New-York tribune., 1919-09-22
Makes Many Offices APP
pointive, Chief Execu-
tive Responsible, and
His Term Four Years
III Departments
Are Eliminated
Budget Important Feat
ure of Plan; Hearing at
City Hall Wednesday;
Party Leaders Favor 1t

A plan Tor compete rcOrEaNlZatlOn
Of the state government will be pre-
sented to the public in the form of a
report to the Governor by the New
York State Reconstruction Commission
at hearing to be held at City Hall
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
In their recommendation for i'm
provements of administration the re-
port says the commissioners are SUB
stantially agreed that economy and
responsible government can result only
from:
The consolidation Of Offices. boards
and commissions into few GREAT do
partments of government, each re-
sponsble for the conduct of a par
ticular major furction-such as
finance, health, welfare of public
works
Vsstng the power of appointment
and removal of department heads in
the Governor, making him, in fact as
we'll as in theory, the responsible
chief executive OF the state There
is difference of opinion as to the
desrability of confirmation of the
Governors nominations by the Senate.
A budget system, vesting in the
Governor the full responsibility for
presenting to the Legislature con-
solldated budget containing all ex-
pendltures which in his opinion should
be undertaken by the state, and a
proposed plan for obtaining the
represent the work of the Governor
and his cabinet.
Would Extend Governors Term
1t is recommended that the Gov
ernoTs term be extended to four
years, and that there be careful ad-
Iustment of the terms of department
heads with reference to the term of
the Governor
The report points out the need of
fletrenchment in state expenses; quotes
.he tact that the general budget ap-
preparation for the next fiscal year
was S90,0O0,OOO; that the state
revenue Is insufficient to meet this
seed, nee a.. and that between s18,OO0,0OO and
Szo,oooooo had to be provided by new
s.sgislatlon' with an additional amount
,of increasing local resources, which
100000 W ~ s'o'
1t refers to the increase in expendi-
,.ure, which it declares needless,
pprought about by the constant addition
py each new Legislature of new de-
partments, bureaus or agencies to ad
uihistratve organization, resulting in
oupllcation of functions.
for example, it says that more than
eeVeh departments are collecting and
assessing taxes; there are ten engi-
heerlng departments, and numerous
control and visiting departments for
correctional and charitable institu-
sIohs and hospitals for the insane,
many OF which might be put with ad-
vantage under one head. There are
a,so' .I' 1t says, legal functions scattered
through ten departments besides that
" the Attorney General.
Supported by Leaders
Inc report says the commission's s
pan has already gained the support
oI Democratic and Republican leaders,
ana some of the principles involved
rave rave been included in Progressive and
oociaiist platforms as we'll.
Inc plan proposed by the commits
Non, Of which Abram J. Elkus is head
wouid consolidate 1877 departments, bu-
.eaus, boards, commissions and other
agencies and appurtenances of the
s"te government into sixteen depart
@ents, as follows:
Executive Department.
department of Audit and Control.
~, department of Taxation and
Finance.
department of Public Works.
department Of Attorney General.
department Of State.
department of Conservation.
Markets.
department. of Labor.
department. of Education.
department. of Health.
department of Mental Hygiene,
N,sslties and Correction.
uoiic Service Commissions:
department. OF Banking and Insur-
DDepartment Of Civil Service.
Aga apartment Of Military and Naval
only the Governor and the Con-
Ssu.e S".ef The latter acting as an indepen-
49, financial officer, are left under
6csrs'a s'an as elective administrative of
A'Tfs 81 Of the state.
no,an. Eovernor would be the real and
.' craa. mead, the commission SAYS. of a
hava oasiness-like machine, he would
wo"i, tremendous power, but also he
~ nave tremendous responsibility
Continued on page four