The New York herald., 1922-04-17
GOV. MILLER EXTOLS
LEGISLATURES ACTS
Declares Last Two Sessions
Substituted Deeds for
Words.
WASTE is CHECKED
Millions Saved by Econo-
mics and Cutting Cost
of Government.
TRANSIT SOLUTION NEAR
Water Power and Port Devel-
opment Provided - Social
Welfare Not Neglected.

Specia, Dispatch to THE New YoxK HEzALp.
New York Herald Bureau.l
Albany, April 16.
Gov. Miller reviewed to-day the
notable accomplishments of the two
sessions of the Legislature held during
his administration. In a summary Of
the important laws enacted by those
sessions. both Republican, the Gov
crnor states that TIE record is one "of
accomplishment, of fulfillment Of
promises in place Of a list Of excuses
for n-perforrnance."
Economy comes first in the Gov
ernor's estimation Of the big things
he and his associates have accom-
plished in perfecting the State govern
ncnt. That and the introduction Of
sound business principles in TIE every
day affairs Of the administration have
halted the reckless extravaganza Of
recent years. He shows just what this
means.
One OF the remarkable things in the
Governors statement is his simply mat
ter of fact treatment Of the transit situ-
alton. lie does not enter into any ar
gument with the New York officials, nor
does he attempt any defense. He
takes it for granted the solution is about
at hand and that the public viii soon
see it,, This is what he says on the
subject:
''The transit situation In the city Of
New York has for years been growing
more acute with NO constructive effort
being made to solve It. The Legislature
last year passed and this year improved
an act which for tho first time provides
for the constructive solution Of The prob
lem and creates an agency with the
power to solve It. That problem Is now
being advanced on the road to a solu-
tion and every step taken is in the
public view."
Constructive Policy.
Similarly. In regard to every subject
mentioned It IL shown that constructive
policy looking to tho hnal solution Of
the problem involved has been substi-
tuted for the hodsepodge patching of
tho last dozen years. Water power de-
velopment for tho state. harbor develop
ment for New York, Standardization Of
purchases and Capitalization of bureaus.
all have been dealt with in that way
The Miller administration has been
criticized widely by the professional up
Iifters for ignoring their social welfare
program. The Governor goes into de-
tail on that subject to show that instead
Of costly and useless experiments his
administration has done more real social
welfare work than any other did in
years. His statement follows:
TO be rightly appraised the work
OF the last two sessions of the Legis-
lature must be considered in its en-
tirety and compared with that Of prior
years.
saThe first business was to stop the
alarming increase in the cost Of gov
crnment
I'm 1910 the appropriations were
$42,s75. .45o.s6.
''In 1918 they had grown to $s1.65. .s11.
Momentum of Spending.
.The unchecked habit Of spending ac-
quired such momentum that the Legis-
lature of 1891 was confronted with
budget requests including the supple
mental ones of moro than SOS. 900. 900.
BY rigid adherence to stated rules
the Legislature made a reduction of
more than s70,0o00o0 from the requests
tions of 1920 of $9.500.000. although It
had TO appropriate s10.0000o0 for defici-
encies.
"By adherence to the same policy the
Legislature of 1922 made q still further
net reduction of $2.J0O.0o0 and provided
for extraordinary and unusual require
ments of roughly $l0,0o0,00o.
.sThus i'm two successive years the
Legislature has reduced the cost of
government while making ample pro-
vision for all legitimate needs. includ-
ing necessary and fixed increases
amounting to more than $4.50O.ooo a
year.
.'That notable achievement is empha-
sized by the fact that In both years ]
have signed the appropriation bills cx-
actly as they came to mo.
.'The next task was to establish or
der efficiency and economy In the pub
lie administration by the adoption of
measures which would give some per-
manence to the application of sound
methods In the conduct OF the public
business.
Administrative Reforms.
I'VE were told that that could not be
dome without complete reorganization
OF the State government by constitutional
amendment. However. that task has
been accomplished In equally signal
fashion.
Useless activities have been eliminated
and needed departmental reorganizatlons
have been effected or provided for. SINH
lar attempts in the past failed. notably
the attempt TO consolidate the tax as
eessing and collecting agencies.
Temporary cxpedients have been
adopted and unsuccessful attempts made
IN the past to secure better budgetry
control. but all the time the cost of gov
crnment kept mounting higher.
"provision has now been made for a
permanent budget organization under
the Board OF Estimate and Control
Many attempts have been made in the
past TO eliminate useless printing. The
printing laws have now been revised so
as to secure real competition under
proper classification and specifications.
Already unnecessary printing. including
the publication OF the session laws. has
been eliminated to the amount of $780,
coo annually. Contracts for public print
ing should hereafter be let on a strictly
business and competitive basis.
'rUnsuccessfui attempts have been
made to establish a central system OF