New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-02

What the state had needed and what
it never has had is a well considered
and well understood revenue and Dor
rowing programme upon some stable
basis.
The only way that the public in
terests can be protected IN financing
the needs Of these great corporations
is TO have a well considered plan or
programme that will enable both state
and municipal officers 20 act with IN
telliQence and avoid the present waste
ful and haphazard methods. ms Is
necessary not only for the conserva-
ton of public resources, but also for
the protection of the officer ultimately
responsible. Until businessliKe meth
DDS of accounting and auditing are IN
troduced and a scientific budget pro
cedure is adopted, the officer will at al.
times be Handicapped and blamed or
criticised for what he cannot controi.
Efficiency in Public Service.
Moreover. the adoption Of a sound
financial system and budget procedure
IS IMPERATIVE in order 70 enable the
citizens of the state to take an intel
Grent and active part in state AFFAIRS
and 10 enable the people TO cooperate
practically with the Legislature ana
the executive branches of the govern
ment. Without such system the peo-
ple cannot obtain the necessary IN
formation as to the conduct Of govern
ment affairs and cannot exercise the
constant vigilance which is necessary
20 secure efficiency and economy In the
public service.
every facility and encouragement
should therefore be given TO the cru
zens of the state and the various
agencies representing them to INFORM
themselves about the conditions under
which the government is being oper
ated and TO bring 70 the Governor ana
the Legislature their proposals for re-
forrs and improvements. While there
NAV be differences Of opinion as TO
matters of detail, there can be no ques-
ton that every effort should be made
10 keep citizens fully and accurately
informed about what the government Is
doing and what it proposes 10 do with
the public funds.
"The most effective way which has
ever been devised for doing this Is 20
adopt a budget procedure which VIII
charge the Executive with responsible
itv for the formulation and submission
of definite proposals for the expendi-
ture Of public funds and the Legs
lature with the responsibility OF APP
prevail or rejection of these proposals.
"The very general disregard Of the
mandatory provision Of the Consutu-
ton relative 10 appointments In the
civil service, the repeated changes In
departmental Offices, whereby the state
is constantly losing those who have
been trained az its expense just az the
time when their services are beginning
d L.. he. GOT n
eral. and perhaps well founded, that
service in any branch Of our state gov
eminent is Of necessity temporary and
not worth serious consideration OF
Young and ambitious men. trained and
equipped for the business OF life; these
and many other causes have made II
difficult. if not impossible, 20 so man
the great departments OF the state IN
the hundreds Of subordinate places
that the business affairs Of eleven
millions of people. composing the state
NJ New York as such, can be conducted
With the wisdom and foresight and sue
cess required in any business enter
mise in which the average citizen may
he engaged | shall use my utmost
cndeavors TO secure a change in this
regard. Nh.
az have been repeatedly urged to re-
fer 70 the subject of the short ballot,
so called, and 10 what believe to be
tTo truth that complete and thor
rncbgoing administrative reform is
Isrdly possible as long as the funda-
rental law Of the state required the
Lection Of seven state officers indie
ncndent of each other, and thus prac-
ticaily compels a seyen-headed admin
;strat;on This is. Of course, matter
which must be left to the COns,ltu-
lanai Convention soon TO assemble. a
G~,;,,, ~ ubon. IL is fair 10 assume