The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-25

N'" u III II >Nb'
monwealth' he said: 80 long as the
debit side Of the national account is
managed by one set of men and the
credit side by another set, both sets
working separately and in secret,
without public responsibility and with
out Intervention on the part of the
executive official who is nominally re-
sponsible; so long as these sets. being
composed largely Of new men every
two years"-in New York every year
-"give no attention to business except
when Congress is in session, and thus
spend in preparing plans the whole
time which ought to be spent in pub
lie discussion of plans already ma
tured, so that an immense budget Is
rushed through without discussion in
a week or ten days-just SO long the
finances will go from bad to worse, no
matter by what name got call the
party in power"
This prophecy finds ample vertical
ton In the history OF the fnances OF
this State during the past twenty
years.
Article v. OF the revised Constitu-
ton requires the head OF each depart
ment Of the State Government, except
the Legislature and the judiciary, on
or before November 10 in each year,
to submit to the Governor itemized es-
Inmates OF appropriations to meet the
financial needs OF such department.
Itemized estimates OF the financial
needs OF the Legislature and Of the
judiciary are required to be trans
mitted to the Governor on or before
January Is in each year for inclu-
sion In the budget without revision,
but with such recommendations as he
may think proper. The Governor,
after public hearing. is required to re-
wise these departmental estimates ac-
cordlng to his Judgment. and on or
before the first day of the following
February to submit to the Legisla-
ture a budget containing a complete
plan Of the proposed expenditures.
Tho budget must be accompanied by
a bill or bills for all proposed appro-
priations, and II must show the esti-
mated revenues for the ensuing fiscal
year. and the estimated surplus or
deficit OF revenues at the end OF the
measures OF taxation, II any, which the
Governor may propose for the increase
Of the The Governor. the
heads Of departments and the Comp
troller are given the right, and II is
made their duty. when requested by
either house OF the Legislature. to
appear before It and be heard In re-
spect TO the budget during It's consid-
Grafton. The Legislature is prohibited
from altering an appropriation bill
submitted by the Governor, except to
strike out or reduce Items in II, other
than items for the Legislature or the
judiciary. Such a bill when passed by
both houses becomes a law without
the Governors approval. and Is not
subject 10 his veto, except that apDro-
priations for the Legislature and the
judiciary are subject to the Cover
nor's approval or veto like any other
bills. Neither house is to consider
further appropriations until the bills
proposed by the Governor shall have
thcr appropriations be made. except |
by separate bills. each for a single
work or object. Such bills are sub
ject to the Governors veto. and be-
come laws only when approved by
him or passed over his veto by a two
thirds vote OF each house. After 1917
the fiscal year OF the State Is TO end on
June so.
These provisions We're adopted in
the convention by the affirmative vote
OF 104 Republicans and ~thirty-three
Democrats. Only four votes were
cast IN opposition. those OF Messrs,
Bracket and Ostrander, Republicans.
and Messrs. Dooling and Endres,
Democrats.
These provisions restore the execu-
tive and the legislative branches to
their true relation.
Instead OF the appropriation bills
being made up by the Legislature
and sent to the Governor. leaving TO
him during the weeks following the
adjournment Of the Legislature the
duty and power to strike out items at
viii, and thus completely to defeat the
legislative will and entirely prevent,
at least for the current year. appro-
priat!ons for purposes the Leg1sla-
ture may consider most vital, the
amendments proposed require the
Executive to come to the Legislature
with carefully prepared estimates for !
requested appropriations. fortified by
reasons which the executive officers,
including the Governor himself, may
be required 10 explain in person to
the Legislature, to which the COM
plete control Of the puhlic purse 10