Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-06

leettble, and which disregards the prin-
ciple of fairness and equitable distribu-
ton Of the tax burden. Any new sources
of taxation that can be resorted to and
which Will yield an advantageous re-
turn to the state, common surate with the
expenses of assessment and collection:
should be carefully explored. and, il
deemed advisable, adopted as an incre-
ment to the present modes of taxation.
Econeny and Corrections in Matters of
Administration Of Public Monies.
4 also believe that equally important
is the question Of economy and etlicien4
yin the expenditure of funds author
lied BY your body. The taxpayers of the
state look to you 20 see not only that
their monies are expended when condi-
! tons warrant, but also that such monies
shall be expended properly and efficient
ly; and, moreover, in such a way that
any taxpayer may know at any and all
! times the manner of expenditure of any
\ appropriation, and the state of accounts
on every authorized improvement.
| ! We have in Connecticut system of
supervision and management of our in
stitutions' that is founded on the basic
principle Of the services of the brains
heart. and labor of many loyal citizens,
] willingly and unseihshly rendered for the
state, and often at considerable sacrifice
to their own personal interests. The
| principle has thus lar happily proved
sound, and in practice the loyal and I'M
selfish spirit of our citizens administer
ing these trusts has been a great factor
in the material progress of these instf-
tutions, and in the generally commend
able conduct of their everyday affairs. So
is absorbed in the support and mainte-
nance Of these institutions at the present
time that you must now, in seeking to
improve The present financial situation
of the. state, give heed to all possible
economies that may be effected in the ad-
ministra+ion of their affairs
careful study Of the practices and
methods Of the various governing boards
of our purely state institutions, as well
as Of many departments of the state and
of state-aided institutions, leads me to
suggest to you certain matters by way
of Improvement over present practices
and 1 strongly recommend them to you
:. fer. your consideration and action:
Is First. I believe that the state should
be represented upon the governing board
of. every private Institution receiving state
aid, and that this representative should
be an active participant in the workings
Of such board, with a voice and vote OF
all matters pertaining to, the administra'
ton of the affairs of the Institution. II
the case Of privately owned institutions
which sare doing educational work fol
; our boys and girls and receiving state all
for that purpose, T believe and recon
: mend that Eour state board Of education
should have, as the representative of tn
state, voice and real influence in tn
policy and methods of such institutions
No privately owned institution which ]
: state-aided and which is open and avail
, able to- all classes alike should object t
: this cooperation. and partnership in man
agement and control on the part of tn
state, a partnership which has alread
been recognized in the joint contribute
: i of funds for their beneficent work.
Second. There should be incorporate
in our system of operating the state in
: stitutions and departments what is know
!, in corporation arrangements as inter-de
!, partmental competition in buying.
: This can best be done by the establish
4 ment OF - an accoulntancy departmer
7 which shall collect and record, throug
!, the agency of reports. all of the materi;
: details of the accounts of all state depart
= ments and institutions. These record
!. may and should be SO tabtlated as t
= check the continuance of undesirable blu!
! | ing for the state and to aid in all pun
chases.
1t should be the duty of the head of TIL
department TO notify the comptroller an
the governor of any unusual transaction
; in any state department Or institution
: and the records should at all times, b
open to the public.
This department. should be either unde
the state comptroller or board of financ
as You deem advisable.
/ make this recOnn a finn wi f,1
knowledge of the suggestions which hav
been made in the past toward the creatio
Of state purchasing department, an
which recommendations have thus far NJ
been adopted. I believe that the state Ia
acted wisely and for greater economy.
rejecting that proposition. I do not b,
lieve that the requirements of the var
+ GUS departments and. Institutions can /
as advanta geously or. economically pu
chased by a central purchasing agent
s by their respective mana gements
Third. The comptroller or the boar
. Of finance should have. full authority,
install systems of accountancy in all d
-partmeits. state institutions and institl
i tons aided by the state insofar as sta
monies are involved.
Fourth. The requirements should
made by you that all warrants for Il
payment of state monies should be spec
nc III lhelr terms and SHOW in detail Il
- property, material or services for whic
payments are sought thereon; and thu
= should only be drawn upon and paid O.
of the specific appropriation available f
the purposes indicated, and should be pa
when the occasion arises for the actu
use of such money and not before
Il Fifth. The, use of appropriations +
other than the specific purposes for viii
they were designated by the legislatu
should be prohibited and the prolibiti
| strictly enforced.
| Sixth. During recent years a. nracti
has arisen of 9. allowing certain fe,
charges and profits from operations of d
partments or institutions to remain wi
the department or institution itself, or
be transferred from one department
another without going through the sta
treasury.
At the various times when the acts a
thorizing these practices were passed t
amounts, involved were small, and tn,
bearings upon other monies expended
the state was unirnportant. Today t