Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-11-20

departments anu luSIlLuIlouS, co tAnt
In the event that the amount estimated
was not appropriated whatever sum
was allowed would be sufficiently large
for the purpose required. The other
was the practice followed by certain
institutions and departments Of exert
| ing every influence that they could
bring to bear upon the appropriation
committees in favor Of certain appro-
pratt in the annual bill, to be sue
ceedel by determined effort to induce
the succeeding legislature to make
large supplemental appropriations and
also appropriations for other purposes
the following year.
Increasing Supplemental Bill.
| Over and above both Of these abuses
was the policy pursued by departments
and institutions to expend so much of
the appropriations allowed them In the
annual bill prior to the end OF the leg
islative session that supplemental ap-
preparations were necessary In order
to maintain these departments or In
situations throughout the balance of the
year.
constantly increasing supplemental bill
| The 0verdraft abuse was wiped out
In 1914 by the passage Of the requisi-
ton act and Its operation during the
last months of the year ending Oct. 81
last. The other two abuses entirely de-
feated the purpose Of the legislature
| in providing as a means of information
of the states needs and financial condi-
ton the form Of pamphlet set forth by
lions made by the comptroller were
based upon these estimates as submit
ted by the departments and 1nstitu-
lions, his deductions were affected by
the action Of the appropriation commit
tee in reducing or disallow1ng the
amounts estimated. This resulted in
the statement being limited In value to
the estimate made by him Of the rev.
enue for state support. AS the other
calculations were dependent upon the
enactment of appropriation acts agree
ing with the estimates made by the de-
partments and institutions, any change
between the estimated amounts and
those allowed destroyed the calcula-
lions made by him.
Public Became Alarmed.
The legislatures of each succeeding
year have been compelled to allow
sums less than these estimates in many
cases, so that the totals of the appro-
priation bills were entirely different
from the anticipated result indicated In
the pamphlet by the comptroller. The
difference has created much misunder
standing as to the actual financial con-
dition Of the state. The indicated def
ciencies based upon these statements
when compared with anticipated In
come have alarmed the public mind
and have done the state no good. From
1910 the differences between the esti-
mate Of the comptroller and the actual
result have varied from 100000 to
over $2,25O,OOO. 1t must be quite ap-
parent, therefore, that the defect in the
system had it's origin in the joint res
| olution of 1909 and was beyond the
control of the comptroller.
There is constantly increasing de-
mand, renewed each year, for the crea-
| ton of a board or body, Of which the
| financial officers of the state shall nec-
essarily be a part, whose function will
be that of examining into the needs Of
the various departments and institu-
lions between the adjournment of one
| legislature and the organization of its
successor, SO that there will be accessi-
BILE to each succeeding legislature the
fullest information as to the actual
needs of the various departments and
institutions of the state. 1t is impossi-
bic for the appropriation committee,
no matter how hardworking or con-
scientious it may be, properly to
appropriate moneys for the use of the
various departments and institutions
Of the state In the absence Of impartial
information from such source. In adj
dition, such a body would keep In mind
the actual amount Of moneys available
for the purpose Of government in each
year.
In the report of the comptroller of
the treasury for the year ending Oct.
81, 1914, appears the following state
ment: Indications are that the state
will reach in 1915 It's greatest annual
income in the absence of any other
means of taxation to increase the
states revenue"
The appropriation committee for the
year 1915 was not confronted with ap-
peals for relief in the way of supple
mental appropriations by departments
and institutions which had paid obliga-
lions incurred prior to the fiscal year
out of the current appropriations. The
legislature Of 1914 In the supplemental
bill of that year made provision for
the payment Of debts of this character
In the sum of $4,000. In addition,
claims of similar nature to the ex-
tent of upward of 100000 were ad-
justed during 1914 and the depart
ments compelled to live within their
current appropriations.
Reforms Under New Act.
The system of carrying the October
accounts Of institutions and depart
ments remote from the statehouse
into the succeeding vaar and having