The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-01-05

about the last day of the session. He
could either approve or disapprove of
the items therein, and the legislature
had no opportunity to correct the err
rors, if any, of the executive. 1t is
my purpose to cooperate with the leg
| islature and to have a complete I'M
derstanding and full, harmonious,
alliance in this connection. l recon-
mend that the general appropriation
bill, carrying all appropriations for all
state purposes, be passed and pre-
scented to the governor not less than
twenty days before the adjournment
of the session. This will give the gov
ernor time to look into the items and
to approve or disapprove of them. 1t
will give the legislature an opportunity
to exercise it's prerogatives that the
constitution intends it should exercise.
There can be no good government I'M
til every coordinate branch of the
government is fully alive to its du-
ties. | hope that you will guard the
rights and prerogatives of the legis-
lative branch with the same jealousy
that the executive will guard his.
In the past, appropriations have been
made for the various departments by
Jumps sums of money This is wrong
from every standpoint that we can
>; IL of cta
ernments have discarded this habit
and custom. They have substituted
the modern method of making all ap-
preparations on the budget plan. In
the lump appropriations the minor Of
ficers of the state government use
these funds largely according e their
liking and discretion, usurping the
functions that belong to the legisla-
tive department and which do
not belong to the executive de-
partment Every department OF
the state government should have an
appropriation made by the legislature
setting forth every item for which the
money is to be appropriated, for what
uses it can be expended, the amount OF
money to be paid to each employee, the
number of employees, for stationery, for
every item in detail, even to postage
stamps and typewriters that every
man who has charge of department
of the state government may know ex-
actly what is demanded of him and
what money he has for each purpose. l.
should be made felony to expend the
money of the state for any purpose
other than that for which it is spec
tally appropriated This will make the
legislative branch of the state govern
ment as the constitution intends it
should be, the supreme power OF the
state over all departments. This re-
sponsibility should not be shifted 1t
should be exercised to its limits.
Nothing else has caused more waste or
inefficiency than lump appropriations.
Very few states are now permitting 1t.
trust that Idaho will be one of those
that will be in line with this modern
wav of conducting the states bust
ness
| admit that the appropriation bill
will be much longer than previous ap-
preparation bills but that is benefit
in place of handicap. The appro-
priation bill should be an index and
a guide in detail to every state off,
cial as to the conduct of his depart
ment. There should be no loop hole
left for the courts to legislate upon
the expenses of. the state government,
nor should there be any doubt LETT
with the officers, appointed or elected,
as to what the legislature really ex-
poets of them in the discharge OF their
duties and the expenditure of their ap-
further recommend to your con-
sideration the absolute prohibition il
any deficiencies to be issued by any
department of the state government
IOr ally purpose CANSPI tiAbe ~
the constitution provides, and that no
be incurred, directly or
indirectly, by an officer of the state
or by his employees for any purpose
whatever. Should great crisis arise
the legislature can be convened and its
consent asked 1t costs less to con-
vene the legislature than it does to al
low the various departments to incur
Let the mandate go
forth from both chambers of this leg
islature that there is but one power
in the state of Idaho that can incur
or liability, appropriate
money or provide for its expenditure,
and that power is the legislature of the
state of Idaho, duly convened exercls-
ing it's prerogatives according to law
(Continued Tomorrow
1t is our ambition to make the Star /