New Britain herald., 1928-02-02
STATE MONEY BOSS EXPLAINS ROUTINE
Hall Defends Covering Up" of
 Mistakes by Officials

Information concerning state de- partment heads-who get into diffi.
 culties through mistakes which are
 perfectly honest is withheld from
 the public by the controllers office
 according to Senator Edward K,
 Hall. state finance committee execu.
 tive, who spoke to the members of
 the Rotary club at the Burritt hotel
 today.
 Senator Hall was introduced by
 former Representative E. W. Christ,
 Mr. Christ explained that Senator
 Halls office combines the duties for
 merly distributed among the state
 board of control, state board of fi-
 nance and commissioner of state ,n- stitutions.
 Senator Hall in opening his ad-
 dress gave a brief history of the fl. nancial problems of the state of Connecticut from 1913 to the pres- ent time. He told how at one time the state budget was made up by the appropriations committee of the general assembly. Later 1t was re. altzed that it was wise to have some ono check up on bills before they were paid. The old auditing depart. ment simply checked bills after they were paid.
 under the present system bills are checked against merchandise receiy- ed before they are paid. If there is found any discrepancy the bill is held up until it is stralghtened out,
 The state controllers departmen, IS checking up also on materials he said.
 Senator Hall explained that he has refused to give the public informa- ton through the newspapers when certain state department heads make mistakes. They are all first class. high grade men and any publicity would tend to make them feel dis. We want them to stay with us and we do not want to hold them up to criticism. If We told the newspapers every time a man made ! mistake he would lose heart. We want to protect our department leads"
 Only one story of this kind got put. he said. He told of the troubles encountered by Dr. Wilcox at the Norwich hospital. but intimated that here were other things the news- papers have not yet discovered.
 He referred to Dr. Roy l.. Leak, ! at Middletown, and everal other state department heads .s being the type who put more into heir chosen vacations than the or, ltnary business man would put into lis own business. These men are lot there merely for making money; hey are helping some poor unfor- unate who needs it," he said.
 Continuing his discussions of the institution he called at- cntton to the overcrowded condi- Ions there and said the best results ould not be obtained as long as it 'ecame necessary to put n person 'ho Is only slightly afflicted into he same ward with a maniac.
 Ofttimes people find it necessary } go to Middletown because of ervousness induced by home con- itions. In all cases he said the pa on's own story is investigated and his condition is caused by home the state requires an ad- ; lstment Of these conditions. He aid 70 per cent of the people who ( Q to Middletown for treatment are to society within IS months r shortly after. t
 He gave a brief history of the { roposed $50.0o0,0oO bond issue, hich was dropped by the state and Id Of difficulties some western 2 :ates have gotten into by raising I lnds for bond issues which arc I 'ent for roads. saying they often Z nd 1t takes all their funds to pay $ f the bonds and there is nothing q 1t for maintenance. He said Con- l. ecticut has an appropriation of r [0,o00.o00 year for roads, and n Is ample funds for maintenance forwards
 If we can continue to give you 'od service without bond issue increased taxation. I think that lli be entirely satisfactory" he S i'd. ' In tho absence of President A. H. ott and Vice-President William H. derson. Secretary B. H. McEIhone esided.