New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-12
dictionaries Force Com
~" nromise to Elect Four
State Officers.
81 AN REDUCES l6S
DEPARTMENTS TO 10
o.soite Opposition, Scientific
Budget Is Advanced to Or
der of Final Passage.

-, Aug 1.-THE Committee on
80. and other State officers, of
co. 90 frederick c. Tanner is chair
va today submitted to the cOnven-
me- rropossl containing a shorter
h.ro. and reorganization OF state
departments. .....,,s
,-ovisine for a scientific budget
nv, ar;ginate with the Governor instead
ui,A the legislature was advanced
" -, order OF final passage. Only
- votes we're recorded against the
an,, ,svaneement. All in opposition
-. Democrats, except ex-senator
rSssr Trumsn Bracket, Of Saratoga.
Ths Tanner committee proposal abol-
...., =, elective Offices the Secretary
- State. Engineer and Surveyor 'nu
~..,syrer. The otfces Of Controller
,.3 Attorney General are retained, the
,.o-, ballot reformers who wanted only
:, o4ees Of Governor and Lieutenant
c.,.rnor retained being outnumbered
!. ,be committee. To get anything re-
cabling short ballot reported out
.,rnromise was made with the reac-
.,,sries covering the election of Con-
,-ller and Attorney General.
The Tame PROPOSAL also provides
O. the consolidation Of the present
u state departments and bureaus into
sirteen departments: Education, Pub
E Utilities, Conservation, Civil Ser
~, State. Taxation and Finance, Pub
i, Works. Health. Agriculture, Chart
les and Correction, Banking, lnsur-
spce. Labor and Industry.
Heads Named by Governor.
The heads and other administrative
,s,ers Of these thirteen departments
shall be appointed by the Governor
with the consent Of the Senate. They
,an be removed by the Senate only or
Recommendation Of the Governor or by
impeachment.
Besides these thirteen departments,
the article provides that there sha!.
h. TWO others Justice. with the A.
,oney General as chief, and Audit ard
Co-tro,. with the Controller at he
lead. These would replace six ex st
.lg departments.
Ths,Brcposed plan as set forth is a
framework only Into this the Legis-
tture IS directed 90 iit the various de-
ar.ments. bureaus and boards which
comprise tho administrative and exec
-,iye agencies Of the state government.
The Legs AZURE may not create new
tepartments or establish new bureaus
Or other agencies outside Of these de-
yartmen-s.
Accompanying the proposal was re-
port by Nr. Tanner, as chairman Of
The committee % which he said:
The purpose Of the committee has
been 70 provide for a systematic plan
Of departmental organization; to sim
pity and coordinate the administra-
tive machinery of the state; to subject
every executive agency OF the state gov
eminent 20 practical accountability,
tno 10 tx responsibility for the eXecu-
ton Of the laws.
The present constitution, Article 4,
Section 4. provides that the Governor
Shall take cane that the laws are faith
fully executed 10 is the opinion Of
your committee that the executive ma
ehlnery placed at his disposal is not
well suited 10 the purpose, and makes
economy and efficiency in the admins
ration Of such laws practically impos-
Ube
The growth Of expenditures from
1926 TO 1914 is approximately from
N2,OO0,000 10 S32.0000O0, whereas the
growth in population during the same
PERIOD was from 6,5l3,343 to 1888, 761,
ana the per capita cost of state govern
nent rose from S2.47 in 1895 to S5.41 in
lsi an increase of 235 per cent during
we last nineteen years, whereas the
population Of the state in the same
PERIOD has only gained SO per cent.
Wasteful System the Cause.
While due allowance must be made
ior this increase because Of the ex-
Nnded activities of the government and
bad financial system, yet il is the
opinion Of your committee that this
Unprecedented growth is due in great
party 10 the faulty and wasteful sys-
EN- OF lack Of system, herein referred
vi the nine civil executive depart
nents. little change has been proposed
~ me functions Of the departments Of
o.S.e, Health, Agriculture, Banking, In
sIshce, Labor and Industry, except
gs mat certain miscellaneous duties
y collecting public revenues now per-
..olMea by some Of them have been
uenAerred 20 the Department of Tax
ION ana Finance, including the collec-
.vn Of automobile tax .ow made by
, ae secretary Of State, the tax on for
,s" insurance companies collected by
80 superintendent Of Insurance and
an charges on private bankers now
snye'ed by the Superintendent of
nm ne Department of Public Works
~. .I include the functions of the State
Ss.neer and Surveyor, the State
- 'I'nlendent Of Public Works, the
49, Commissioner of Highways, the
80 80 department Of Public Buildings
'-u S'ste Architect.
care Of Prisons Conserved.
r.Dy me proposed Department Of
.a ''lueS and Corrections the commit
-, mas sought 10 retain the advan-
81 81 OF the present system relating
y. 'he care Of the insane. by continu-
r r.. me provisions Of the present con-
sutton covering this subject. The
cs'e Board Of Charities. the State
f-nliisslon In Lunacy and the State
s,-inisslon Of Prisons h5ve been con-
,ued with their functions unim-
mrted, but it is the opinion Of your
..amittee that better cooperation and
s.s'er accountability will be secured
,.hg the various departments and
y ututions having care of the wards
Inc state by the provision for
T'tetary Of Charities and Corrections
40 shall have mower of insppction