New-York tribune., 1909-10-04
NEXT CONTROLLERS JOB.
Municipal Research Bureau Urges
Citi2ens To Be Alert.

According 10 & report be issued to-day BY The
Bureau CT Municipal Research. the success or
failure ot the next city administration viii depend
largely On what the next Controller accomplishes
as director OF more than eight hundred and thirty
auditors. inspectors, Investigators, etc The report
maintains that no matter who New york's next
Mayor and other elective and appoiutive officials
may be, prediction pledges Of economy. efficiency
and honesty VIII certainly be broken" unless New
Torks next Controller takes each and al OF two
score steps which the bureau says Indispensable
70 learning and telling the truth about public
finances.
During the next administration the public win
place in the hands OF its trustees thousand million
dollars Tor knowing promptly whether these trust
funds are applied 70 proper uses or wasted and
diverted private and partisan ends there is only
one man responsible-Ihe Controller.
According 70 the bureau. the citizens OF New
York are not so much concerned who the next Con-
tr1Ler VIII be how the next Controller VIII ad-
minister his Office. The more definite the COM
u--iJys interest. the easier II viii be for the next
controller 10 do his duty and fulfil his pledges He
VIII inherit the means OF learning for himself and
for telling the public the truth about public busi-
ness
Moreover. he viii not only be able 10 learn
promptly who OF the employees in the Controllers
Office itself are efficient but VIII receive currently
evidence which justify the removal Of the in
curabIy inefficient, either among civil Service or
exempt employees The next Controller will not be
required 20 spend months IN obtaining information
wA.ch should be regularly and automatically
brought 70 his Official attention
He VIII have eight weeks notice OF what he must
undertake IL 1910. From the men he selects. from
The resolutions he approves and from the questions
be asks before signing his name the public VIII
learn at once whether he considers his trustzeship
personal or party opportunity rather than pub
r trust provided the public learns how 10 ask the
right definite questions.
-r -le past according 70 the bureau, the several
Controllers of The city have only in part performed
their charter duties. Consequently the subversion
~ funds the waste Of public moneys and the mis-
use ~ public opportunities which have IN the past
prevented the public from adequately protecting
rea Ira and providing for comfort and welfare.
should nor be charged solely 10 voluntary neglect
~ The par- Of past Controllers But even though
r past these results are II part attributable 70
detective organization, 10 bad methods which have
been inherited and practices which were difficult
re- overcome sl these methods and these practices
have always been within the charter power-in fact,
have been within the prescribed duties Of Control
le-s 70 correct
The bureau suggests that the business men o.
NeR York should require OF the next Controller
thar he be guided by these Two truths % Efforts
c-v have heretofore been thwarted, not by lack Of
Paw 5-- by lack - evidence ~ The obligation is
imposed tre next Controller 10 require evidence
V--H. Uiu definitely locate responsibility before
passing claim OF sarCtlollng any trans
s----r affecting the city's funds