New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-07

from time to time TO ask for such leeis.
iaoon as will compel obedience 70 the
very simple mandate OF the constitu-
tlon That appointments and promo
Won may be made according TO merit
ana htness, 10 he ascertained. so far
as practicable, by examinations"
The Department Of Efficiency and
Economy, with a large list of officials.
drawing from the state salaries rang
ing from 81 200 to $4,000. is, in my
opinion, entirely unnecessary. serves
no useful purpose and should he at
once abolished
Fire Marshal 60 60.
! believe that the duties imposed by
Law upon the State Fire Marshal, his
deputies, secretaries, clerks and assist
ants, can he properly performed by
other departments. and find that his
work at present is largely duplicated
by officials Of other departments.
recommend that this Office be sbol-
ished.
Some years ago there was established
by law the Metropolitan Election Dis
trict, and the position Of State Super
with power over the Metropolitan Dis
trict. Upon the accession Of the Dem
ocratic party TO power this work was
extended beyond the Metropolitan Dis
trict and two additional superintend-
ents of election were appointed to
cover tho state outside the Metiopoli
tan District
recommend legislation abolishing
the Offices held by these three superin-
tendents Of elections and the creation
of one state Superintendent of Flee
tionS for the entire State of New York,
upon whom shall devolve the duties
now discharged by the three suporin-
tcndents. I do not recommend a re-
turn 10 the Metropolitan District idea,
but ! do recommend that the Superin-
tendent OF Elections may be empowered
10 appoint such deputies as may be
necessary TO secure a proper enforce
ment of the election law everywhere
in the state. Such legislation will save
TO the state many thousands of dollars
and provide all the necessary machin-
cry for the safeguarding of our cleo
tions.
Single Conservation Head.
advise legislation which will per-
nit the appointment of a single head
Of the Conservation Department of the
state. who shall generally supervise the
work of the three divisions or bureaus.
and. as far as possible, coordinate that
work. Although desirable. II is not, in
my opinion, essential that this COM
missioner should be a trained expert,
but in any case the law should require
that the administrative head of each
one of the three divisions or bureaus
above mentioned should be a trained
expert, as | have indicated. The law
should also require that all OF the
subordinates of the department Il
would not make single exception
above suggested should be selected
under the provisions of the civil ser
vice law for their special fitness for
the particular kind of work they are
called upon TO do.
While, as a general principle Of gov
eminent and of business, | believe IN
the undivided responsibility OF a single
head, there are a number of reasons
that lead me to believe that the De-
partment of Highways in this state can
hest be administered by non-partissn
commission of three members with
overlapping terms.
I therefore recommend the creation
of a commission of three, TO be ap-
pointed BY the Governor, with the con-
sent of the Senate, the full terms Oh
the commissioners TO be six years
each. and the terms of the three com
missioners first appointed TO be respec-
lively two, four and six years, one OF
the three members TO be an engineer
and not more than two to be members
of any one political party.
Woman Suffrage Amendment.
The Legislature of 1918 adopted a
resolution providing an amendment to
the constitution relative 10 woman SUI
frage. and | recommend that this &C
ton be completed at this session to the
end that this question may be submit
ted to the voters of this state at the
election of 1915.
The military law, which is general
statute. provides for certain appropri-
ations to be made annually by the Leg
islature. to meet expenditures actually
and necessarily made in each year.
These appropriations, which in pre-
vious years had been regularly made,
were last year arbitrarily withheld,
and as q result organizations or lndi-
yiduals have been obliged to advance
private funds or to incur personal lia-
bility for maintenance, which under the
constitution of the state it is the duty
of the Legislature to provide. 1t is
unfair to the organized militia and
reprehensible on the part of those
charged with the duty of providing ade-
ouately for its maintenance that such
a condition should continue. COM
mend the situation to your early at
tention.
To large extent our tax law is the
result of patch work and makeshlft
growth, and thorough revision. of its
administrative features along scientlhc
and accepted lines is imperative.
II is not now my purpose to elaDo-
rate upon the changes necessary to
bring administrative reform in the law
governing this highly technical subject.
c.nnn 81 "a cav fnr the nreaent that in