At the same time I reported to the Board of Classification that their prices on blankets were in excess of the open market prices by 50 cents on each blanket, and I would at this time impress upon the superintendents and stewards the desirability of obtaining releases from the Prison Department for the purchase of as much of these materials cloth and blankets as possible. Commissioner Solomon of the State Prison Department has said, "I think it would be much better when Mr. Ettinger wants blankets, for us to release them, possibly, than to reduce the price. We are not able to manufacture them sufficiently for the demand.”

This presents an opportunity for marked economy in the purchase of cloth figuring approximately 30 per cent on all materials required. On blankets, as our purchases are about 10,000 per annum, a saving of 50 cents on each blanket is well worth considering.

Vocational employment for the patients of the various State hospitals is to-day conducted on a paying basis in several of our institutions and with the co-operation of the Commission, the superintendents and stewards, I believe it can be extended to at least 60 per cent of our patient population and that their labor will offset to a considerable degree the cost of their maintenance. The amount appropriated for the development and equipment of the brass manufacturing industry at Manhattan State Hospital was available from the special fund. I find that the total amount expended for brass fittings, valves, etc., from October 1, 1912, to October 1, 1913, totals $4,651.34. This suggests the possibility of inducing the Legislature to appropriate the sum of $25,000 for the establishment of a furniture manufacturing plant at the Hudson River State Hospital. As the annual requisitions of the State hospitals for furniture amount to nearly $60,000, and as there are to-day special appropriations for furniture for our various institutions totaling $14,650, a hospital plant for the making of furniture would seem to be justified. At least 20 per cent of the annual expenditure for furniture or approximately $15,000 represents overhead charges and could very well be saved if such a plant was established. As $15,000 is 60 per cent of the first cost needed to establish this plant, I would ask that every effort

be made to induce the next Legislature to include among its appropriations for the State Hospital Commission $25,000 to establish on a proper basis à furniture manufacturing plant at the Hudson River State Hospital.

Very respectfully submitted,

MOSES ETTINger,

Inspector of Manufacturing and Industries.

REPORT OF THE PURCHASING COMMITTEE FOR STATE

HOSPITALS

Nov. 9, 1914.

State Hospital Commission, Albany, N. Y.

Gentlemen: Your purchasing committee for State hospitals respectfully submits the following report for the year ending September 30, 1914:

Steward Watson of the Manhattan State Hospital succeeded Steward Graney as a member of the committee May 12.

EXPERTS

The committee has made the usual contracts for staple articles during the year. Experts have been engaged to pass upon certain supplies which cannot be readily identified without special training in the individual line. These experts pass upon the samples upon which awards are to be made before the bids are considered, upon samples taken from individual deliveries made to the hospitals and upon samples furnished by contractors. The latter are sent to the hospitals to be compared with the deliveries. These experts have been of great assistance to the committee in securing curled hair, leather, tea, syrup and molasses, which comply with the specifications.

COAL

Coal was added to the list of contracts made by this committee on March 31,1914. The amount of this contract totaled $543,565.12, or 428,420 thousand-pound units. Following the suggestion of Governor Glynn, relative to the joint purchase of coal, the State Hospital Commission together with the Department of Public Buildings, State Prison Department and Fiscal Supervisor of Charities consolidated their requirements into one lump. sum consisting of 640,000,000 pounds. Specifications were drawn up by an experienced consulting engineer, and submitted to the trade. The large quantity of coal asked for naturally made the contract attractive to dealers and resulted in spirited bidding.

In the past, with few exceptions, the coal specifications re