The New York herald., 1921-02-19
Economy Policy Extends to
Every Branch of State
Service in Accordance
With Promise.
800 JOBS ELIMINATED
PayrOlls Cleared of Useless
Retainers and Whole Bu-
reaus AbOlished-MOre
Soon to Go.
TOTAL ABOUT 3O,OO0.0O0
Senate Finance Committee Dis
regards Wall of Protest
From Legislators Who
Would Mend Fences.
Special Despatch to THE New York IiERAIA
New York Herald Bureau,
AIhanv Feb. "a.

Special Despatch to THE NEW York HEntA
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, Feb. IL.
Gov. Miller has made good his prom
ise to save the State s75, 100000 In the
first year of his administration.
Under the firm pressure of his hand
the budget for 1921 has been cut from
s205 900, 900 TO about s130,0oo,Ooo. The
policy of economy denounced less than
two months ago as impracticable and
impossible actually is In operation to-
day. The taxpayers will see the result
in their next State bills
More than 500 useless jobs have
been cut off from the State payrolls.
Another 300 or 400 will be cut on be-
fore the amputating process Is COM
pleted. Duplication of work is coming
to an end. Whole bureaus are being
eliminated and the machinery OF the
State government is being improved
The economy policy has been ex-
tended to every nook and corner OF
the State capital, TO every bureau and
branch of the state service from New
York to Buffalo. and in each and every
office many dollars have been saved to
the public.
Figure May BE sI3O.OOO.OOO.
Senator Charles J. Hewitt announced
to-day that the tentative figure of the
budget would be approximately $780,
900, 900. Broad smiles covered the face
Of the Chairman Of the Senate Finance
Committee this morning when he
walked into the Executive Chamber and
said to w. Ward Smith, the secretary.
Td like to see the Governor for a min
ute. / have some good news for him
that I think will cheer him up a little"
The Senator then made known tho
result of the first six weeks OF pruning
on the budget. stating that just about
SIS. 10000 has been cut out of the
budget. \ few millions more may go
before the final figure is reached.
The Governor was tremendously
pleased.
II think we ought to have a celebra-
ton" the Governor said.
When we started January /. said
that the budget would have to como
down to $4,000. .000," he said. The
budget makers In the Legislature are
going me one better. They may save
$4,000. 900 more than ! thought could
be saved"
To Senator Hewitt must go much Of
the credit for the success of the Cover
nors economy programme. Here Is an
illustration of how he had done it. Two
weeks ago the budget still stuck around
the St60,00O.000 mark and everybody
said that was az low as IL could go.
Is that so? Just watch me-" sena-
tor Hewitt remarked 10 Senator Lusk.
Then he sat down at his telephone
and sent out word TO the head OF every
department and bureau that they must
get busy and cut a few thousand more
out OF their department estimates or
their jobs would not be safe. There was
a roar of protest.
II have got to have sl50.000 20 repair
tho roofs Of buildings in my depart
ment" the head Of one department told
the Senator.
You get 100000" the Senator an
swered. and down went the figure on
the paper.
This is a poor kind Of economy" the
department head exclaimed. angriiy.
Whats the sense of saving that $780,
900 X roofs are going TO leak and do
$500. 900 worth OF damage?''
You can make every roof in your
department waterproof with that s50.- q
O00." the Senator remarked blandly. IL b
there are leaks that do 100000 worth
of damage or $4,000 worth OF dam- I
age l Will say 10 YOU confidentially I
that I won't give a nickel for your Job.
The department head now feels quite
confident" that the $4,000 can be spread !
ou: thin enough to stop all the LEAKS tcr !
~ least "a year or two That &c "a far
sample Of what has happened not cnca |
but several times day In the Office Of l
the budget maker from Locke.
special Measures Held Up.
II viii be a week before the annual ap-
preparation bill is reported 10 the Legis-
laturc Until II finally is disposed Of
no special appropriation measures will
be acted on. and very few OF them will
get 90 the Governor II there is any dan
ger OF the States outlay for the next
fiscal year exceeding $780, 100000 Log
Islators who believe that they must keep
up their political organizations by spe-
cial appropriations for bridges culverts.
FISH hatcheries and other public struc
lures already are sending up wall OF
protest az the treatment they arc re-
ccivlng at tho hands of the finance lead
ers.
Tn, determination % the budget
maisers TO Eccp the budget within $780,
GOO. 900 is bccaus of their belief that
the entire present state surplus of sis.-
100000 may be required in the coming
year
Gov. Millers original intention OF let
ting the appropriations go as high as
sl40.00O.000 would have necessitated
using part OF this surplus. The possi-
bility OF cutting down the amount OF
money expected from the income and
corporation tax through business de-
preston has made the legislative Lead
ers believe that any breaking into tie
stats reserve would be DANGEROUS.