Daily camera., 1897-04-27
FINANCES OF STATES.
Troubles Arising from Wasting Of
Public funds.
The Need of Economy in Several
States Is Becoming Manifest
Results of Legislative Ex-
trayagance.

The statement of Comptroller Rob-
erts, of New York, as to the rapidly
growing expenses of that state will
awaken more than a local interest.
He shows that in 16 years the expenses
of that state have more than doubled,
and that without any proportional In
crease in population and wealth. In
1881 the total expenses of New York
for canals, schools and general pur-
poses were $9,S7S, ,214.59, and in 1896 the
same expenses were $40, 1920, ,022.47. The
largest increase was in the general eX-
penses, they being twice what they
We're, while canal expenses remained
nearly the same, and school expenses
increased only about one-third.
The chief causes for the great growth
in New York states expenses is made
clear. They are the increased cost OF
the charitable institutions and of the
Legislature. In 1887 the sum spent by
the state for the support, buildings and
repairs of charitable institutions was
$1,46S, ,4715S. Last year the same in
stitutions cost s5,SSs, 1874, an increase
in ten years of 400 per cent. At the rate
of increase it is claimed that the
states annual expenses for charitable
purposes will in few years reach s1O,-
000,000 Another cause is the large cost
of the Legislature, Last year the sum
spent for legislative purposes was ST.
1874 464645, of which S533, ,345.O2 was for
legislative printing and advertising
alone. Inquiries and Investigations are
also the cause of large outgo, $685.
534 having been spent in this way from
1879 to 1897, exclusive of the money
used in conducting contested election
cases.
New York state is not alone in this
matter Of increased expenditures. 1t
is the burden of the messages of large
number of governors to the legislatures
of their respective states. Gov. Hast
ings, of Pennsylvania, called attention
to the tendency of the expenses of the
state government to increase and to the
need of the legislature exercising econ
omy in making appropriations or in
luuluS heNN SOul VI lCN SoN.
Wolcott, of Massachusetts, was com
PEELED to inform the legislature that
the debt of that state had doubled dur
ing 1896, owing to large appropriations,
and that rigid scrutiny of all>esti-
mates of the several departments and
a prudent economy in all appropria-
tions'' would be necessary. The state
has been carrying on some expensive
Investigations, one of which, having in
view the determination of the gypsy
moth, has cost hundreds of thousands
of dollars. 1t is also engaged in the
expensive task of abolishing grade
crossings.
The governor of Maine warned the
legislature of that state few weeks
ago that the treasury was running be-
hind, and that the expenditures must
be brought within the income. Gov.
Rich, of Michigan, on retiring from Of
flee January ! said that the financial
condition of the state was not all that
could be wished, and that the funds in
the state treasury were practically eX-
hausted. And the governor of so con-
servative a state as Connecticut had to
inform the legislature that there was a
deficiency of $45O,OOO in the running
expenses of the state during the past
two years. In explaining the situa-
ton, he said: eve have been somewhat
reckless and careless in appropriations
of the public funds. The tendencies
incident to the time in which we live
pertaining to originating and support
ing charitable, reformatory and other
state institutions and supposed needs
have led us far away from our present
resources.
These are scattered illustrations, but
they serve to show the interest aroused
by the increase in state expenditures,
and of the need of economy in this re-
spect. In nearly every case where rea-
sons are given for the increase they are
found to be the growing cost of char
table and reformatory institutions, the
increase in offices and in legislative ex
penscs. According to the census of
1850 there was spent ON charitable in
stitutions the previous fiscal year in
the United States the sum of $39,95
SIG. Of this sum Pennsylvania spent
So. .666,4 There is no demand for
n:grcrdly economy in charitable ex-
penditures, but there is well grounded
belief that just as much good can be
accomplished in this way with less
money.-Philadelph Press.
Wheeling for Women.