The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-01
EASToY'S BIG SHORTAGE.
LTEUT.-GoV. WooDRUFF nm NOT RE-
FORT IT IN 1927,

FORT IT IN 1927,
hut Says Now That It Has Existed Sine,
1898. when Easton Took Charge-Hi
Predecessor Denies This-Reduction o
Expenses Begun in other Departments
ALBANY. N. Y. Jan. 31.-Lieut.- Gov. Tim
othy l.. Woodruff. who investigated the az
fairs Of the state Department Of Public Build
ings under Mr.. Easton's administration In
1897. was asked by Gov. Roosevelt to-day
to explain why the present deficiency In
that department, which is alleged to have
been a legacy 10 MIR. Easton from former Su.
peIintendents. was not discovered at that
time, This query was occasioned by the state.
ment made by the Lieutenant Governor to.
day that when Mr.. Easton first assumed office,
on Feb. /. 1895. q deficiency existed In tho de.
partment funds and that this deficiency had
been gradually growing larger until It has
reached It's present sum OF over 5000 600. The
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT statement lie denied alb.
solutely by Michael Delehanty. the father-in-
law Of United States Senator Edward Murphy.
Jr, OF Troy. Mr.. Delehanty said tonight:
THE statement OF Lieut.. Gov. Woodruff that
when l turned the Public Buildings DEPART
ment over to Mr.. Esston in 1895 n deficiency
existed. Ia untrue. l transferred the affairs of
the department to Mr.. Easton at a correspond
ing period in that fiscal year to that in which
he is now delivering 1t to Mr.. Bender. For that
fiscal year ending Oct. 1. 1895. I had an appro-
%priSt,ion nm to meet the he ss55BPSsPnsSsHs Of w ths depart
to MIR. Easton between Si40.0G0 and Si50.OOO.
which he had to run the department for the
r ran the de eaGfT %Gn one. Il fnHt y S' the y eaT'o oG
ONCE not a single dollar Of unpaid bills was
Mr.. Easton was devoid Of any possible claims
Of indebtedness,
in the Department Of Public Buildings l never
exceeded my yearly appropriation, and II 10
unjust to me now in my old age for Lieut.; Gov.
comings in his defence Of Mr.. Easton Nv
charging, Mr.. Easton's troubles to a deficiency
During the legislative session of 1897
charges Of extravaganee were preferred by
Senators against Mr.; Easton's department.
Of State Public Buildings TO Investigate. This
hoard then comprised Coy Black, Lieut. Gov,
speaker Of the State Assembly For some rea-
son or other the main work Of the investiRa-
ton fell upon the shoulders of Lieut.; Coy.
Woodruff. He employed the experts to de-
termine whether the furniture and furnish
inRs of the Capitol purchased by Mr.; Easton
stated wsfe te eSiaSV tRa, Where a' ST. ..050 had BS een api
propriated for such furniture and furnishings
Mr.. Easton had exceeded. the appropriation
Investigation OF charges Of extravaganza. in
Mr.. Easton's department did not state that
port said I'm view OF the large expenditure
made by the Superintendent Of Public Build
ings.(Mr. Eastonl the Trustees OF Public Build
inRs deemed II advisable that an Investigation
be made of his books. The books were ac-
cordingly'examined,at the request of the Trus-
accountants OF New York city. who report that
they found the books correct
Gov; Roosevelt saw Col. Partridge, the State
noon and afterward stated that he had gone
over with the SUPERINTENDENT the whole mat;
to carry on the department. The Governor
said the deficiency was not nearly as serious
as IN the, Department Of Public Buildings, and
he Observation-Disclosures Partridge could got
along without going to the Legislature for a
deficiency appropriation.
Superintendent Partridge to-day discharged
twenty-threc employees of his office and:along
the line OF the canal WHICH will effect a saving
IN IL salaries OF S2i 20 Most OF the men dis
borers and special agents. The more impor-
tapt position :made. vacant were those OF Col.
ent of the Western Division Of the Erie Canal;
Charles Tracy, financial clerk. and T. l. Har-
Gov. Roosevelt stated to-day that S%uperin-
tendeut Bender had cut off the "sunburst' Of
five or six thousand electric light from the
the fourth floor Of the Capitol. The discon-
Meeting Of these electric lights would mean a
The Governor said he also understood there
was a deficiency in the department Of the Cap
itOl:Commissioner and that he had sent to SEN
ator Higgins. Chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee. to ask about it. He did not know
the amount Of the deficiency. From the ex-
perience of Messrs. Partridge and Bender the
Governor thought there was room for a con-
siderable cutting dOwn of employees in some
OF these departments.
The Governor stated TO-DAY that in the case
Of the removals thus far made the employees
have come to him and - others concerned in
attempts to get back. He said it must be an
nounced that when a person was removed he
not he taken back. This must be the
rule in all cases. In the Department of Pub
lie Buildings. the Governor says. that il there
be a % per cent. reduction in expenses for the
remainder OF the present fiscal year there will
vet be a deficiency of 100000 on Oct. ! next.
the end of the fiscal year.