The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-02

ernmen'al activities are growing by leaps
and bounds yet neither the United states
nor the various state and local govern
ments have organized the conduct OF their
several business on any efficient plan or
have adopted any scientific system Of ac-
counting and auditing or % preparing
budget or financial prosramme.
III public expenditures should increase
in the future at the same rate as in the
past IL will be only a question Of time
when We shall drift into bankruptcy.
one OF the first steps OF the new adj
ministration, therefore. shall - a thor
ough Investigation OF the various depart
ments OF the state Government, for with
out accurate knowledge Of the working
OF the whole system the necessary adj
minlstratiye ref%ms cannot be devised.
As soon as we have secured the neces-
sary information / shall eudeavor to
make recommendations for remedial leg
islation desisned to apply sound bust
ness methods to the administration OF
the business affairs Of the State.
The people OF the State should realize
the increasing seriousness OF this problem
and they should appreciate that this mat
ter Of governmental efficiency and econ
omy Is their own personal concern 1t
vitality affects their interests and Involves
the future prosperity of themselves and
their children. whether or not they now
happen to he direct taxpayers. The ul;i-
mate effects Of improvidence waste and
extravaganza In public expenditures reach
every citizen and In fact are always more
injurious to The wage earners and those
OF small means than % any other class
I'm the community. Every citizen Is in
terested In seeing 20 1t that every dollar
contributed to the support OF the Govern
ment shall Yield a dollar OF return in
public service.
THE figures in regard 20 public eNpen-
4 Ia
they contain a warning which We cannot
longer disregard. Twenty years ago the
State debt was practically nothing now
II is over Sl59.O0O,00O. Twenty years ago
the annual interest charge Of the state
was practically nothing now IL is $3.50
400 Twenty years ago the authorized
State expenditures were $ll 200 900 in
1918 they were S49,70O,OGO. Twenty years
ago the number Of State employees was
about 3,4OO now they number over $4,000.
Twenty years ago the net debt OF what
now constitutes the city OF Greater New
York was approximately sljO,OO0.0 600 to-
day Il Is over $500. 900 900. Twenty years
ago the annual interest charge OF what
now constitutes Greater New York was
approximately $1,000. 900 in 1914 it was
s3S,OO0.0O0. Twenty years ago the au-
thoriZed annual expenditure for Greater
New York was approximately $50 ,000, 600 ;
I'm 1914 the appropriations from revenues
alone were 1872, 9s5,5OO.
Taxpayers of the United States con-
tribute $1,000. 100000 a year for the sup
port of the national Government; tax
payers OF this State contribute approNi-
mately $5O.OOO.00O year for the support
of the State Government, and taNp1yers
OF the city OF New York contribute IN
taxes and increased loans approximately
$3.50. 600 600 year. But there is no ade-
quate system governing the collection and
a It's, Of Ia.
people do not know and are without in"
means OF knowing what IN private bus.-
ness would be regarded tn" frs. csSeu-
tials OF management The national Gov
eminent has undertaken tine construction
of public works costing no less than $500 %
900. 600, the State $500 100000 and the
city $500 0O0. 600, bur 40 clear financial
programme or budget no comprehensive
system or plan Of public improvements
and no definite programme have been pre-
pared and made available TO the people or
to their chosen representative.