New-York tribune., 1911-01-31
DIX APPOINTS PROBERS
Osborn and Van Kennan to In
vestigate State Departments.
NOT TO BE HUNT FOR GRAFT
Governor Hopes to Show How
Cost of Government May
Be Reduced.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]


Albany. Jan. SO.-Governor Dix to-day
took the first step toward the general IN
yestigation of state departments which he
has been contemplating for some time. lie
appointed as special investigators under the
Moreland law William Church Osborn, his
legal adviser. and George r. Van KEENAN,
The Governor directed them TO begin prop
ing affairs in the lunacy, prison, excise a"u
highway departments.
Mr.. Van Kennan is Mayor Ct ogdensourg
and a member OF the Democratic STATE
Committee from the ST. Lswrence-frank-
lin district. He is one OF the "highoro"
Democrats who took part In the various
conferences which led to the formation OF
the Democratic League, but has the reputa-
ton OF being a. practical citizen with much
political acumen nevertheless He has lined
UP with the anti-Sheehan men in the seha'
torship fight, and politicians here hsure
that he got this appointment as a sort OF
Offset to the Governors proffer OF Punhc
Service commissionership 70 state ChalF'
man Huppuch, one OF the Sheehanltes
By the investigation the Governor hopes
TO show how the cost Of the state govern
ment may be reduced. The probers VIII pay
particular attention TO the State Depart
ment of Prisons, the head OF when, super
intendent c. V. Collins the Governor has al
ready asked to resign. Scmc time ago Gov
ernor Dix called Superintendent Collins 70
HIS office and after telling him that he had
information warranting an investigation
L. tiOn wONlQ
be very thankfully received. The super
intendent. however. refused TO get OUT
voluntarily, saying that he would stand tne
probe. and the Governor so far has allowed
the matter 10 rest there
In the Excise Department the Governor
has named W W. Farley. 9f Ringhamton'
to succeed Commissioner Maynard Clement
although the latters term does not expire
until May. In doing this the Governor said
that il was his intention 10 have Mr. Far'
ley in touch with tho Office while the in'
vestigatlon was going on.
In announcing the appointment OF Messrs.
Osborn and Van Kennan the Governor SAID:
The total revenues of the state during
the last fiscal year were S37,e05,S76 10. Fhe
total appropriations made by the last Leg
stature for the present fiscal year were
s42975,4So S. The oudgetary requirements
made UP by the last admlnistsation stg q Tor the
Tho annual expenditure. for our penal
Institutions have increased from the sum
of s725a3i 81. In 1903, 10 the sum of sl,sis,'
5s3 s6, in 1910. ,,,
Commission have increased from Aep-
7s9 N In 1903. 20 the sum OF si,6S3 1876 ~, IN
1910 In every other department OF me
state government there has been q marked
Increase in annual expenditures
I believe that the cost Of government can
be reduced, and by virtue OF Section OF
the executive law purpose 20 examine aha
;pyeStgats tss ,.ts ahagssr s boards and
commissions. in order to determine wherein
retrenchment may be applied and evils COZ.
rected without inlpeiring the efhcieney OF
the service. ,,-,,,,
To this end have appointed William
Church Osborn and George 2. Van kennen
to investigate the management and affairs
of the state Commission in Lunacy; ot ne
state prisons ana retosnstoir.sSS rS bigSrsHs sYs " ~
The importance OF these departments
calls for their immediate investigation. IN
Ttn i1sry sciess sw executive at ia
well ordered private business and should
apply in state affairs.
William Church Osborn. IN speaking last
night of his appointment by Governor DIX
70 investigate various state departments,
said that this would be the first investiga-
ton Of its kind ever conducted. The ex-
animation et the Forest. Fish and Game
Commission last year by Governor Hughes,
he said, was different in that Il partook
Of the nature OF probe The present
process, he declared, started with absolutely
no such end in view and was merely con-
ducted for the information Of the Gov
ernor. He added.
II is very possible that we may hnd some
vavs IN which the expenses OF the de-
partments can be cut down. but Il Is also
POSSIBLE that we may discover others In
which IL will be advantageous 20 the state
20 increase them. We start out with no
idea OF looking for graft. We merely ex-
rect to look over the ground in a general
speak. The State Commission IN Lunacy
has undertaken some extensive construc-
lion lately which may not meet with the
approval OF the Governor. but until the ex-
animation is well under way 1t will be
impossible TO tell just where the most ex-
tensive economies can be introduced.
have talked this matter over with Gov
ernor Dix several times, but no definite
pian Of procedure has vet been laid out.
fer with Mr. Van Kennen. and we shall
then deteria!ne Just what is 10 be done.
All we want TO find out is what the meth
DDS and organizations OF the different de-
partments are and whether they are as
good as they can be made