMY.

"A
BUYING OF SUPPLIES FOR STATE cHARITA-
BILE INSTITUTIONS AND THE RESULTS
HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE.
Albany Sept. II (speciaD.-James A. Roberts the
Republican State Controller. It will be remembered
had the pleasure OF announcing about a week ago
that as the result OF systematic work among the
corporations OF the State by the Controllers De-
partment when their State taxes came due. the
States income from this source this fiscal year
would be Increased by at least t56,cO and possibly
bv s2NO0 and that this would be the largest
amount collected from them since lss3 when certain
OF them paid large taxes that were subsequently
paid back 10 them rebates. mistake haVlhg
been made IN taxing them. Last year S.6i5cn was
collected from the corporations. Thus far Win
half month remaining Of the fiscal year the sur,
Of Ns0l. 800 has been collected. The increase Will
probably be $4,000.
The Republican party also will be able to point
with legitimate satisfaction In the platform Wnicn
II will adopt at Saratoga next week TO another
achievement OF Controller Roberts. namely a re-
duction in the cost of maintaining Charitable ana
reformatory institutions OF the State amounting
to $4,000.
NEW SYSTEM OF BUYING.
About fifteen years ago Frederic P Ocott, DEM
ocratc Controller attempted 10 get In his hands the
supervision cf the expenditures OF various cnaritaoe
institutions OF the State. believing that he could
greatly reduce their outgoes MT. Olco't ldheu III
this aim but Mr.. Roberts succeeded In persuading
the Legislature of 1894 to give him the authority
He also believed that he could save the taxpayers
a large amount OF money. The institutions which
| thus came under his guardianship as the nnancia'
| officer OF the State were the Asylum for Feeoie-
| Minded Women in Newark. the Asylum FOR Feeble
| Minded Children In Syracuse. the Northern New
York Institution for Deaf Mutes at Malone. the
Home State Custodial Asylum. the Thomas Asylum
for Indian Children In Versailles, the House OF
Refuge for Women in Hudson the state Industrial
School I'm Rochester. the House OF Refuge in ran
| dalrs Island, the State School for the biind IN
Batavia. the Soldiers and Sailors Home IN Batn
the Elmra Reformatory and the Western House oil
Refuge for Women in Albion.
These asylums each had separate financial
| system They bought their supplies separately Lo-
cal dealers in the places in Which the asyums were
situated had an advantage. Mr.. Roberts at once
, had careful estimates prepared by each asylum
and submitted to him monthly. stating what coal.
meat, cloth, hardware and other articles were heed-
ed by them. His clerks then inspected every Item
and the Controller would refuse to consent 10 an!
Of them which he deemed extravapant. He com.
| peed the asyIunis to buy at wholesale rates. Yet
| he did not scant them in regard 10 me luathlH
! The quality of the goods was in many instances
improved ana yet they were bought at lower prices
| The managers OF these institutions are nearly an
men OF a high character. and as soon as tney per
celved that Mr. Roberts, aim was Simply Ply ina. %.
| Of the State they acquesced In what he had done
| and cOTualy alueu HHl
THE WORK OF YEAR
Mr. Roberts organized his Bureau Of Charitable
Institutions on October !. 1894 IL has thus peeh IN
| operation nearly year. He has reduced the per
| capta cost of supporting the 800 inmates OF the
asvums in his financial charge from s226 to ss5 a
| wear This saving has been made without any sac
TGs snancs as p2osSe a2 hs fHay can
| furnish their inmates The asylums nave h3t peen
compelled to purchase 9wer b have been as
| sisted TO obtain the same or better quaut( AZ q
lower price standard articles Of textile faorcs
| There some instances where the ,oit' oii, ,
Obliged to assist 10 ssc
| they could possibly buy them TINS statement mt ~
Guides Western beef, -four potatoes app'es ou,,r a
| niher articles OF merchandise IL Is the desire o
Mr. Roberts together the purchasss OF -. ,n,
| successful must have the cordial cooperation VI
| the managers Of all the asylums
SOME SIGNIFICANT FIGURES.
pu,,er was costing the asylums on the average
,wenty-nye cents a pound. but the State Is nov
having less than twenty cents pound for the bes
creamery butter Fresh beef averaged over ter
cents a pound, but the average price to-day Is un
der seven and three-quarter cents. and II ls gooc
beef Sugar for the various institutions average
heretofore a trihe over Ave cents pound. Now
when the Sugar Trust has complete control OF m
market Is rne iefs Than nve cents pohh5
bought It's milk al less rate than sixteen cents
gallon. Now there is not an institution which pay
more than fourteen cents. These are some or IN
Indications OF the economies rractised and enforced
The reduction OF the cost OF maintaining these IN
stitutions would be far greater II the controile
also had the authority to restrict expenditure fo
buildings and alleged improvements. The Stat
State Hospitals for the Insane and the Controlle
ought 10 have II over the minor charitable insti
tutons.