New-York tribune., 1922-01-05
Says if State Costs Are
Held 10 125 Millions
Burden of $12,5OO,OOO
ON Realty Can Be Lifted
Consolidation of
Boards Suggested
Would Postpone Legisla-
ton Affecting City
Until Extra Session
IRON Stnr Correspondent


ALBANY, Jan. A.-Covcrnor Miller,
''oohu annual message, calling atten-
''oh to the fact that tho states ex-
pend''ures now wcrc less than its in
conc and calling for further ccono-
"''s' was presented to the Legislature
at the opening session to day.
II state appropriations for this wear
arc kept within Sl25 1000, 900. he said il
would be possible to relieve real ost,t.
OF the S22,50o,ooo direct tax for teach
ors salaries. A general revision Of
state tax laws was advised for the pur-
pose OF equalizin1 the tax burden.
Believes Expenses Can Be Held Down
Governor Miller expressed his cor
V'c'lon that the state appropriations
could be kept within the figure he
'iamad without tho impairment of any
junction of the state. He nointcd ont
'n"' IN spite of the relentless cutting
OF last Years appropriations there
were no deficiency requests, indicating
'hat the appropriations as cut had bccn
su'ilcicnt to meet all needs.
HIS message made it plain that the
s,a'e Was on sound financial basis AS
INC result OF tho economies a1rpadv cr
1ected, and he recommended that the
surplus be used to tide the state over
what might be a period Of diminishing
returns.
., There should be an amendment to
inc state constitutions he said, permit
'ing the consolidation of two or more
state dcpartmcnts which were duplicat-
ing each others work. There were con.
fusion and overlapping of functions. he
SAID. among the Department Of Public
works, the State Engineers office, the
highway Department, the State Archi-
tects office and the Department of
Public Buildings.
iic contrasted the comparatively eff
Gent and economical administration Of
the state government with the appar-
ent waste in local governments and
recommended Investigations in such
cases
:. So far as legislation affecting New
YORK Nity was concerned, he thought
1T should be postponed until the pro
posed special session of the Lcgisla-
turc, which is to consider the rcport of
Governor Miller advised the concen-
tration of disabled ex-service men in
the district centering about New York
~ the hospital which is being built in
Kings Park, l.. L., advice which, he said
mad the approval of the American Le-
glon. The message made no reference
to state bonus
The Port Authority plan for New
YORK City would be the subject of q
SPECIAL message, he said.
Would End Printing MONOPOLY
Among the Governors suggestions
Tor further economy in state affairs are
the substitution Of competitive bidding
lor the present monopoly in depart
mental and institutional printing con
tracts and the establishment of a
board of purchase and supply, to have
charge of the purchase of ali state de-
partmcnts and institutions.
The Governor recommended a law to
compel cities Of the first and second
classes to install voting machines.
lie advocated the appointment Of a
superintendent Of prison industries and
the establishment of prison industries
on a basis which would permit the sur
plus of prisoners compensation over
maintenance to be distributed to pris-
oners upon their discharge or to their
dependents during their imprisonment.
He suggested the sale of 1000 par
cells of state land which, he said, was
producing no revenue.
Machold Indorscs Message
Speaker H. Edmund Machold, in an
address to the Assembly after his re-
election as Speaker. characterized the
Governors message as a finger point
ing in the right direction.
''As the majority party in control in
this state last year we did everything
possible to assist the business of this
state to return to normal condition."
he said. "The greatest help given was
in stopping the mounting cost of ex-
penscs of the state government, re-
ducing our budget and thereby reduc-
ing the taxes which would be levied
upon the property Of this state"
The tuU tert of the Governors mes
so0e 7DiW be found on p11e four.