New-York tribune., 1922-01-05
ernors Message to Legislature Proposing Wide Reforms

phasized that the purpose of the work
$ constructive. not destructive, and
that it is not designed to lessen the
responsibility or to interfere in the
slightest with the power of administra
tlon OF department heads. The Board
of Estimate and Control was not in
tended and is not suited to exercise
administrative functions and should
not be vested with such functions. Its
essential purpose is to secure better
budgctary control.
am persuaded that the budget
should be divided into two parts-an
expense budget covering the cost of
administering the government and a
permanent Improvement or capital cx
penditure budget. 1t is not practical
for the Legislature or its committees
thoroughly to examine into the almost
infinite details of the former during a
legislative session. The latter involves
broad questions of policy which the
Legislature should have ample time
to consider The former should, for
the most part, follow principles or
rules susceptible of uniform applica-
tion. Tho items of the capital cxpendi-
ture budget have to be studied each
upon it's own merits. 1t should be
possible. by thorough cooperation be-
budget organization, to reduce the cx-
pense budget to its lowest terms be-
fore submitting it to the Legislature.
For the reason stated, that has not
been done this year. The capital eX-
penditurc or permanent Improvement
budget should, in my opinion, be sub
mittcd practically as requested.
Consolidation of Departments
In my opinion. economy and eff
cheney can be promoted by consoli-
dation of the Department of Public
Works and the State Engineers office,
and possibly by including some other
departments whose work is related
Highways, State Architect ana tho I>s-
partment of Public Buildings. Various
plans have been suggested for the con-
solidation of two or more of those de-
partmcnts. Such consolidation cannot
be effected without a constitutional
amendment. as the superintendent Of
Public Works and the State Engineer
and Surveyor are constitutional Off
GERS. Were there no constitutional re-
straints in the way, am not certain
what plan of reorganization I should
recommend. The problem is one which
has to be worked out with great care
and in such manner as to profit by
the lessons of experience. Wherefore
a reorganization by constitutional
amendment. Instead l recommend q
constitutional amendment which will
remove the present restraints and
make it possible for the Legislature
to provide for the consolidation and
reorganization of any two or more of
those departments in such manner as
to admit OF needful changes from time
to time as experience may suggest.
Payments for Personal Service Out Of
Special Funds
renew the recommendation made
last year that all personal service cx-
cept of temporary character be pro-
vided for in the appropriation bill and
that payments for personal service out
Of special funds be permitted only on
the approval of the Board of Estimate
and Control.
State Printing
The powers OF the State Printing
Board were, by Chapter 337 of the laws
of 1921. transferred TO the Board Of
Estimate and Control with add iional
powers. BY the elimination of unMeces-
sary printing snd of superf1uous matter
in reports and bulletins and by regu-
lating the quantity and the distribu-
tion Of reports, measures have already
=, been taken which will effect a saving in
departmental printing of more than
$500 000 five times the cost of the en-
( tire organization set up by the Board
Of Estimate and Control study of
our printing laws and practices dis
closes that still further marked econ
omies can be effected by changes in
the law. All departmental printing
now has to be awarded in single con-
tract. The result is the elimination of
competition. There are many different
classes Of work which do not have to
be done in Albany. Although the state
has printing plants in at least two
state institutions well equipped to do
certain classes Of work the work tia