The Penn's Grove record., 1914-11-13
NEW CUSTODIAN
AT STATE HOUSE
Makes Economical Changes
About Public Property
STRIKES ONE RICH FIND
John A. Smith Receivers $4,000 Worth
Of Weights and Measures-saves
Money on Stationery Shipments
Sells Tons of Neglected Ashes.

Money on Stationery Shipments
Sells Tons of Neglected Ashes.
Especial Trenton Correspondence.
Trenton.-When John A. Smith, of
Camden county, was appointed Custo-
dian of the State Capitol, the posi-
ton was referred to, and in fact gen.
orally regarded as, being that of
simply Head Janitor of the Building"
There was considerable discussion
over the appointment during the
month that interviewed between the
time it was made and the date fixed
for Mr.. Smith to assume the duties of
his of1ce-August Is last. This was
due to two causes: A question as
to whether the State House Commits
sion had a right to make the appoint
ment without a civil service examina-
ton, and the other, because MI.
Smith was not supposed, because of
his previous calling, to be the real
man for the job. The first objec-
ton was met and promptly disposed
Of by a judicial determination of the
status of the position. AS to MI.
Smiths qualifications, that is best
answered by his record during the
less than three months he has occu-
pied the Office. No one doubted his
capability so far as education and
training were concerned, to hold al
executive position of an ordinary kind,
but when it came to that of head
j~anltor" of an immense building such
as the State Capitol, with it's numer-
Gus departments, many wondered
where Smith, who had conducted in
a successful way a wholesale mer-
chandise business, and who had been
a broker, general agent and book
keeper, as well as a first-class account
ant, had ever done anything that
would qualify him for a position, the
duties of which seemed to be so vast
ly different from those of any he had
ever held.
Almost Immediately upon entering
upon his duties Smith signalized his
entry by discovering in what had
long been regarded as a pile Of rub
bish, the United States Government
prepared scales of standard weights
and measures, worth several thousand
dollars, furnished to the State several
years ago and lost" in the confines
Of the big building. Thus, in his first
month, Mr.. Smith, by this find" put
into the service of the State the
equivalent of more than his first
years salary. About the time the
new custodian began his work the
annual supply of stationery was de-
livered to the Capitol, where it has
always been delivered. AS usual it
came in several large packing cases
tons of it all told-was piled up in the
corridors, opened, counted, and then,
to the new cuS-odian's amazement,
almost half had to be reshipped in
newly-made cases. All this he found
resulted not only in an unnecessary
delay of the delivery Of the goods to
the departments and institutions for
which they had been purchased, but
In an unnecessary expense for the
making of extra shipping cases, ship
ping and freight charges, involving
AN annual outlay of not less than
$1,000. All this has been changed
under the direction of Custodian
Smith, who now has shipped direct
to the institutions from the stationery
contractor all the supplies intended
for these institutions and the part
which the law requires to be left with
the custodian for general distribu-
ton, shipped direct to the Capitol.
One of his men visits the point of
consignment when the goods are de-
livered and certifies the shipment
there, instead of doing it in the
Capitol and then having it reshipped
with no veriication to the place of
final consignment.
Another little improvement, which
the new custodian has devised, is
that of the purchase of a horse at a
nominal cost, which may be utilized
for the carrying of heavy mail to
the post Office; the removal of thou
sands of ton of ashes, now paid for
at ~wagon-load rates; the moving OF
the spacious lawns heretofore done
by hand labor, and the removal OF
snow from the board walks in the
front and around the capitol building,
all Of which was heretofore done by
the old. cumbersome and expensive
hand method. These are but a few
of the many changes instituted by
Custodian Smith which have caused
right man in the right place, instead
of an individual wholly untitled for
the duties of head janitor.". Mr.
Smiths life has always been an active
one.