The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-07
WHITMAN TO
CUT OUT ALL
VOORHEES, JOBS
Tells Legislature Patronage
Places and Useless Boards
Must Go.
FOR SUFFRAGE BILL
AND TAX REFORMS

message TO the Legislature was delivered
to-day
The Governor presented figures compiled
BY Comptroller Sohmer showing that
the net state debt unprovided Tor Sep
TENDER 30. 1919, was Sl25.422.9SO, a net
increase OF s24.432.467. Among the items
to which he called attention were canal
const "uction, $30,60O.0OO. and highways
construction, S2i,4O0,O0O. Continuing he
said
The Increase, on an unprecedented scale,
In the number OF State officials and EN-
ployees. and the reckless increase in sal
aries in nearly all departments during
the last four years are eXplainable only
by the existence of a deliberate plan to
rasten the control Of a party upon the
state by the use OF vast amount OF
Official patronage. The present condition
OF the states finances demands i'm
mediate and drastic revision of the states
payrolls and requires that unnecessary
Offices. departments and commissions shall
he abolished. Service should he rendered
TO the State on the basis OF efficient and
economical private employment, and ! in
vite tho cooperation of the Legislature in
an effort 10 accomplish that end, whether
the salaried officials OF the state continue
from a former administration or take Of
dee under the present administration.
CiyiI Service Rules.
inc CQnStltutlOn or tho state OF New
York provides as follows:
Appointments and promotions in the
civil service of the STATE, and OF all the
civil divisions thereof, including cities and
villages, shall be made according to
merit and fitness, to be ascertaned, so
Tar as practicable by cxamina tons.
which, so far as practicable, shall be
competitive"
I believe that all tho mombors Of your
honorable body will agree with me that
this provision OF the Constitution is en-
tirely in the public interest. and It's strict
Observance though 1t may at times work
serious inconvenience in some particular
Instances, on the whole Is absolutely es-
sential to proper administration and good
government. | believe that many Of the
evils and much of the vast waste Of the
States funds and the decentralization
Of its affairs may be traced di-
rectly to the gross disregard Of
this basic law of the state in the man
aRement of its vast business. Indeed,
careful inspection OF the States pay
rolls. and examination OF the qualifca-
tons possessed by great numbers of the
states employees. almost inevitably force
n fairminded man to the conclusion that
for years the result OF the administration
by those charged by law with the duty
~ enforcing this provision OF the Con-
stitution. as embodied in the civil service
laws or the State, has been to defeat
rather than to accomplish the purpose OF
tho law.
II is not my intention to weary you
by citing numerous illustrations. though
they are to he found in practically every
branch of the government and in almost
every public office of the state. To main
tain, for Instance, that under the new
Workmeu's Compensation Commisss ior
there should be siNty-twO positions, such
POSITIONS as assistant cashier. chief stalls
tioan. inspector Of risks and safety, in.
vestigatur, examiner of policies. atten.
dRnts. examiners OF claims, &c. positions
carrying salaries ranging from $1,000 Il
$4,000. none of which can be properly
filed as a result OF "A competitive eXamina
ton, Is 10 hold that the trainers OF Tho
Constitution were entirely in error as L
proper governmental methods.
Labor Department.
The Labor Department affords AT
equally conspicuous example OF the gross
violation of the fundamental law of the
state, presumably acquiesced in by tho
civil Service Commission at the request
pf the Labor Commissioner, in which al
absurd number Of places, carrying sub
'tantial salaries, are all exempted for th'
sole purpose, as ! believe, of advancing
Individual political ambitions or Of
strengthening the control Of a party
oy means of patronage. Special in
Festigators. supervisors OF printing, as
Instant mediators, secretaries 10 the divi.
ZION OF industrial hygiene. mediator o
Industrial disputes, chief mediator. chic
clerk OF New York office, secretary {
.hief investigator chauffeur. inspector o
second inspection district, detective
assistant secretary, mechanical engineer
Ill drawing salaries ranging from 1850
20 5000. have been exempted in orde
hat district leaders may control patron
LRe and hold power.
This evil cannot be remedied by re
lorting to the old subterfuge of placinl
N the classified service, without exam
nation, those who have been appointe'
20 exempt positions.
The Department OF Efficiency an,
Economy. with a large list of officials
Lrawing from the State salaries rang
ns from $1,000 10 $4,000, is. in m
Ipinion. entirely unnecessary. serves n
Useful purpose and should be at one
Lbolshed
believe that the duties imposed b.
aw upon the State Fire Marshal, hi
deputies. secretaries. clerks and assist
lnts. can be properly performed by othe
departments, and | find that his wor
It present is largely duplicated by ON
lials OF other departments
| recommend that this ONCE be abol
shed.
some years ago there was esta blishe
By law the Metropolitan Election Distric
and the position OF State Superintendent
81 Elections was created, with power Owe
he Metropolitan district. Upon the az
:ession of the Democratic party to pow'
his work was extended beyond the Metre
,olltan district, and two additional supe
ntendents of election were appointed
over the State outside the Metropolis
district
| recommend legislation abolishng Il
,ttices held by these three superintendent
" elections and the creation OF one sta
superintendent of Elections for the entiI
state OF New York, upon whom shall d
olive the duties now discharged by n
hrce superintendent. l do not recon
mend a return to the Metropolitan di
riot idea, but ! do recommend THAT u
superintendent of Elections may be en-
powered to appoint such deputies AS ma
20 necessary to secure proper enforc
nent of the election law everywhere
he State. Such legislation will save
Ing state many thousands OF dollars al
provide all the necessary machinery 4
he safeguarding Of our elections.
| further recommend that the office
Commissioner of Elections In all or {
counties OF the State, outside OF the cl
Df New York and perhaps OF the COUNT
" Erie, Monroe and Onondaga, be abe
shed, as / am satisfied that the Off
involves needless expense to the peop
and that the work can be done and shou
De done in the Offices OF the county cler
~ the counties OF the State.