Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-03-05
BIG WASTE IN
FLOOR SPACE
State Economy and Efficiency
Commission Investigate.
tFrom the NEWS Correspondent,

hffOHh Nfft 49, ~
Trenton, March 5:-Pursuant to
Its purpose to give the State govern
ment more economical and efficient
service, the State Economy & Eff
cheney Commission has investigated
the subject of floor space in the State
House in relation to the number of
employees. AS chief collector Of data
for the commission, it's secretary,
Howard B. Tindell, of this city, fur
nishes some interesting information,
comparing the capitol with the floor
space used in some prominent bust
ness houses. The data of Secretary
Tindell shows that the commission
ia passing over no detail, however
trifing, in reaching conclusions. In
an interview today, Mr.. Tindell said:
For many years there has been
periodical demands for additional
sections and wings to the capitol, to
accommodate old and new depart
ments, whereas had there been a
gradual elimination of those which
had outlived or shown their lack of
vital usefulness there would be room
TO spare in which to transact the
states business. AS the situation
now confronts the Economy & Eff
cheney Commission, the conclusion is
reached that by judicious employ
ment of the space that exists. re-
assembling some of the departments,
abolishing needless ones and ANAL
gamating kindred functions, there
will be Office or business room for all
necessary departments for many
years.
There are on the states payroll.
including all superior officers. 1858
employes-running down the sched-
ule from governor to corridor attend
ant and Office boy. or this number
500 are attached to capitol depart
ments, and 1853 operating for insti-
tutions and commissions elsewhere
established. In the various penal
and charitable institutions there are
employed 1890 persons, 919 men
and sol women, leaving 333 en-
ployes Of the government scattered
among permanent and temporary
commissions outside the capitol.
"Of the capitol attaches there are
664 men and 1876 women. Probably
450 persons are in daily touch with
the departments, while $50 are 30 in
directly, being assigned to outside
duties. But these use the office floor
space and must be reckoned with in
the deductions"
Secretary Tindell has made a COM
pilation showing that the total
square feet OF floor space in the State
House, including the legislative
chambers and the corridors, is 1922
632. The legislative chambers, the
corridors and the governors audi
ence room have a floor space Of
10000 square feet, and ~subtracting
this there are 1869 square feet Of
floor space available for office use.
Mr.. Tindell shows that the State
House of Massachusetts in Boston,
with infinitely greater public bust
ness demands, has 10000 square feet
available for offices, and 543 employ
es-257 less than are attached to
New Jerseys seat of government,
with it's excess of 1862 square feet
OF floor space.
The situation in the State House
is compared by Mr.. Tindell to the
plant of the John A. Roebling's Sons
Company, which employs 5000
hands. The floor space in the offices
of the Roebling company includes
23,878 square feet for 172 employees,
or an allowance of 1870 square feet
to each, equal to that in the state
cemptroller's department or thirty
eight square feet less than are allot-
ted to the eleven employees of the
tr%easurer's department. Secretary
Tindell shows that in the Mechanics
National Bank, of this city, each en-
ploye has an average of only fifteen
square feet. or in round figures f1f-
teen square feet fewer than probably
the most crowded employe of the
capitol has at his disposal. In the
Trenton Bank each clerk has an al
lotment of only eleven square feet.
Mr.. Tindell thinks the present
capitol a be made to accommodate
the demands upon it through an ex-
hibition of intelligent Encouragement
and economy.