New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-03
SEARCHING FOR DEFICITS.
GOVERNOR TRYING TO ASCERTAIN DE-
PARTMENTAL CONDITIONS.
SENATOR HIGGINss LETTER TO VARIOUS
HEADs-ENGINEER's FORCE REDUCED.
Inv TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE J

HEADS r-vc1NEER's FORCE REDUCED.
Inv rrrEGnArH To THE TRIBuNE'l
Albany, Fob p-Governor Roosevelt, through
senator Higgins is to all appearances seeking
TO gain an idea Of the number Of state Depart
ments which have deficits or prospective deficits
the circumstance that tho Department of Public
buildings &c S2O7 600 behindhand. the Depart
mont Of Public Works without 100000 which
it ordinarily has to carry on its operations,
deficit Of $4,000 in the office of the Commission
Of tbe now Capitol and the State Treasurer so
embarrassed for funds as to be unable to hire
n stenographer. having undoubtedly led the
Governor and Senator Higgins TO take this ac-
ton. Yesterday Senator Higgins sent out the
following letter to the chief Of every State De-
partment state Bureau and state Commission:
Senate Chamber.
Albany y. Y. February l. 1879.
Dear Sir If there are any deficiencies In your
Department for the year ending october l. Inoo'
or nrospective deficiencies for the year ending
October | 1899 the same should be reported 10
the Finance Committee Of the Senate at once.
and you will greatly oblige me by so doing l
FRANK W. HIGGINS.
ENGINEERS FORCE CUT DOWN.
State Engineer Bond could reply to this let
ter that his predecessor. Campbell W. Adams in
the brief period Of three months since the fiscal
year began. on October l. 1898 had so exhausted
the general fund appropriation Of S3OVO, that
Mr. Bond now finds that he has only Slo5oo OF
this fund for the remainder 90 the year. Mr..
Bond SAYS that the Withdrawals from the gen
eral fund were due to Mr.. Adams's desire to
prepare plans for work 10 be done under special
appropriations, and he expects that the money
Will be returned TO him as soon as these special
appropriations are put in use. Until these APP
proprations become available Mr.. Bond con-
sders It his duty to keep his force small ana
therefore has given n leave Of absence without
pay to thirty-six of his employees. He Will thus
be able to save 1924 day or more than S3OOO
a month. Resident Engineer Morris. Of tho
middle division has also resigned. and his place
with its salary Of 5000 a month, will not be filed
for time The eastern division Of the canals
Of the State will also be left without a resident
engineer for some time.
POSSIBLE REINsTATEMENTs.
Some Of the changes which are now being
made in the State Engineers Department may
be considered part OF a scheme to put the De-
partment in more efficient hands. The Canal
Commission testimony indicated that the state
would have saved thousands Of dollars granted
to canal contractors under the S0,ON,oU inn
provement If some Of the engineers OF the De-
partment had been more vigilant and observant
Some of the men who recently received leave Of
absence without pay may, however, be rein
stated as soon as the work grows brisker in the
Department. State Engineer Bond feeling that
in their cases they should be retained capable
men. on January Mr. Bond wrote the fol-
lowing letter:
January e. 1890
Clarence p. Angle. Secretary Civil Service Com.
Dear Sir: I beg to inform you that have
this day granted a leave Of absence without
pay 10 the following employees in this Depart
rnent. the same To take effect on the 9th inst:
Eastern Diyision-Douglass Cornell, assistant
engineer; Foster r. Morss. assistant engineer;
G. w Trumbull ASSISTANT engineer; +: 5. Strong.
leveler: Seth Van Loan. leveller: c. NJ. Pepson.
rodman: O. j. Dempster rodman: r. NJ Booth.
chairman. Parkes D. Wendell. chairman; Will
lam Van Epps chairman; Frank Lutz, chain
man; Henry F. Smith. chairman; George Nc
Donald chairman
Middle Division w. J. Towne, assistant
gineer: NJ. b. Palmer. assistant engineer; +. w.
Sarr. leveller; +. G. Clark leveller; D. f. Whit
ford chainman W II. Porter, chairman 3. T..
Turnbifl1 chanman J. II. Schimmel. chairman:
II. s. Van Nalkenburg. chairman, j. c. Mulvi-
Western Division A. sommer leveller;
George f. Lore. leveer; Joseph p. Barrett.
leveler. James s. Cook. chairman H. II. Al
bright. chairman; F. II. Lomax chairman.
Respectfully, +. a. BOND,
State Engineer and Surveyor
MIR SUMMERS ANSWER.
The Superintendent Of Public instruction.
Charles r. Skinner. has sent as reply to Sena-
tor Higgins's letter asking him II he has any
deficiencies. the following letter. declaring that
he has none.
Hon Frank ". Higgins Senate Chamber Capt.
tOl.
Ny Dear Senator: | am in receipt Of your
communication Of February !. ! shall not ask
for any items TO cover deficiencies i'm apprO-
prations heretofore made for this Department
For the last two or three years. have tried
10 bring my Department expenses within the
amounts appropriated by the Legislature. and
whenever the items % appropriation have not
been sufficient 10 cover the work which. In my
judgment. was necessary, ] still thought II was
the province Of the Legislature 10 determine now
much should be done. barring. Of course. some
sudden emergency that was not contemplated
at the time the appropriations We're made.
Therefore. while it may seem 10 you that
have sometimes asked for something in excess
Of former appropriations. | am quite sure II is
in the line Of good government to present the
claims to the Legislature and obtain their judg-
ment upon it before the expense Is incurred
Yours respectfully
CHARLES v. SKINNER
State Superintendent
MOTT AT Mp M0RTO\S REOT'ECT