xiv REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY

to this end. If this were adopted, every General Assembly
should be advised of the demand upon the Treasury, but more
especially in comparison with the ordinary receipts of the Treas-
ury would they be in possession of the knowledge of the amount
of those demands which prudence would dictate could be safely
given. In other words, the General Assembly having before it the
revenue of the State could always keep its appropriations within
those limitations.

"In closing these remarks. I am forced to the conclusion that
in my judgment the State has already gone too far, certainly be-
yond the resources of the State, in appropriating money and
creating new bureaus and commissions with the necessary de-
mand upon the Treasury for their maintenance. I am not to be-
understood that this applies to all appropriations or to all new
bureaus or commissions heretofore' created,but the work of the
State in different fields has of late been so rapidly and greatly en-
larged that it may be possible in some instances that such appro-
priations could be materially reduced and the work done as ef-
ficiently by a merger of such bureaus or commissions, or be done
by bodies already in existence, without any loss in efficiency to
the State."

It is a matter of gratification to believe that the suggestions
therein made have been favorably received and are about to bear
fruition. The report of the Goodnow Commission on Efficiency
and Economy, I am led to believe, will recommend these reforms,
the enactment of which in my judgment will mark a new era iu
our financial affairs. They occurred to me over a year ago, as
being the only methods whereby our State could bo placed upon
a sound business basis.

To this end, I sought the services of Mr. Harvey S. Chase, an
expert on State accounting, of wide experience, whose report
clearly establishes the correctness of my views, and whose ser-
vices are hereby acknowledged in preparing Statements "A,"
"B,"' "C'* and "D" of this report