The New York herald., 1922-01-05

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money waiting in the treasury Tor the
prompt payment OF bills.
"a proper centralized system would
involve complete Standardization, better
stores control, better inspection. more
accurate anticipation of needs and less
red tape. or course, such system can
only be installed by degrees. have no
doubt whatever that II properly 1naugu-
rated great economies and better service
can be secured under q centralized sys-
tenn. Such systems have been estab-
Eshed in a number Of States, and the
reports Of operations Of each indicate
substantial saving.
New Purchasing Bureau.
"The human FACTOR Is undoubtedly
large element in the problem. but in my
opinion the Capitalization or RESPONSE
tillty will focus attention upon the work
ond bring to light any errors or fauits
that may be committed. whereas now
such errors or faults, If they occur, are
concealed by the numbers who may
commit them and whose work Is not
under close observation. They would
become critics under centralized plan.
1.-THE present purchasing methods of
the State. together with the proposed
plan of centralized purchasing, was sub
n:itted to the purchasing agents OF SIX
large companies, who are unanimous In
reporting that q centralized system Ior
the State is practical and will result in
economy.
IT recommend that Department OF
Purchase and Supply be created, the
head to be appointed by the Governor.
by and with the advice and consent OF
tho Senate, with complete power over
purchases for all departments and m
st.tutions. The functions OF the 1lscai
supervisor. OF the hospital commission
and Of the superintendent OF prisons
relating to purchases, together with the
staffs employed in this work. should be
transferred to such department. Any
other duties Of the fiscal supervisor can
be transferred to the State Board Oh
Charities The statute should be 1leX-
ibe enough to permit the department
tc be organized on broad lines and grad
tally to take overlthe work without dis
arrangement Of it. There should un-
doubtedly be three divisions or such
Cepartment--an accounting DIVISION,
stores control division and purchasing
division. independently Of the depart
created, there should be committee to
prescribe standards and specifications
and on that committee should be rep
resentative of each Of the institutional
groups.
..The state Is the owner of tax titles
to 1000 parcels of real estate. 1t has
acquired title to 113 parcels by fore
closure Of United States loan mortgages.
1t is the owner of COZ mort cages on
real estate and has other miscellaneous
holdings not devoted to public use and
not within the forest preoerve counties.
| II receives from all Of its real estate an
annual rental of about $1,40o. The
land acquired at foreclosure sale has
been owned by the State from sixteen
| 10 seyenty-five years. 1t owns mort
cages which are more than eighty years
old. many of them for small sums.
Would Sell Idle Property.
"The Commissioners of the Land Office
have the power to sell real estate owned
by the state not within the forest pre-
serve and not devoted to pubic use, but
It is obvious that that power Is made
ouate to deal with the situation. There
appears to be no one whose duty IL is
To see to it that business methods are
4
states property. That property is now
a dead asset yielding nothing and pay
Ing neither interest nor taxes. The state
might better mark off complete loss
than to have the property lying IDLE u
there is any chance of It's being utilized.
I recommend the adoption of some
eimple procedure to have the state
owned property appraised and sold with
as little formality and red tape az pos
siblc also recommend that tne
Comptroller be authorized to accept
transfers OF title to mortgags" properly
with the approval OF the Land Board.
During the past year 61S miles OF
new state highways have been con-
structed. as compared with 246 miles
Last wear: 202 miles reconstructed, as
compared with 90 miles last year, and
7A7o miles maintained. as compared
with 1860 miles last year. There are
sg5 miles of roads needing rcconstruc-
ton, and IL will be necessary 10 con-
struct 2,257 miles of new roads to com
plete the connected system OF state
roads of 1900 miles adopfed by the
LEGISLATURE last year. The bond moneys
for new construction will be practically
exhausted this year. Unless a refer
end,,m 10 issue additional bonds be sub
uitted TO the people, which l do not
advise. IL will be necessary - compiet'
the system from current revenues. ina
will mean a considerable increase for .
number OF wears in the Appropriation
for new construction as well az fo'
maintenance. That increase will have
TO be met either from an increase IL
revenues from some appropriate source
or by a direct tax. That work has beer
prosecuted during the past year witt
: upremitting vigor and there should b.
no relaxation of effort TO complete tn
. highway system OF the state. com
! pleteIy improved system of state high
wavs with the development OF motto
transport will help solve our problem
OF transportation and food distribution
State Canal System.
",rhe state has expended s1s7123,77
on it's improved canal system and term
, inais. II must now make that great in
! yestmcnt render some commensurate
service There Is no other alternativ
3 and Il unouestionably can be done. TIL
, efficiency of the canal and its adapt
> ability to modern transportation meth
/ ods have already been demonstrated
D The limit upon the business done thi
J. year. at time OF great business de
pression. was the number of availabl
/ carriers The investment Of capital !
, the construction of suitable types Q
} | carriers must be encouraged. That ca
\ ! be done first OF all by the settled polio