The New York herald., 1921-01-06
Demands State Budget Be
Cut by S61,O ,OOO, 900 and
Calls Halt on Paternal-
ist Activities.
SEEKS POWER OF INQUIRY
Wants Authority to Investi-
gate Municipal Admins
tratiOns and Law En-
fOrcement.
spsciol Despctch 10 TIE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Iau

Specfot DeSpotch 10 TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Albany. Jan. D.
Gov. Miller's message to the Legis-
Jature outlining his programme Of re-
construction and economy, as read to
the Senate and Assembly at noon to-
day, was so drastic and far reaching
that it stunned the lawmakers and the
politicians.
The Governor cuts deep and hard
into the State budget. His sharp
knife slashes off the waste which has
been accommodating in the State admin
istration for the last twenty years. He
called for the consolidation of a dozen
or more bureaus and departments
and the abolition OF others. True to
the predictions and fears of the pro-
fessionaI politicians he served notice
that every unnecessary job must be
cut from the pay roll.
With the certainty of a man who
knows his job the Governor touched
the dozen sore spots which developed
under the emergencies and misuses of
war time and which were permitted
80 remain for political patronage.
Consolidation of Bureaus.
Nine departments and bureaus are to
be thrown out completely under the GOV
ernor's recommendation. Engineering IA
To be consolidated into one bureau and
the vast amount Of duplicating work
eliminated. Six tax collecting agencies
are TO be assembled under one head. The
Industrial Commission and It's several
bureaus are to be reorganized and cut
Gown In short, the Governor turns the
state administration inside out and up
side down.
It is an axiom in State government,
that once every twenty years the con-
stitution and machinery become archaic
and have to be made over. Gov. Miller
goes far in his first message in accom-
plishing what the constitutional conven-
ZION, the reconstruction commission and
ali the reform agencies In the state have
been demanding for the last six years.
Reversal in State policies to affect the
metropolis and every city and hamlet of
the state is demanded by the Governor.
He would curtail, IL not abolish. compul-
sory military training. He warns the
Legislature TO start no new projects un-
Ill money is available to meet the bills.
and serves notice on department heads
that IL they exceed their appropriations
il will be ground for dismissal. He
would throw the protecting arm OF the
state around labor by strengthening the
Workmens Compensation law while at
The same time abruptly halting the tend
ency toward paternalist activities of the
government.
Dropped into the message here and
there are little barbs and stings which
cause the politicians pain. The Gov-
ernor warns. for instance. that the big
task ahead cannot be accomplished with
out the most resolute courage, and that
any deviation for personal or political
consideration will make the task hope
less He holds out the prospect, how
ever, that he does not purpose to pursue
q niggardly policy and states that by
eliminating useless positions the State
can pay other incumbents what they
deserve.
Municipal Investigations.
Gov. Miller asked for authority to in
vestigate all county and municipal Of
fices and departments entirely upon his
own initiative. While no reference was
made in the message to the widespread
demand for an investigation OF New
York desy. 1t Is understood that the Gov
ornor. through the recommendation
which lie makes to-day to the Legis-
lature purposes to take n hand In the
city situation.
The Governor would accomplish this
by extending the Moreland act to give
the power OF investigating all county
and municipal offices and departments
without going through the formality of
making charges. The financial condi.
ton of New York city and Of other
municipalities suggest grave defects In
local organization and administration,
the message statea
Increasing crime In New York. and
especially the crimes of violence and tho
failure of police authorities to catch the
criminals. he says, shows there is some.
thing wrong in the administration of
the penal laws and the enforcement of
tho laws. The executive of the State
has a responsibility which he cannot
escape in facing that question. the Gov
ernor says.
No such sweeping authority ever has
been requested by Governor. III Mr..
Miller's recommendation IL carried out
he will have authority to proceed against
any State. county or municipal official
entirely upon his own initiative.
Outlines budget Cuts.
State officials have been insisting for
the last two years that there is no way
Of their cutting down the budget. which
has jumped up year after year to the
1921 total of s20l, 100000. The Gov
ernor not only demands that the budget
A. Continued on Eighth Page.