Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-22
HENNESSY SHOWS FALLACY OF
REPUBLICAN, TAX "WARNINGS''
State Finances in Better Shape
Now Than for the Past
Nineteen Years.
Continued from first rase.)


study of the finances of the period re-
ferred to-. II is disproved. for in
stance by the annual message of Gov
ernor Stokes in 1907, when he stated
that, in spite of repeated warnings
the demand upon the state treasury
together with falling off in receipts
of over st95 900, have resulted in a
decrease in the balance at the close
of the last fiscal year, as compared
with the close of the fiscal year pre-
ceding of $773 .506.74, which represents
| the amount of disbursements in ex-
cess of receipts during the last year.
'The governors warning of 1907, II
seems, did not curb the tendency to
! spend, for he was forced to admit in
! his last annual message in 1908 fur.
Their decrease in the state balance OF
1864, $3.50 He said This process can
! not, OF course, continue without re-
sulting in a deficiency
/ ''The predecessor of Governor
! stokes. Mr.. Murphy. had his imam
| cial troubles also, for he said in his
| 1904 message, referring to drop oil
! $244 500 from corporation fees Be
cause of the falling off in the receipts
from corporation fees some timid
people have taken alarm and see in
| the distance the revenues of the State
disappearing and the bogy of a state
tax already in sight Personally, l
think, much greater ealamities might
happen to the state than to have a
state tax
Review of Forts Period.
There is poor financial comfort
also to be found for the Republican
partisan who would seek support in
| the executive messages Of Governor
Fort, who succeeded Mr.. Stokes. In
his first message he estimated the
receipts for the fiscal year ending
October 81, 1908, at $4,194,S7O, exclusive
of the cash balance in the treasury
on October 81. 1907, which was S4S7, :
&c. total of s4,632, $50, and said:
When, however, the appropriation
bills now pending before the Legis-
leture are passed we shall have state
obligations for the current fiscal year
of 1920, 33572. with only s4,6326S0
available to meet them. leaving a
shortage in the treasury of 1857 sos. r.
",ro meet the situation Governor
Fort recommended either the repeal
of the law of 1906 alloting to mu-
inequalities for school purposes all
but one-half of one per cent. of the
main stem railroad taxes or the pas
sage of another act increasing the
appropriation of these taxes, to be
reserved by the State. The latter
bill passed the Senate. but was de-
feated in the House.
During 1910, the last year of Gov
ernor Forts administration, the
| boasted economy of the Republican
Legislature was demonstrated by
appropriations in the annual and
supplemental bills. exceeding by
| 81, 367, 592 the appropriations of the
preceding year. The percentage of
increase amounted to twenty mine
and four fifths per cent. Let this be
compared with the appropriations OF
1913. the first in nearly twenty years
to be entirely controlled by the DEM
ocrats, when the total increase over
| 1912, Notwithstanding vastly increas-
ing State needs. was $542,S23, equal
TO seven and one-flfth per cent OF
compare the 1910 Republican record
with the record of last winter, when
the total increase was but $457, 522.34,
| q sum equal to five per cent. OF the
increase over the previous year.
! Last winters supplemental bill
was the smallest since 1909. Every
pressing need of the State govern
] inent was. nevertheless cared for,
| and the appropriation bills included
| 1902 500 for permanent improvements
| in the shape of buildings and equip
ment for the various charitable and
correctional institutions of the state.
| The problem of relieving the strain
upon the states insane asylum was
vigorously attacked, and over $2oV.-
| 900 was appropriated for new pullu,
inps to take care of the criminal and
enileptic insane. and for the tenn
porary relief of the congestion at
| Morris Plains. Slightly increased
| concentrations were made in the de-
nartnents of public education and
public roads, the two largest bud
gets with which the State has to
deal.
state Tax Not Imminent.
Reckless Republican partisans also
eontInne to circulate the unfounded
statement of their platform that the
state is in a serious financial con-
dition and that State tax is immi-
mont The reverse of this statement
Is true. The State revenues have been
Increased by the legislation of last
winter. and for the first time in many
vears the balance in the treasury at
the end Of the fiscal year on October
81. will represent an actual cash
balance. with the liabilities of every
state department met as presented
and all contractual obligations fulll
provided for This condition may
fairly be compared with the Juggling
processes Of 1912. when the Legisla'
ture was Republican. In that year
and apparently to maintain favor
/ able treasury balance on October 81
the Republicans avoided their dut,
to pay over to the municipalities o.
the State their share of the RAILROAD
taxes available for school purposes
AS a result the Democratic disburse
ments of 1918 were made to appear
abnormally large, because of thu
overdue payment of 1912, togethe
with the allotment of 1918 a total o
$5, FOG, Loo was made in that year.
"Not since the adoption of the frs
appropriation bill nineteen years age
have State finances, as result o
constructive Democratic reforms, Elk
hibited such evidences of efficien
and economical business manage
ment in the interest of the people o
the State, as they do today. Thi'
has resulted from a closer study am
, scrutiny of the States financia
, methods by the joint appropriation
committee and the State comptroller
The long established, but illega
practice of institutions and depart
ments paying the accounts of Octo
Der, the last month of the fiscal yeai
out of their appropriations for tn
! following year, available in Novem
Der. received its DEATH blow las
winter A lax and unbusinesslik
system had also grown up, acquiesce
I in by succeeding legislatures, unde
which the servants of ths state, an
the people dealing with them pal
small regard to the limitations o
the appropriation bills In many de
partments and institutions no specia
effort was made to confine expendi
lures TO the limitations set by tn
Legislature. They grew to feel tina
they could rely upon the next Legis
lature to make up overdrafts anC
] ladciapo;as hv StipnIauanta1 ammo