New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-22
2TATE FINANCES.
to crack.


preparations for "new work and extraordinary
"repairs" upon the canals, has taken another
long stride in the direction of reform. We do
not say this simply on account of the money
which will be saved to the State. but because
the effect of the Governors action is to make
the Constitutional provisions relating to the
Canal Debt sinking funds mean something,
which they would not have done had the APP
preparation bills been signed in the shape the
Legislature left them. The Legislature, it will
be remembered, struck out of this bill the pro-
vision imposing tax, thus leaving the apprO-
priatiOns to be paid out of the ordinary reve-
nues of the canals. Tho result of this
action, had the Governor not inter-
vcned, would have been a reduction in
next years taxes obtained at the ex-
pense of deficiency equal probably to one
wears interest on the Canal Debt together with
the annual contribution required by the Canal
Debt sinking funds. The result now is that
we still escape the tax, while some pretty
heavy expenditures for work on the canals are,
if not wholly avoided, at least postponed.
Furthermore, in the opinion of Gov. Tilden
a large proportion of the expenditures author
Ized were not called for. lie says that he had
some time ago caused to he examined with
care the fOrty-One items of expenditure for
which the bill provided when it came to him
for signature and had resolved to object to
more than half the amount appropriated Upon
further reflection he concluded to refuse his
approval to the bill IN toto.
He was led to this conclusion by considering
the effect which large expenditures in the pres
ent state of the revenues from tolls would in
fallibly produce, viz: sham sinking funds. How
this effect would follow cannot be more clearly
stated than in the Governors own words:
The items which IN the nature of extraordinary re-
paIrs and the few other items which provide for the
payment of money to individuals. are subject to more
grave objection They are Ill terms
plain violation Constitution. They are in direct
conflict with its provisions for the sinking funds I" pay
the canal debts and would he breach Of tie faith
of the state II may he suggested that this bill
should be construed rs II II had read that these
payments shall he made out OF any surplus that
may exit If tho gross revenues OF the canals AFTER
the payments into the sinking fund shall have been
made. The to this suggestion are: First, the
bill would then bc completely isory and deceptive. and
would lead mschicfs the private parties depending
on AMI t the state is not within the range Of pos
siliy that the canal for the fiscal year 1906
will equal the legislative appropriations for con-
strucon, superin end nrc, and ordinary repairs. ana
the Constitutional appropriations for the sinking iunds
There will be- no suryli. of which any payments can
be made. All provisions contemplating such surplus
will he mere sham Secondly the language of the bill
clearly contradicts any ouch construction The pay
Incns are directed to be made "ol IT the gross re-
CENTS OF the canals" They authorize The money to he
taken for their payments before the payments into the
sinking funds. They exclude any idea OF waiting Tor
surplus The Canal Auditor would undoubtedly refuse
to mako payments according 70 the terms OF the
he I.eO slafu u.sn
sjty for him to import into the hill language which they
have not chosen to put there, or to require him
to make payments which tho Constitution for
bids. 1t ought not to enact as a law what,
by its manifest import, is a violation OF TIE
fundamental law The Constitution OF 1916 had its orr
gin in purpose Of the people to limit the creation OF
state debts In whatever cher partua. il may have
failed to answer the object ot good government the nil
mite value its restraints the creation Of debts during
the last fifteen years cannot be questioned Except Tor
these restraints shond in all human probability,
be grooming under the burden OF some Hundreds Of mil
lions Of state debts
We also print elsewhere the Governors oh
iectons to the Supply bill. Out of 1872 items
he has vetoed II, and among them are to be
found some hOary-hcadcd annual Jobs, which
for the first time III many years have failed OF
Executive approval. IL must be startling to
old residents of Onondaga County to find the
whole appropriation for the Onondaga Salt
Springs swept out, and the vicions suggestion
added that, instead of venturing into new
operations, the State might wisely order a
thorough investigation as to what has been
done with the money already expended.
Equally c0ld-blOoded is the veto of the
scheme for walling and covering with
stone faccway from the canal to the pump
house i'm Syracuse. The City of Auburn has a
small Job Which Is su,nmaliy cut of, the build
ing of expensive State institutions in hard
times receives sudden check, and the veto
Of the appropriation for the Willard Insane
Asylum is coupled with the suggestive com
plaint that in these State works the policy OF
beginning everything and finishing nothing
has prevailed. The chronic appropriation for
removing the bar and dredging the channel of
Cavuga Inlet gets suddenly suspended. The
Governor CURLY observes that several hundred
thousand dollars have already been expended
under the pretense of doing this work, that
the water has not been dcepened, and that
il seems well enough to stop now and
see what has been done with the money.
In all the Governor reduces the appIO-
pl.ations 3765, $50. 1t is now highly
probable that the expenditures OF the state
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1876,
will be fully provided for by the proceeds
of the taxes, though we have yet to see
how much the next Legislature will appropri-
ate for Deficiencies and other purposes
calling for money Immediately The rate of
taxation for the coming year is six mills,
against seven and Il quarter mills for the cur
rent year. The tax for the current year, how
ever, was collected on u total valuation of
50, 1G9,307, S73, while that for the coming
year will be levied on u total OF $2,366,-