New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-18
GOV. BLACK FOR ECONOMY.
WASTE OF THE PUBLIC MONEY NOT TO
BE PERMITTED.
UsEr EsS CAPITOL EMPLOYEES DIsCHARGED-A
CONFERENCE TO ENFORCE RIGID RE-
TRENCHMENT- RAIDS on THE

| Iron THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE ]
Albany. Jan. lit sometimes improves a
State administration in certain respects to put
new man with ideas in charge Of 1t: and
the administration Of Frank S. Black as Gov
ernor OF the State gives promise of furnishing
new evidence in support Of this statement Mr..
Black certainly has instituted policy OF econ
omy which. II carried through all the depart
ments Of the State Government will separate his
administration in this regard from that of sev
eral Of his predecessors. There has been no
economical Governor In the Executive Chamber
since Alonzo b. Cornell stepped ont Of it at the
beginning Of 1SS' is true that by bookkeep-
Ing methods. by increasing indirect taxation and
by taking advantage Of a gift Of 50. JOO.OW from
the United States Government there have been
low State tax rates. Yet the appropriation bills
passed by successive Legislatures have grown
larger without check from successive Governors.
new State commissions have every year been
created. and the building OF new armorles. new
normal schools and new reformatores OF various
descriptions has been authorized Out Of debt
the State has plunged into It again by determin-
ing to experd 50, 900 600 in canal improvements.
Legislative committee has just recommended
that S1,0OO.OOO be at once expended in the pur
chase Of Adirondack lands. toward which $780,,
U,D was used only two years
THE GOVERNORS USEFUL. TRAINING
1t was at an opportune time. therefore. that
the voters Of the State, with that good fortune
they sometimes have reached forth and took
the man Of no fortune from his humble home
on the heights Of Troy and installed him in
the Executive Chamber. From the personal ex-
perence Of many years Of struggle to get on In
life. Mr. Black knew the value Of a dollar. He
had looked upon the misery in Troy caused by
the hard times of the last three years. He knew
the weight Of state and local taxes. for did he
not a little cottage Of his own in Troy?
Mr.. Black, therefore. sooner had been inau-
Rurated as Governor and had had time to look
about him In the State Capitol than it natu-
rally occurred to him that there was great
waste Of the pubic money in progress in that
building He is one Of the three Trustees of
Public Buildings, the other two being Timothy
L. Woodruff the Lieutenant Governor. and
James NJ. f. O'Grady, the Speaker OF the AS
sembly.
Mr.. Black had occasion to look the pay
rolls Of the Superintendent of Buildings and
found a surprisingly large number Of people
employed in the State Capitol. He thought that
such a large force unnecessary. and so told
Mr. Easton, the Superintendent Mr. Easton
told Mr.. Black that he right; that the force
was entirely too large. and said in explanation
that Republican politicians had crowded men
upon him during the late political campaign.
Mr. Black then went the list of employees
of the Capitol carefully and cut off 100 men
from the payrolls The taxpayers can rejoice
TO that extent
WELDED OUT WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
Mr.. Black made no discrimination in his
slaughter Of useless employees. There were a
good many men from his own county Of Rensse-
laer II they idle, and yet drawing pay
from the State they were dismissed. Nor are
they TO be brought back after the public has
heard this news The dismssas not for po-
ntIcal effect they permanent. Governor
Black is resolved that nc more men shall be en-
ployed about the Capitol than are needed. and
that no idle men shall be about the building.
The cost of maintaining the public buildings in
Albany last year 1893 600 Only two years
ago the cost Of maintenance was S2Oi,OOO. Mr..
Black thinks the increased cost of maintenance
has no lust reason, and he is determined that the
cost of orderly service and other service of little
nature in the Capitol shall be largely decreased.
Nor is this reduction to be limited the pay
roll OF the Department Of Public Buildings Mr..
Black is resolved to reduce the appropriations
wherever II can he done with wise economy in
every department Of the State government.
There is to be no niggardy treatment OF depart
ment appropriations. but there is to be economy.
This can be stated on authority. Mr.. Black Will
hold conference the present week with James
A. Roberts the State Controller; with Senator
Ellsworth. president pro TEN. Of the Senate; with
Senator Mullin. chairman Of the Senate Commit
tee on Finance; with Speaker O'Grady. and with
Fred Nixon. chairman Of the Assembly Com
mittee on Ways and Means The object Of this
conference will be 10 adopt measures in common
to keep down the States expenditures.
RUSH FOR THE TREASURY
Already large number OF appropriation bills
have been introduced I'm the Legislature. The
last week. on Thursday. there were presented
to the Legislature appropriation bills amount
ing to S1.5J29Il. and on Friday there were
other appropriation bills presented which would
bring up this total to S2,000.O0O Assemblyman
Brennan. of Kings County, for instance. wanted
S5OOOOO for now roads; Assemblyman Scherer.
of Albany proposed to eXpend SJOO.OOO on the
Capitol. senator I.amy had bill appropriating
S31l5.OOO for the ,4th Regiment Armory in Buff
falo Assemblyman Roehr of Brooklyn Sug-
gested that SlIOD he given to the Volunteer
Life Saving Corps. Senrtor Mullin wished TO
experd $1,000 in sending a commission to the
Centennial Exhibition OF Tennessee. Senator
Rurns desired 10000 for some improvements at
Sing Sing Prison and Senator Guy had bill
appropriating $4,000 for floating grain ele-
vatOrs at Buffalo.
lanes 4 Roberts the State Controller I'm his
annual report the contents Of which were re-
Gently disclosed to Governor Black. calls at
tention to the alarming increase of the States
expenditures in various directions AS the
financial officer Of the State Mr. Roberts's words
are entitled to great weight. and undoubtedly
Governor Black has been swayed by them in
his own keen desire for an economical admins
,ration one point that Mr.. Roberts makes with
especial vigor I'm his report is that special IN
vestigation committees Of the Legislature are
drifting into making exceedingly large expendi-
turas for counsel fees. and for stenographers |
foes In a comparatively few years the state
has expended the amazing sum Of SSol .Wrl upon |
,hnsa snecial investigation committees. Whether |
,ha STATE has gained that amount Of benefit !
from them some persons would doubt.
senator Mullin few days ago objected To !
tho rassaee Of n resolution authorizing an in |
,,os,icotion os TO the water supply Of New-York |
and Rrooklyn. II is possible that Senator Null |
lin thinks this work Of investigation can I've |
sar more choaplv done by commission APP |
,ninted hv the Governor and the Senate than |
bv a legislative committee
TRAIN WRECKERS AT WORK.