The sun., 1919-09-25
90
BUDGET FAVORED AS
INFRINGEMENT AID
First Hearing on Rec0nstruc-
ton Proposals Develops
But Little Criticism.
--=------=----=----
OBJECTIONS ARE MINOR
Frederick G. Tshner, Believes
Governors Term Should Re-
main at Two Years.
OBJECTIONS ARE MINOR


the Government of New York State and
tells how this may be done. was SUBJ
,ected to surprisingly little adverse
criticism in the first public HEARING in
p the Aldermanic chamber in the City Hall
yesterday. =
The retrenchment committee of the
commission. which prepared the report.
sat under the Craftsmanship Of Alfred E.
Maring. All the State departments
affected by the proposals-which would
cut the number of departments and
other agencies from 1877 to 16, would
give the State budget system and ex-
tend the Governors term from two to
four years-were invited to send spokes-
men II was hoped that II the pro-
gramme was defective the faults would
be pointed out at once, as the report
thus far is only draft of document
which will go to Gov. Smith in few
days. Here and there objection was
made by some of the speakers, which the
committee duly noted. but the consensus,
in advance of exhaustive study, was that
the committee seemed to have made a
good job of huge undertaking.
One of the first speakers, II. de B.
Parsons of the Engineering Council, held
that the reorganization of the State
State laws was preferable to constitu-
tional amendments, which plan had been
proved fallacious He thought the plan
proposed by the committee would elimi-
nate a great deal of waste.
City Club Gives Approval.
Or. Charles A. Beard, director of the
Bureau of Municipal Research, testified
that he and his fellow workers found
- H. -.
acceptable, and said that as public opin-
ion was maturing he felt the Innovations
would be generally acceptable. Nelson
H. Spencer, heading a delegation of
trustees of the City Club, liked the draft,
especially the provision for a "real
budget system"
Frederick C. Tanner formerly Republi-
can State Chairman and chairman of
the committee on Governor and other
State officers in the constitutional con-
vention OF 1915, said the plan lin real
ity carries out the system of short bal
ot,j cabinet system and a scientific
budget, which have been advocated since
the days of Cleveland. He submitted
figures showing that from 1894 to 1914
the increase in the States population
was SO per cent and the increase in the
tax rate 2S5 per cent. This and the
huge increase in the budget he said
TEN itself. and no business house would
tolerate 1t for moment.
Both the Legislature and the Gov
ernor. he went on, ARE harassed by
all sorts of claims from all sorts of de-
partments. Log rolling of the worst
kind is the result and the cost OF ad-
ministration is far beyond what 1t should
be and the people properly can pay. The
general plan you have proposed will de-
stroy the shelter of the pork barrel and
II is the only thing that will destroy It,
II 1t Is practical I would advocate
still further reduction in the number
Of departments but 1 am well aware of
the opposition you will meet both from
those who are averse to any radical
change and from those holding positions
under the present system.
short Term. but More Power.
81 doubt the practical wisdom OF
making the term of the Governor four
years. ] introduced an amendment at
the constitutional convention providing
for the four year term. but IL the Gov
ernor is to be given the real power and
responsibility that your plan contem-
plates l think you will find great oppo-
sition to the long term unless 1t is
coupled with the obnoxious provision
that the Governor may be recalled dur
i"s MS lOnB term Is not
nearly so important as the provision
giving the Governor real power during
his two years term.
u wish to call attention to the fact that
both parties in this State have declared
repeatedly in favor OF the general re-
form you advocate. The constitutional
convention of 1918 was largely Repub-
lican in its makeup, and proposed a plan
which was substantially the same as
Mo- L.
years OF war when such matters are
very largely forgotten, a Reconstruction
Commission. appointe1<by Governor of
inherent political faith has submitted
very able report in which substantially
The same remedies are suggested There
is nc other State question of greater i'm
mediate Importance, with the exception
OF the adjustments in relation between
capital and 'abcr."
Walter T. lArndt. secretary of the
Citizens Union. said those who feared
that the proposed revision would give
The Governor cars power were re-
peatlng only stock argument of per-
sons who fought the constitutional
amendments Of 1915. William Gordon
Rice, president of the State Civil Service
Commission saw in the plan 1.-THE re-
suits OF wise counsel that has been
gwen by experienced business heads of
the State"
In the opinion of Victor H. Ridder
OF the State Board of Charities the re-
port did not provide sufficiently for the
ehlId welfare boards. He was also
under the impression that abolition OF
tne state Board of Charities was pro.
posed but Robert H. Moses, chief Of
me coHmittee's staff, assured him there
was no thought of this, although a
SSnahge OF organization was advocated.
nrshal Mclean, counsel for the G.
partment of Conservation, was afraid
mat the forests were not sufficiently
projected against the lumber interests
Educational Objections.
Frank B. Gilbert, deputy Commits
.. Oner OF Education, speaking in behalf
VI Commissioner John II. Finley, OBJ
!tcted to the transfer OF medical inspec
uoh OF school children fromIIthe Boart
EDUCATION to the Board of Health
ana the transfer of the counsel of tn,
department Of Education to the office o.
Tue ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Retentlon OF the State Probation Com
MISSION instead of Incorporating II II
le department of Correction was urged
hoImeT Folks of the. State Charities
niu association. He doubted also 4
e matter Of juvenile reform SHOULD
entrusted to the correction depart
sp' which dealt principally will
sut prisoners. Otherwise he heartily
approved Of the report.
H. H. Robertson wanted the Council.
~ farns and Markets abolished anC