New-York tribune., 1901-11-04
ODEEL WORKS on MESSAGE
THE GOVERNOR Busy IN ALBANY WITH
AFFAIRS OF STATE INSTITUTIONS
Is LOOKING CAREFULLY INTO MAINTEN-
ANCE AND BUILDING ACCoCNTS-lN-
CREAsING COST OF INDECENT INSANE.


Albany. Nov. 9 CSpeciaD.-Governor Odel, after
visiting a large proportion Of the States institu-
tions and inspecting chief canals the Erie
and the Champlain has re-established his oH1clal
headquarters in Albany. He visits his family IN
NeHburg weekly. and pays visit occasionally 10
New-York. but the officials Of the State are aware
OF the fact that most of the days OF the week
lie is be found in his private apartments In the
Capitol
The officials have gained this knowledge Of the
Governors whereabouts partly through the re-
quests which have them recently from
him all documents bearing upon the admins
tration Of their departments in the last year
Then. again. they have learned that some persons
who have been in the Executive Chamber lately
have been told that the Governor is busy pre-
pairing his message" The message referred TO Is
Of course that which is annually addressed 10 the
legislature by the Governor in January reviewing
The States affairs and recommending legislation
A year ago the Governor studied documents and
had interviews with officials regarding State AFFAIRS
a his home in NevburG. and then wrote a message
which startled the people and aroused the legis-
lature action, greatly increased the States in
come from indirect sources. consolidated bureaus
and reduced the total outgoes for the support OF
the State government nearly 100000
1t is believed here that Governor Odell has
written any part of his message, but that he IS
busy analyzing public documents and thinking over
the information he gained while travelling about
the State that bears upon the statements made IN
these documents The latest Information regard
ing public institutions the of their buildings
and the number of their inmates. and the cost of
maintaining them. put in statistical form. is said
20 be especially under review at present by the
Governor. Those who have chatted with Mr.. Odell
concerning the States charitable institutions say
that it is from his thought to stint them
In any money they need 10 give humane care 10
the inmates Of these institutions. But as one eX-
pressed it who had talked with the Governor about
one kind State institution: There Will be less
friIls before in the administration OF affars
but the patients will be well cared for" This
NAV be interpreted mean that there will be no
expensive administration buildings" constructed
and that there viii be less useless ornamentatlon
to State buildings Frequently a local board OF
managers has seemed think lhe States build
.ngs should receive a touch Of splendor as an
adornment 70 the villages in which they may be
situated This is rather expensive luxury 10
the taxpayers Of the rest of the State. and II Is
doubtful If the present State Architect, George /,
Helms. has countenanced it.
One of the stories circulated in Albany last week
is that Governor Oden slipped away from the
capital city recently in company with State ArchI-
tect Helms and made personal inspection OF
some State buildings under construction. in order
10 learn the character of that construction and TO
form z Judgment upon the plan Of the buildings
The State has vast amount Of money locked up
81 its b7ildines-Seel7 III the hospitals for the
insane ss24l in charitable and reformatory in
stitutons" s42 25 Is in the buildings of the State
Prison Department s2.2S2523 2s in normal schools
and 4G7 armories-and therefore it is nat
\ ural that a Governor should take keen interest
fn the subject OF the repair and construction Of
State buildings.
II is believed that the Governor is looking
carefully into the maintenance account of the State
charitable institutions he is into their building
accounts For the year ended September 80 1900,
the following payments were made by the State
Treasurer the support of the institutions and
State bureaus indicated and for buildings: