New-York tribune., 1921-09-23

bulletins, stationery, documents and
the like. Many of those reports were
from two to four years old, and the
material, If ever useful, was obsolete.
We are stopping the printing OF these
as fast as possible, and have already
saved from this years appropriations
several times the cost of administering,
the department set up under the Board
OF Estimate and Control. We hope to
make still greater savings by improv-
ing our purchasing methods and as a
result of the efficiency studies now be-
ing made of all the states activities.
Useless Work Eliminated
'I'he state has an organization of
able, efficient and conscientious public
servants. But laxness in administrx-
tlon has been allowed to increase, OBJ
solete methods to continue and useless
positions to multiply. The public serv-
Ice needed tuning up. 1t needed in
places the substitution of efficient for
obsolete methods and the elimination
Of useless work. Unfortunately that
meant the loss of positions to some.
and our opponents have even sought To
make political capital OF the fact that
the number on the pay roll of the state
has been reduced by more than $500.
regret That any one should lose his or
her position, especially in times like
these, but have considered that the
state could do most to lessen unem-
ployment i'll two ways, first by lessen
ing as far as possible The tax burdens
upon industry, and Incidentally by thus
setting an example of efficiency and
economy to the local, county and mu-
nlclpal governments, and to the citizen
AS we'll, and, second, by speeding up
necdful public work to give useful em-
ployment to as many as possible and
to stimulate industry and commerce.
The problem of improving the ad-
mlnIstratiye systems of the Federal
and of our state and local govern
ments has engaged much attention of
late years and been the subject Of
much debate
Constitutional Amendments
The various proposals for constitu-
tlonal amendments urged undoubtedly
have many elements of merit. A four
year term for the Office of Governor
would no doubt give hsm longer time
to establish policies, though vigorous
administration can do much in two
years. or nine months even, and two
years Is quite long enough for an in
efficient administration.
There has been, there still is. and
expect there always will be need of
reorganization III the public service.
We nave accomplished some plainly
needed reorganizations. We should
have attempted others, but for con-
stitutional inhibitions, and there are
still others which time and experience
VIII doubtless suggest. But my fun
damental objection to a complete re-
organization of the state government
by constitutional provision is that no
one has as yet suggested a plan so
manlfestiy perfect as to Justify its
adoption beyond the possibility Of
Change, except by the slow process of
constitutional amendment.
Three Alternative Proposals
"Three alternative proposals were
adopted by the Legislature of 1920, so
that the Legislature of 1921 could take
It's choice, and none was wholly salts
factory even to the most ardent advo-
Gates of reorganization by const;tu-
tlonal amendment. The State of Massa-
chusetts reorganized it's government in
1919 pursuant to constitutional amend
ment, and | notice that but lately p
commission has been appointed in that
state to stud'- -Ne subject OF govern
'ntal organization.
Take, Icr example, the institutional
problems. None is more important IN
this state or more controversial. The
different groups, the state hospitals.
the institutions for the feeble minded
the penal, reformatory, correctional and
other so-called charitable institutions
all present problems, each peculiar 10
itself. ! have been studying those
problems l have Visited and carefully
Inspected every one of those institu-
tions. hope to formulate and to pro-
mote certain defnite lines IL nniicr