The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-08

TX. Abolition OF supply Bill--AIl grants
OF money should be contained IN One APP
preparation bill. Under the budget sys-
TEN this should be easily effected. Those
receiving appropriations from the State
have more and more each year ignored
the plain purpose OF the appropriation to
provide funds for single fiscal year and
have created ohi.gations IN excess OF the
amount appropriated, so that the supply
bill carrying such items has increased
from s3.s0a.925.6o in 1907 10 s5.70s,3al.6s
In 1913. The supply bin is the states
pork barrel bill. as an invitation TO ex-
travaGtnce Il should be abolished.
X. Care IN Appropr!a;ions--One cause
for increased expenditures IL found In
the fact that Interested people have pre-
scented arguments TO IN. Legislature OF
more or less force. whereby they secured
app ropriat.ons greatly in excess OF the
needs OF the Ascal year. only 10 return
the following year and ask a still larger
appropriation, Notwithstanding the fact
that there were in the state Treasury large
unex pended balances OF the previous ap-
preparation. By compelling the use OF an
appropriation for the payment OF obliga-
tons incurred during the fiscal year for
which the appropriation was made and
for no other purpose. II Is evident that
these practices VIII cease and the yearly
appropriations will represent the real cost
return of unused appropriations 20 the
Treasury must result In n considerable de-
crease In the total amount OF the appro-
priations required for the coming year.
Appropriations only for Actual Cost.
NJ. Excessive Approprlatlons--A remedy
for existing conditions IS to be found In
making appropriations conform to the
actual cost of the support OF the govern
ment. The history OF appropriations made
for Institutions and for departments IN "a
less degree shows constant reappropria-
ton OF money which they have been un.
able to use, 1t must be evident to any
one that these excuses should not have
been Appropriated in the first instance.
This Is shown by any OF the appropria-
tons for the State hospitals In 1912 the
appropriations made for maintenance OF
the State hospitals were $6,7gS.666. The
actual expenditures for maintenance were
S6.45S.e2i. BY different schemes OF shift
ing the expenditures which were not for
maintenance so that they were charged
against maintenance appropriations. $780,
900 was used up and the Legislature Of
1913 was asked and persuaded TO make
deficiency appropriation for maintenance
XII. Unnecessary Legtslation--One of
the great errors Of modern thought is
tho notion that people can be made
permanently prosperous by legislation.
Abuses may DO remedied. wrongs may
| be righted, by legislation. but the great
| est right possessed by n free people and
one with which legislation should not
| interfere Is that of pursuing without
! governmental interference their individ-
ual fortunes In n manner that preserves
TO each OF the citizens that broad liberty
| Of action within the law which does not
| infringe upon the rights Of another.
! XIII. A Short Session.--Long sessions
| a drain fha mpmDer0 Of thA
Legislature and n source OF expense
| and disquiet to tho State. Private con-
siderations and public spirit both urge
the Legislature to complete Its important
work with all possible expedition.
) The surplus In the sinking fund Is Of no