Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-22
FINANCES OF THE STATE.
Torrington Representative Thinks the
State Is Going Wild.

State Is Going Wild.
 MT Barnes of Southington, the chair
 man of the committee on finances,
 made an interesting statement in the house yesterday when the bill for the
 making of appropriations for the next two fiscal years, amounting to $1,-
 16O,350, was taken up for considera-
 ton. The bill was amended by chang
 ing the appropriation for the salary of the state librarian from $6,400 to $3,- 60O the former sum having been print ed in mistake. MT Barnes states that the treasurer's estimate of receipts for
 the next two years is $5,345, ,000, and
 already the appropriations voted by
 the general assembly amounts to $5,- 612, ,15O. This leaves prospective de-
 fcit of $267, ,1O050, and there are still appropriations to the amount of $30O,- GOO to be passed on The committee
 had rejected requests for approprla-
 tions to the amount of $4s3, $50.
 AIr Hubbard of Litchfield suggested
 that the bill be tabled, but MT Barnes, not showing 8 willingness to acquiesce in the suggestion MT Hubbell did not press it and the bill was passed. Subsequently MT Barnes explained the bill making an appropriation of S450,O00 to the highway commissioner
 for good roads, and also the following: Salary of commissioners, $6,000; travel ing expenses. $1,500; office expenses, $6,000. Mir Barnes saL the report of
 the committee was not unanimous. He
 offered an amendment that the sum
 for travelling expenses be. increased to
 $2,400 and for office expenses to SS,- 9O0
 MT Calkins of East Lyme asked MT Barnes the reason for his offering the amendment.
 MT Barnes said that the additional
 sum to the appropriation for expenses
 would be absolutely necessary if the appropriation of $450,000 for good roads is passed.
 Mir Callsins then favored the amend
 ment, which was passed
 Mir Pratt of Torrington said the
 house could hardly know what 1t was
 doing in voting such sums. We have
 created new judge, a new tax com
 missioner and q new clerk of bills and the commissioner on insurance has re- ported i'll favor of the creation of the
 office of fire marshall We are going wild. We all know the strength of the pressure which is brought to bear
 on committee of nine gentlemen. There are measures before the commit tee on appropriations which are in the interest of movements of more benefit to the state than good roads. He had 1 nothing to say in criticism of the high | way commissioner. He is q gentleman in every sense of the word. But this
 addition of $100,O00 to the appropria- ton for good roads is due largely to his skillful work
 MT Calkins wished to say that $30O- ! GOO or $400,000 had been appropriated | for the Judiciary and $200.000 or $300,- % for the military. Now give the farmers of the state good roads (Ap- l plause).
 MT Allen of Groton favored good roads and said that 1t was necessary to spend money to secure them. MT Wil1es of Vernon spoke in favor of making a liberal appropriation for good roads.
 MT Adams of Norwalk said the. 1 amount Of money asked for could be 1 appropriated and still the state could l live within it's income.
 MT Bicknell of Meriden, in referring I to MT Pratt's remarks about the high way commissioners skill, said that he had no doubt the gentleman from Tor ] rington referred to the commissioners l skill in practically demonstrating the l utility of good roads, and not his skill | in getting the committee to report in 1 favor of the increased appropriation. l MT Bicknell favored the increase. MT Barnes said he was heartily in l favor of good roads. He merely. l wished the house to know just how l the finances of the state stood, so that l it could not be said hereafter that the committee on appropriations withheld l information from the house. There 1 are yet matters calling for appropria- | tions which amount to $300,000 under 1 the consideration of the committee.