The New York herald., 1921-01-06

III Is lneVltaDle that WIN that eXpan-
sion there has been corresponding ac-
emulation Of overlapping and duplica-
ton, of obsolete methods and of COM
paratively useless work. Customs and
practices, once developed in public busi-
ness, seldom change. however obsolete
or Inefficient they may become. We
must address ourselves to the task of
elimination of waste effort of obsolete
customs and practices and the substi-
tuition Of modern business methods The
heads of departments should be able to
tell us how that can be done without
injury to the service. but they are bound
to survey the problem from a different
angle. They are not confronted with
the task of apportioning the available
funds among all the States activities
instead they are bound to magnify their
own work. and the more competent they
are the more they are imbued with it's
Importance. We are confronted with
the task OF determining relative i'm
portance. and of eliminating the least
important. Moreover, department heads
are subject to strong influences within
the department which oppose change.
We are confronted this year with the
necessity of doing the best we can with
the data at hand and with the help of
department heads The more help we
get from tho latter the less likely shall
we be to fall into error. The Legislature
has taken q long step forward in the
preliminary preparation of the budget.
The work of the legislative budget COM
mittee has been of great assistance to
me. But n further step needs to be
taken, and I recommend the creation of
permanent organization with ample
power to survey the work of all depart
ments and not merely to compile csti-
mates. but to revise them.
Agency and Authority.
The important thing is that a proper
agency be created responsible to proper
authority. l do not think it useful to
discuss the respective merits of legis-
lative or executive budget plans. The
vital thing Is TO create the agency. and
II appears to me that that can be done
without interfering with the functions Of
either the Legislature or the Executive.
| Both must cooperate to secure the de-
sired result IL Is desirable that both the
LEGISLATURE and the Executive have first
hand knowledge of the work and meth
DDS Of such an agency. and equally de-
sirable that that work be given due
credit by both.
The State Comptroller's office is the
one office In the State having q COM
plete record OF all the financial affairs
OF the State. In discharging the func-
ton OF audit the Comptroller acquires
knowledge OF great value to the work of
such an agency. I recommend that a
board OF estimate and control be cre-
ated. consisting OF the Governor. or such
representative as he may from time 20
time designate. the chairmen of the
Ways and Means Committee Of the As
sembly and the Finance Committee Of
the Senate, and the State Comptroller.
That board should appoint budget
staff, specially qualified for the work.
which, with ample power OF examlna-
tion. should. as directed by the board.
make surveys and studies OF all OF the
! States activities with view Of intro
ducing improved methods. eliminating
waste and useless duplication. correlat-
Ing effort, standardizlng positions of like
grade and promoting efficiency. Esti-
mates should be filed with the budget
bureau on n specified date. and under
the direction of the board should be re-
vised and tabulated for submission to
the Legislature. IL appears to me that
such plan will not infringe In any way
upon legislative power. It Is workable
I and II rightly put into execution should
give the Legislature and the Governor
the information necessary to enable them
TO promote efficient and economical adj
ministration. We can make a begin
ming this year with such Information
as we have at hand. We should be able
next year with moro complete infor'N .
| ton still further to reduce exvoe ts
| Tttrfadiofion ovar two other suvIsSts,