New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-15
ECONOMY AT ALBANY.

Zprs desire for efficiency ana ecOhoiii!
will find greater support among the
Democrats i'm the Legislature 'n'"
President Taft's did among the De'n''
crafts in Congress. The President lie
vjsed plans To secure economy ana Il
b,lsinesSlike budget system. WHICH
were put in force without any new ma
chinery and expense 10y the simple APP
plication of good methods; but the
Democrats did their best To thwart
him. even 10 the extent OF Legislation
which undertook TO forbid what was
clearly within the President : colis,l-
tutional power That was the measure
of their desire for efficiency. They
didn't want things done the right way
How their party friends at Albany teci
Oh the subject is yet 10 he seen. Dut 10
nudge from the number of salary ana
other grab bills which they have intro
duccd they flave no special enthusiasm
FOR efficiency and economy.
The Governor proposes rather eau
crate scheme. which might perhaps d.
simplified to advantage but lis pur-
pose is good. Without doubt the pow
ers OF the Controller should he in
creased so that he may be real rather
than n merely nominal auditor of ac-
counts against the state. Systematlzeu
wholesale purchasing for the state
should be substituted for the present
usage. by which each department pur-
chases its own supplies. though II may
he desirable for institutions and Offices
outside Of Albany 10 have some ieeWaN
under suitable regulations FOR takih-
advantage Of local markets when their
needs are best supplied in that way
The suggested Commissioners oi EN-
cheney and Economy at $1,000 year
would be in many respects deputy
Governor. exercising the Governors
present powers Of investigation into all
departments. Perhaps the business OF
the state is so large that the Executive
needs such an arm. but some previous
Governors. i'm order 10 exercise intelll-
gently their power 10 veto items in ap-
preparation bills. kept themselves MI
nutely informed Of the methods ~
work OF each department and of the
need of every salary and allowance.
II fuller information is required than
is now available IL certainly should be
secured. and no doubt competent ef-
tciency engineer could in an advisory
capacity greatly improve the methods
Of the departments.
OF the desira bility Of a thoroughly
systematic budget there can he no dis
putc. Much has been done in tina;
line already. Governor Higgins. when
chairman OF the Senate Finance Com
mttec. took long step toward abol-
iShng haphazard appropriations. lie
secured the grading of employees in the
departments and stopped the greater
part Of the arbitrary salary raising.
He studied with great care the stat"
institutions. Sifted their estimates MI
nutey and was for some years really
the states minister Of finance. Since
his time the early filing of department
estimates has been required. aud tpe
committees OF the two houses. II they
are ready 10 do the necessary hard
work and resist private pulls. can make
mp satisfactory budget. II is still
too easy. however. 10 play favorites.
and probabl a thorough thrashing ont
of estimates by a body not entirely
legislative would make for system and
render il more difficult 10 inject i'll
considered items into the appropria-
ton bills. The Legislature may not b.
Over-entb usiastic about thus tying its
own hands, but The plan is worthy 81
favorable consIderai ton.