New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-18
Leaders Decide Not to Ex-
tend Controllers Power
Over Expenditures.
NAUTICAL SCHOOL
TO BE RETAINED
Mohansic and Yorktown Heights
Institutions Will Be Abol-
ished This Year.

Iron a star Corresponden, Of The rn0unsl
Albany. March l7.-Despite the rec
ommendation Of Governor Whitman In
his message 20 the Legislature, State
Controller Travis will not be placed IN
complete control of the expenditures
of all State Departments. This was
decided at conference in the execu-
tive Office to-day by the Governor. Sen
ator Sage, chairman Of the Finance
Committee; Assemblyman Maier, chair
man Of the Ways and Means Commit
tee; Speaker Sweet and Assemblyman
Adler. majority leader.
In his original recommendations
Governor Whitman asked that the ex-
penditures of the State Hospital Com
mission, the Superintendent Of Public
Works and tho Prison Department,
among others, be subjected to the
scrutiny of the State Controller The
conference decided that such d Iaan
was impracticsble.
II was decided to retain the State
Nautical School for another year, TO
give its supporters an opportunity to
have il placed under control Of the
Federal government. It was also tenta-
lively decided to abolish the port ward
ems Of New York Harbor. and to pass
what is known as the personal liability
bill, which provides that state officers
exceeding their appropriations snail be
personally liable for the excess.
Budget Bill Not Discussed.
The budget bill was not discussed at
the conference. It's form having been
decided on az a previous meeting. IL
will be very different from the original
measure that came from the Governors
Office.
The conferrees also decided to pass
legislation changing the beginning OF
the fiscal year from October 10 to July
/. and TO support the bill providing
that the Controller must certify that
an Appropriation has been made ard
that he has the funds in reserve TO
pay on a contract before 1t ~ let.
This bill also provides that expendi-
lures above 1000 must be by con-
tract.
Summed up. about the only thing
contained in Governor Whitman's mes
snge 10 the Legislature urging financial
reform that has remained intact is the
changing of the beginning Of the fiscal
year, as his budget bill has been
changed almost beyond recognition BY
the Legislature.
To-day's conference decided to sbol-
ish the State Hospital at Mohansic AMI
the Training School for Boys at YORK
town Heights, but no decision was
made as TO how this will be accom-
plished. The Wagner bills abolishing
these institutions are practically dead,
and Senator Sage has already declared
that he will agree TO no such legisla-
ton unless New York City reimburses
the state for the 81 $4,000 which It
has expended on the institutions.
Maier Hopes for Measure.
Assemblyman Mailer declared this
afternoon that some form OF legislo-
tion wiping out the Mohansic institu o
lions would come from his committee
before the end Of the session, despite
the committee action this week IN Kill
ing the Wagner Bloch bills. Mr.. Maier
had not the least idea as to what this
would be, but it was said that II would
meet with the approval OF Senator
Slater, OF Westchester County, VINO has
been vigorously fighting the closing OF
these institutions.
Senator Slater apparently has no
such hope, for ne asserted this after
noon that the MohGnsic bills were dead
TO- this session and that no further at
tempt would be made 70 revive them.