New-York tribune., 1902-01-02
APPROPRIATION DECREASE s1s9s2o.
INTRODUCTION OF THIS IMPORTANT
BILL POSSIBLE.


Albany, Jan. 1 (SpeciaD.-Governor Odelrs
policy of economy is evident in every line of the
General Appropriation act which was sub
mitted to the Assembly to-day by Mr.. Aids
the chairman of the Committee on Ways and
Means. Under the Governors inspiration the
State Departments submitted their estimates as
to the cost of supporting their bureaus for the
coming fiscal yer month ago, and these fig
ures served a basis for the Appropriation
act,
The Appropriation act which thus reaches the
legislature is the earliest submitted in the his
tory of the State. The amount of money ap-
propriated compares follows with the grand
total appropriated for the same purposes last
year: 1901 SIG, 6,4OO611 81: 1902. 16.201 go 20;
decrease. $199, ,32O 81. Assemblyman Aids made
the following statement about the bill:
1t is the province of the Annual Appropria-
tOn bill 10 fully provide for the fixed charges of
the State for the ensuing fiscal year. and 1T is
therefore, only by the strictest economy that
any great saving is possible in this bill, and
careful investigation of the various departments
and institutions shows that it is necessary that
there should be in certain departments increases
which aggregate about $4,000. The number
of pupils in the Institutions for deaf and dumb
and the blind have increased that there is
required upward of $1,000 more than was re-
Quired last year
Under the operations of the Horton law 1t is
necessary that upward of $4,000 more than was
provided last year should be furnished TO the
regents for distribution to schools of academic
grade, while the constantly increasing expenses
of the Supreme Court require addition of
S36OOO 10 the amount appropriated last year,
while the remaining items making up the ag-
gregate of increases are distributed among some
fifteen departments being in many instances
items Of permanent appropriation which have
been transferred from the Supply bill to the
Appropria ton bill.
WILL MAKE A REDUCTION.
The same examination discloses that in GER
tain other departments of the State govern
ment in addition 10 the economies which were
effected by the Legislature in 1901, ii will be
possible. il is believed, for the legislature of 1902
to make further reduction of $4,000. The
Excise Department is able 10 furnish about
SlOoOoO owing to the fact that its rebate fund
Is not being drawn upon by surrenders of
licenses as heavily heretofore. II Is be-
lieved that reasonable administration Of our
insane asylums will admit of further reduction
in the number of employees. and while the same
amount is appropriated for the maintenance of
the inmates as was appropriated last year. 1t is
believed that the salary and wage account can
safely be reduced by some $4,000.
This latter saving is based upon an investi-
cation conducted by the Governor during the
last summer, and as further result of that in
spection it has been pointed out in the Gov
eInor's message that the cost of maintenance in
the public charitable institutions varies greatly
and that while in some institutions-well con-
duCted-the cost of maintenance is only from
$40 to Sl3O per capita per annum. in other in
stitutions the cost runs up to $3.50 per capita
per annum exclusive of the expenses of the edu-
CatiOnal staff.
WHERE SAVINGS WILL BE
u is believed that If the legislature shall see
fit to adopt the suggestion of the message that
the purchase of supplies and the regulation of
the general management of the institutions be
brought under one supervising head, a marked
decrease in the cost of maintenance can be eff
fected while giving 10 the inmates the same
care and grade OF maintenance as they are now
receiving. and the bill. therefore, proposes that
there should he saving in the aggregate in the
institutions of this class of about $1,000 a
compared with the present cost.
The number of conviCts confined at State
penSe in the penitentiaries, being less than last
year. a saving of $4,000 can be effected in that
item. The balance of the reductions are dis
tributed through various departments. II is,
therefore. believed that in spite of the increases
necessary in certain departments. aggre-
gate saving of S2OO.OOD can be properly and
safely made in determining the amount OF the
fixed charges OF the State government for the
ensuing fiscal year.