New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-02
PREPARING A SHARP REMEDY.
BILL TO PUNISH EXTRAvAGANT STATE
OFFICIALS

Albany. Feb 1-Senator Higgins. chairman or
the Senate Finance Conmttee. stated tonight
that he had under consideration the frame
work Of a bill which will make It m.sde-
meanor for any State official to expend more
money than is appropriated by the Legislature
for the support Of his Department. Other Sen
ators also IL is said. are at work on such
bill. which undoubtedly will owe It's origin 10
the deficiency Of S2070O0 in the office Of the
superin tendent Of Public Buildings, the shortage
OF 100000 In the Office Of the superintendent
OF Public Works and the smaller deficiencies in
the Offices Of the State Treasurer and the Com
missioner Of the Capitol
For many years. it is said there has been a
law on the statute books that any public Off
cial would render himself liable to removal II
he exceeded hts appropriations but X has been
a dead letter It was passed in the days OF
Governor Ti.den when some State officials OF
his time had exceeded their appropriations.
Some stronger remedy than removal is evi-
dently needed.
One Of the suggestions made to-day for the
correction Of the evil was that the States fiscal
wear should begin on January /, and not on
October l. It is argued that such a change
would prevent such actions as those OF the last
State Treasurer, Addison B. Colvin. who on
the saiaries Of most of his employees. and thus
greatly embarrassed John p JaeckeL who as
eurned Office on the first Of the year Mr. Col
Gin had control Of the funds of the Office for the
three months from October /. II the fiscal year
had begun on January AIr. Jaeckel would have
found at his command every cent appropriated
nv the Legislature OF 1895, for the support OF
hts departrnent Mr. Jaeckel. II is stated. has
not money enough TO hire a stenographer.
state Senator said to-nisht:
y have advised Mr.. Jaecke 10 reduce the sal
aries in his Office to the level they were on be-
fore they were increased by Mr.. Colvin. can
not understand why Capitol paymaster should
have been appointed in the person OF Carl :.
Burr IT, at a yearly salary of 3OOO Tor II is
notorious that this officer has had nothing 10 DO
st,ca the Capitol was completed II was the un-
de-starling In the Senate last year tnat Delcour
{ Potter was to be the last Capitol paymaster'
and I understand that n was paid OF and his
Office virtually discontinued. cannot lea.h why
II was revived, for II is an absolute slnecure
The Senate Finance Committee. It Is reported
will Immediately introduce dehciency OIL .loi
tre sunerintendent Of Public Buildings. and
some Of the members are trying 20 iiN its exact
amount Some more debts OF the Department
were discovered yesterday II is aid The d.
Aciency appears to be anywhere from S-OO'oOO
r, IS nosslbie that the Flna1ce Committee will
not Introduce the G~..cienctDbill until the Gov
ernor has sent TO the Legislature his special
,oeesaye on the subject The Governor has been
busy In his inner room at the Capitol for several
davs il is believed in the preparation Of his
message which. it is thought viii be submitted
10 the Legislature early next week.
Harry H. Bender the new Superintendent Of
Public buildings assumed charge of his Depart
roant to-day. and Immediately started on the
path Of economy by dismissing six alleged clean
IS Tho cleaners OF the past have not cleaned.
Most Of them have been political heelers who
have not seemed 20 think that they owed the
state any work for its money A Few women
with mops would have been worth huhoreo Oh
fh,rn