The evening world., 1915-02-17
STATE WON'T PROBE
f|NANCESOF CITY,
WHITMAN SAYS
Says, However, That New York
City Government Is Fright
fully Extravagant.
fspecisl from . Staff Corrspopdsnt Of The
Evsnins worid,)

Evening WoridD
ALBANY. Feb. H. New York
City government Is sxtravagant,
frIGhtfuliy extravagant." said Gov.
whitman to-day. But so In the |
State government extravagant. Both
need strict economy.
II have been asked whether the |
state should Interfere In the city |
government TO Investigate the con-
ditions OF enormous expenditure and |
seek to check 1t. 1 have replied that
I am opposed to such an investiga-
ton. The city must attend TO its
own financial Affairs.
The duty Of the government at
Albany is first to State finances,
which are In need OF urgent, atten- |
tlon. We will attend TO the things
that are TO be done here, and not
start Investigating New York's local
financial troubles.
" think that the now administra-
tion has made n very fair beginning
In Its attempt TO clean things up; but
there n much yet 70 be done In re-
trenchment and economy"
The attitude of the state adminis-
tration In 10 pass up directly TO
| Mayor Mitchell and tho Board OF
Hstimats responsibility for New
York's critical condition and leave
TO them 70 ind q way out.
FINANCIAL pRoDLeMe WoRRv
STATE HEADS.
Financial problems are overshadow-
Ing all subjects In both State and
municipal governments. Tho condi-
tions are becoming no alarming that
radical retrenchments win have to be
snforcsd to prevent what In private
business would be bankruptcy or q
receivership. q,
To every department Of state orders
for pruning and cutting have been
siven. In the Legislature the Senate
Committee on Finance has started an
Investigation Of payrolls. Every DE-.
partmeat has been summoned to mako
prompt report OF all employees and
salaries. Senator sase. chairman.
said:
Expense Of the state Government
has grown by leaps and bounds In
the past Few years. The number OF
{ employees has been incrsassd with
/ amasins rapidity."
al In the Assembly. the Ways and
|. Means Committee has blocked oil
private and local appropriation bills
until . general round UP can be made
Ia ~ ~ Aaa-
A heavy direct State tax 10 newt
) able for next year. With the rise In
all local Eovernmsnt expenditvrss.
this means that property owners
throughout the State are 70 be har-
densd with heavier taxes than ever
} before. III
INVESTIGATING REpoRrs ON
"hoNGer oRAFr.' ,
Gov. whitman IL making invsstisa-
tlon of reports Of Amasing "hOnest
graft" With shrewdnsss derived
.. from long experience In the District
Attorneys office, he 10 doing this
through secret ohannSls and taking
| no one into his confidence. These
cases relate not only TO- large sums
, drained out Of the treasury. but also
TO revenues rightfuliy due to the
state that have never boon collected
Attorney General Woodbury. Ia
making investigation Of the enormous
State, principally In connection with
the Erie Canal Improvement. In.
stead OF relying on reports. he has
4 Gone on personal tour OF inspection tc
set first hand evidences.
Comptrollor Travis has put expert
examiners into various branches oi
the State government. He issued to.
day q scathing report on extrava.
4 gancs In the Department Of Agricul'
ture, saying:
n There was net increase Of 42o<, u,
In the expenditures of 1914 over thost
OF 1910. OF which el00.4S was unnscea
sary and unwarranted. being due Il
causes other than new functions o.
tho department and not resulting II
any increase In prosecutions fol
, violation Of the law. The justifiablt
. conclusion is that this money wa,
tion.
7 oREAr ,NcREAsG IN STATE
d GxPENblrUREe.
o "The expenditure Of tho state fo
{ oil purposes OF agriculture increaseS
from el.s76.sSs In 1910 to s2.6l7.37:
n In 1914. The appropriations request
4 cd Of the Legislature OF 1915 aggre
gate es.Sss.bs3. an increase Of 32.007.
o16. For each dollar expended b.
tho State for agricultural purposes
y In 1910 there was expended In 1914
n 11.e1 and there is requested Of tn,
. present Legislature e2.27."
O Commissioners OF Agriculture Cal
!. yin Huson is severely criticised 70
getting his salary and expenses In
a creased to $4,000 q year with n,
vouchers required,
Huson resigned last night after tn
D report was filed. His department ha
been loaded up with political ap
3 pointees.