Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-06

amounts in many cases are large and are /
continually increasing, and under any |
consideration arc, as now administered, |
not conducive to the proper direction Of |
the state monies. h M
would recommend that all such fees |
and earnings be transmitted to the state |
treasury and that regular appropriations |
to meet the requirements now served by |
them be regularly made.
Seventh. Every institution or depart-
ment applying 10 the legislature for finah-
cial aid should advise the. legislative COM
mittee in writing of the full scop eof its
intentions relating TO the amounts solicit
ed, and such documentary declarations
should be Kept on file by the comptroller
for the use of future legislatures, and
/ should be open to public inspection. More:
over, all building plans and all plans for
construction or development which are
submitted to the, board of control in con-
nection with applications for public funds
should be filed with the comptroller and
| also kept as matter Of record. n
! Eighth. I believe that the meetings of
| the board Of control should be omen to
the public and that the rules and regula-
tons Of this board should provide for
hearings at which the general public shall
be- entitled to be present. I recommend
also that the powers granted by previous
general assemblies to the state board of
control in chapter 314, public laws of
1918, should be SO restricted as to confine
the power and authority given it to in
crease specified appropriations to the
maintenance and actual running expenses
only Of such departments and institutions.
Such grant of legislative authority was
made under extraordinary conditions, and
can oriy be justified to relieve actual dis
tress or embarrassment.
4 Consolidation Of Offices
I a!>o, believe that the efficiency of our
institutions could be increased, and the
powers of supervision and regulation ex-
ercised by the state under existing laws
greatly harmonized and improved, il
, there wa ga reorganization of several Of
the state departments 1 believe that
many of these departments as they now
exist could be consolidated and reorgan-
lied with very great advantage, both
from the standpoint of efficient and eco
nonlical administration. and also by har-
montzins the power, scope and authority
of the various departments, all of which
have some regulatory and supervisory au-
: thority under existing law. ecoRmpenda-
! tons along this line have been made by
my predecessor. Governor uolcomb, and
so far as they have been adopted have I
believe, worked to advantage. Present
l conditions MARI this as the logical time
S to undertake this matter thoroughly. and
r I would recommend that in the organiza-
I ton Of your bodies Joint special com.
: mfttee be raised to investigate and report
4 at the earliest possible moment to YOU
e their recommendations upon this subject
Deficiency Appropriations.
= among the . I matters that will b
: brought to -FOUR attention and that mus
q be acted upon by you Immediately, ar
= certain deficiency appropriations. Mos
rlaf,yn
Y unusual conditions of the past two year
Il as regards the increased cost of all Ia
! Dor and materials. O.. -. -
Il 1t Is needless for me to tell you tina
l. these increases have been beyond the pos
:, sib.e expectation of those charged wit
! their expenditure, or OF the board c
finance who assisted in preparing til
budget of two years 60 Or- of the legis
- lature which authorized the appropris
= tons.
- Tne board Of control under. its authori
: ty has done everything possible to reliev
is the various departments and institution
. but its money has been exhausted.
The n eds are in many cases acute an
L would advise that you apQropriat.
subject to the previously advised cond
: tons, some. If not all, of the money T,
= quired to meet these DEFICIENCIES to I'll
y board Of controI and that you authori2
!" that. board to act during the time that I'll
~ present legislature may be in session.
Highways.
r In considering the construction of ne,
e, / state highways and the maintenance
those already constructed while yo
II should observe at all times the stricte.
'e economy and the greatest possible ca;
N tai.n1ert for the next two Years, the fai
ID renain sthat our entire system is base
ot upon a continuous policy
Is Many of our highway obi;ga tons, DO;
in between the state and town. and betwee
E. the. state and the federal government
j. are overlapping from year to year ar
'e from one legislative session to anothe
r and do not deem that it would be al
ss visable to materially interrupt the e
tabliehed system even at the presel
I'd time
to To meet the necessary requirements
e. this department, you will PROBABLY ha-
u to authorize the issue of highway bond
tie These bonds should be either serial BON
than the estimated life Of the roads. al
be OF bonds running for no longer peril
he Il sufficient sinking fund should Of cour
IL be provided to meet THE bonds as til,
he | mature, You should bear IN mind, hoI
ch ever. that the present financial cond:ti,
ey of the country does not warrant issuii
ut Of any bonds ueless the neew for t
or monies to be raised thereby is inlper
id tive ana unavoidable.
al The maintenance of the roads aIreat
constructed should not be neglected. a.
or if further funds than those now ava:lat
CHI for. that purpose are required. resi
re tratiol. license and other fees assess
nm on motor trucks and other motor ven;cl
should be revised with the idea of pls
GO ing a fair and reasonable burden Of Il
80 cost and expense upon such large use
10, Of the highways.
IN Street Railway Situation.
70 70 The street railway situation in t
state is acute and demands your ca,
Lie attention. The situation is one viii
concerns not only those of you who cor
w. from the centers of population. but It
NC NC Of vital importance 20 every section of I
slr state and to the taxpaying public as
p9 whole
ne Some OF our street railway syste
. have been abandoned, others are bel
continued in operation under tie sup
- vision Of the state courts. and one
u being operated by trustees appointed
the United States court Few, If a;
have paid any dividends to their sto.
holders in recent years, and indeed, it
a vital question as to whether they c
under present economic conditions q
NJ tinue even to exist and operate.
Fares have been increased after inv
tigation by and with the permission
the Public Utilities Commission, but s
r the receipts have not kept pace with
Increased expense of operation, regard
~ Of the costs imposed upon such CO
Dad panies under existing laws for taxes,
at contributions to paving, for bridges 9
but for other n,d,l;c announcements
M. This condition exists not. only -
~ | Connecticut but in every other state, 4