Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-05
SPACE LOST IN
STATE HOUSE
State Economy and Efficiency
Commission Finds Office Dis
tributiOn Faulty.
SOME DEPARTMENTS GAIN,
WHILE OTHERS SUFFER
Comparison With Business
Houses Shows Wherein Cap
itoI Is Lacking.
[rrom a stan corre.pondent.l

IFrom a stan Correspondence
TRENTON, N. j., March 5.--As the
chief collator of data for the State
Economy and Efficiency Commission.
its secretary, Howard B. Tindell, of
this city, furnished some interesting
information concerning the floor space
of the State capitol building, as COM
pared with that used in the business
houses. In an interview today Mr..
Tindell gave out these facts, that,
among scores of others bearing on the
commissions present and future SER
vice. will afford general enlighten-
ment
'In promoting a more efficient SER
vice for the State the subject of floor
space in the Capitol building proper
must be considered in its exact re-
lation to that service. For many
years there have been periodical de-
mands for additional sections and
wings to the Capitol, to accommodate
old and new departments. wherefore
had there been a gradual elimination
of those which had outliyed or shown
|
would be room now, and room 90
spare in which to transact the States
business. AS the situation now con-
fronts the Economy and Efficiency
Commission, making comparisons
with other state governmental SER
vice, and that of private business
houses. the conclusion is reached
that, by a judicious employment of
the space that exists, reassembling
some of the departments, abolishing
needless ones, and amalgamatlng kim
dred functions, there will be office or
business room for all necessary de-
partments for many years.
There are on the States payroll,
including all superior officers, 1853
Understanding down the sched-
eul from governor to corridor atten
dant and office boy. OF this number
800 are attached to Capitol depart
ments and 1853 operating for institu-
tions and commissions elsewhere es-
tablished In the various penal and
charitable institutions there are em-
poyed 1,42O persons-919 men and sol
women-leaving 1888 employees Of the
government scattered among perma-
nenL anu ieIilpOIdI CohliiiSSiOlio,
whose bases of operation are outside
the Capitol.
Distribution of Attaches.
"Of the Capitol attaches there are
664 men and 1856 women. Probably 450l
persons are in daily touch with the
departments, while $50 are so indirect
ly, being assigned to outside duty.
But-these use the floor space and
must be reckoned with in the deduc
lions The square feet of floor space
in the Capitol, inclusive of corridors,
Senate and Assembly chambers and
the executive audience room, are
shown as follows:
Basement, 81, 300 square feet; first
floor. As, 49s square feet second floor,
| 40, $50 square feet; third floor, 1880
square feet: fourth floor, S,194 square
| feet; corridors and executive audience
ROOM 26, 500 square feet; Senate and
Assembly, 1850 square feet; total
square feet of office floor space, 152,-
632 square feet.
1.-The State House of Massachusetts
in Boston. with infinitely greater
public business demands on its con-
venence, has $4,000 square feet avail
able for offices, and in them are A
chiefs of departments and 49e en-
ployees, or 543 in all-257 less than
are attached to New Jerseys seat
of government, with it's excess of
| rs, 632 square feet of floor space
Doubtless the advent of the type
writing machine and desk, and the
introduction of filing and card index
cases within the last two decades,
have encroached on the floor space
of our State capitol, but it will be
found that there has not always
been clever consideration of space
in placing these desks and cases. AL
most invariably the practise has been
to set them end-out from, rather than
facing, the walls, thus encroaching
| in all such positions from one to two
feet more on the central sections of
| floor Gradually the vertical filing
cases became filled: likewise those
holding card indexes. 1t probably
never has occurred to those who have
requested more floor space that safe
and durable skeleton steel galleries,
suspended from side walls. could ac-
| oommodate two-thrds of such cases,
| leaving at least fourth more room
on the office floors. This convenience
has been resorted to by corporations
and private business men and it has
been suggested for the State House
in Boston.
| Floor Space Wasted.
There is an unequal distribution
of floor space in our capitol. COM
mensurate with individual de-
partmental importance, and there has
been lacking practical conception of
the needlessness of elaborate Fecep-
ton or consultation rooms, which
have come by grace, rather than of
necessity, to members of the official
family There is glazing inequality
in capitol floor space Superficially
considered. some departments have
a cramped appearance. while all have
more space than is accorded en-
| ployees in many of the most impor-
tant business concerns.
Probably one of the largest bust
ness plants. in the United States is
that of John A. Roebling & Sons Co.
in Trenton, with its connecting works
in the village of Roebling. / cite this