The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-01
MILLER'S MERGER
PLANS EXTENSIVE
Consolidation Of Highways and
Public Works Departments
4 Being Considered.

| Consolidation of the Department OF
Highways with the Department OF
Public Works and possibly a merger of
both with the Office of the State En-
gineer and Surveyor may be brought
about under the plans for retrench-
ment being formulated by Gov -elect
Nathan l.. Miller.
The first would be carried out easily
by a legislative act, as the Depart
ment of Highways was established by
special act of the Legislature in 1909
But the Department of Public Works
is a constitutional office, and a consti-
tutional amendment would. be required
to place its functions under the di-
rection OF the State Engineer and Sur,
veyor.
However, there are several constitu-
tional amendments pending in the Legis-
lature for reconstruction of the State
government, under which. ii is believed
it would be possible to place under one
department 1.-THE functions of the Depart
merits of Highways, Public Works and
State Engineer. If it should appear that
such a consolidation would make for in
erased efficiency and economy.
OF the latter result there is little
doubt Each department has an expen :
sive staff of engineers. Many of those
under the State Engineer have little to
do as the barge canal Is completed and
only n few terminals remain TO be con-
structed.
Upon the Superintendent OF Public
Works, whose term expires with that of
the Governor, devolves the duty Of main
tanning and managing the canal system.
His only other duties relate to the super-
vision Of expenditures of monies appro-
priated by special acts oftthe Legislature
for public improvements. There is a vast
amount of small patronage connected
with the operation of the canals Edward
S. Walsh of Brooklyn, is the present Pub
lie Works Commissioner. His salary is
SIS, 900 a yeaer.
According to the legislative manual,
the duties OF the State Engineer "em-
brace engineering Investigations. surveys
and designs in connection with the vari-
GUS public works, and carrying out re-
quests for engineering data and lnforma-
ton from the Legislature and other State
departments"
The State Engineer. who is elected by
the people, gets $4,000 n year. One OF
the constitutional amendments which
must be passed by one more Legislature
before being submitted to a referendum
of the people provides that the State
Engineer be appointed by the Governor.
The salary of the Commissioner OF
Highways Is $4,000 a year. Frederick
Stuart Greene, the present incumbent,
has three years TO serve. 1t Is said he
Is willing to resign whenever the new
Governor wishes However. a consoll-
dalton Of this department with other
engineering departments would be more
in line with what Judge Miller is said
to have In mind.
Addison II. Parker, Deputy Secretary
of state. may be the Governors secre-
tary. Before taking his present office,
when Secretary Hugo was elected six
years ago, Mr.. Parker was connected in
an editorial capacity with the Wutert0tcit
Times. He was chairman of the COM
mittee that managed the primary cam
paign OF the ticket selected by the Sara
toga unofficial convention and later was
Judge Millers personal campaign man
ager. He has wide acquaintance with
politicians throughout the State.
Suggestion has been made to the Gov
ernor-}ect that what New York city
really needs Is a new charter and that
commission should be appointed 10
study the Ills OF the municipality with
that end In view.