Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-08
nm FiRsT Duty on ms LrowLA1rRr.

haA' N
ton is responsible for the overlap Of
$1,000, OOOIn the state debt.
Section 10 Of article iii. entitled Leg
islative," reads as follows:
Each legislature shall make appropria-
lions for the expenses OF the government
until the expiration Of the FIRST fiscal quar-
ter after the adjournment Of the next regu-
lar session, and all appropriations shall
end with UGH fiscal quarter. And when
ever II is deemed necessary 10 make fur
Their appropriations for deficiencies the
same shall require a two-thirds vote Of all
the members elected to each house and
shall not exceed the amount OF revenue
authorized by law to be raised in such
The meaning of this section of the
constitution is very plain. 1t is an ex-
press prohibition of all expenditure by
officers of the executive department in
excess of the revenues authorized by
law, and it furthermore contemplates
hat the Legislative appropriation of one
session shall be ample to cover the cost
of maintenance Of state government and
state institutions for the period covered
by the session Of the succeeding
Legislature. In other words, the APP
preparations made by the legislature
Of 1901 were presumed to be ample
to meet all the demands for salaries,
supplies and incidental expenses of
state government up to April 1. 1908.
The only legitimate deficiency which
the constitution contemplates is the ex-
pense incurred in extraordinary emer-
gencies, such as might be caused by
the destruction of state institutions or
some unforeseen calamity. 1t goes with
out saying that no state board or state
officer has a right TO deliberately create
deficiencies by purchases OF materials
or merchandise not specifically author
lied by law. But this is precisely the
condition that has confronted nearly
every Legislature within the past twenty
years. ZEN
According to the Lincoln Journal, the
secretary of state has incurred liabili-
ties amounting to from $1,000 to $1,000
for repairs, furniture and materials
purchased to meet the wants Of the leg
islature, although there is no %appropria-
ton authorizing the creation of this
debt. Part Of this expenditure, according
to the Journal, Consists of the most ex-
pensive furniture ever brought into the
state house. Among the items are FIVE
s%ettees, or d%avenports, each costing $75.
Each of these pieces of furniture is
solid oak, upholstered in leather, and
will form luxurious resting places for
the tired lobbyists. Three of the set
tees have been taken to the house and
two to the senate"
Only two years ago Secretary Porter
bought new carpets and new furniture
for both houses and expended several
thousands for identifying the halls of
legislation. This also was1ia reckless
violation, Of the constitutions II a com
pletely new set of furniture, garnished
with carpets, only survives a single ses-
sion of the legislature, that fact should
be made patent to the appropriation
committees Of each legislature, so that
1t may insert the amount deemed neces-
sary for the purchase Of furniture and
repairs of the chambers in succeeding
legislatures.
The extent to which this periodic dis
regard of constitutional limitations is
carried, and the rank abuses for which
it is responsible, was strikingly brought
to light ten years ago, when the legis-
lature impeached three state officers for
reckless expenditure of public moneys,
1t was found In the investigation of the
inventory submitted by Secretary of
State Allen that he had bought carpets,
hardware and lumber from n leading
Lincoln druggist at druggists prices;
that he had invested in two solid silver
inkstands for the use Of the speaker and
chief clerk of the house, and INDUCED
In other luxuries at the expense of the
state.
While nobody charges the present sec.
rotary Of state with any intentional
w~rongdoing, 1t is manifest that he has
overstepped the boundary Of the con.
stitution and the law In mourning liza.
bilities in advance Of an appropriation
1t stands to reason that merchan.
disc bought on credit, with no assurance
OF payment except by the caprice Of an
preparation committees. will be charged
up at installment house prices.
The present legislature can render the
state invaluable service by putting 9
stop to willful creation of d~efciencie,
by making appropriations for whateye,
is deemed necessary to keep the capito
building in repair and replace worn
out furniture in the legislative halls tw,
years hence. Any other method is liza
BILE to become an incentive to extrava
gance and a link in the endless chain o
deficiencies that have caused the enor
nous increase in the state debt.
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