Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-11-20
STATE FINANCIALLY ALL RIGHT,
DECLARES COMPTROLLER EDWARDS
Revenue Producing Legislation Enacted In 1914, With
Supervision Over Expenditures, Will Result In
New Jersey Meeting All Its Obligations
TN his semiannual statement, just
released for publication, Edward
Edvvarda rfato oompfro1Iar do.

released for publication, Edward
1. Edwards, state comptroller, de-
clares that the state Of New Jer-
seq will be able to meet all Its obliga-
tions despite statements to the con-
trary. At the conclusion Of his report
Mr.. Edwards says that he Is conf
dent that the revenue producing legis-
lation enacted in 1914 with the super
vision over expenditures permitted by
the operation of the requisition act win
result in the state meeting all It's obli-
cations" Following Is the report:
Last January the comptroller of the
treasury prepared and furnished to
the legislature pamphlets containing a
condensed statement Of the estimates
from the departments, institutions,
ETC., for the supplemental appropria-
ton for the fiscal year ending Oct. 81,
1915. and for the annual appropriation
for the fiscal year ending Oct. 81, 1916.
This pamphlet also contained state
ment of the estimated receipts for the
year 1914, the actual receipts for that
year, and an estimate Of the receipts
for the year 1915. In addition, treas
ury balances were given as Of Oct. 81,
1914, and the estimated revenue Of
state support and it's application under
existing laws for the year ending Oct
81, 1915.
Joint Resolutions Provisions.
These statements were submitted in
olution No. 8, approved April 81, 1909.
This resolution is as follows:
1. On or before the 10th day Of jan
uary in each year all state institutions,
departments. boards. commissions, off,
cials and bodies dependent in whole or
in part upon legislative appropriation for
support shall submit to the state comp
troller upon forms prepared and provided
by him an estimate Of their needs for the
coming fiscal year and for supplemental
appropriation for the current year, II such
supplemental appropriation ia necessary.
The comptroller shall cause condensed
statements of these estimates to be print
ed together In pamphlet form. with esti-
mates upon the same matters by the
board of control, II such board Is es-
tablished, such estimates by the board of
control to be submitted to the comptroller
by said Jan. 10. and statements of the
similar expenditures for the prior year
and the sums appropriated for the current
year, the said several sums to be arranged
In parallel columns SO far as may be- for
the purpose of reference and comparison.
THE comptroller shall also cause to be
printed in such pamphlet in form SINH
lar to the above and for the same pur-
pose of comparison, brief statements suf-
ficiently itemized under general heads to
be Ineligible.
(a) The receipts Of the state for the last
fiscal year and. separately, estimates by
the comptroller of the expected receipts
for the current and coming fiscal years.
Co. The disbursements of the state for
the last fiscal year and the appropriation
FOR the current year and
(c) Such other matter, information, ia
bles, summaries. statements and balances
as to the comptroller or governor shall
seem desirable in connection with the
work of Legislative appropriation for the
coming year.
The said pamphlet shall be arranged
throughout to present in the simplest
fosm the financial condition of the state
and the moneys available for expendi-
lures necessary for the current and COM
ing fiscal years, and shall be submitted
to the legislature by the comptroller on
or before the first day Of February in
each year.
Approved. April q. 1909.
The practice of furnishing these
statements was established by tho
terms Of this resolution, and since the
year 1910 they have been submitted
by the comptroller of the treasury to
each succeeding legislature. The depart
ments and institutions have annually
submitted estimates Of their needs for
the succeeding fiscal year and for sup
Elemental appropriations for the cur
rent year.
No Board Was Created.
1t is quite apparent from the reading
of the joint resolution No. s that the
legislature had in mind at the time
the establishment of q board whose
duty 1t would be to file with the comp
troller estimates upon the same mat
tsrs as those furnished by the depart
ments and institutions. No such board
Nvas ever. created, and the comptroller
has been compelled by the terms Of
the resolution to submit these esti-
mates without change, in the form
provided, to the legislatures Of the sue
ceeding years. The failure Of the leg
islature to carry out its intention to
provide supervisory power over
these estimates made any calculations
based upon them by the comptroller
vary greatly with the actual condi-
tons or needs of the state as develop
ed by the investigation of the several
appropriation committees. The result
has been that the comptroller's state
ment has been generally misunder-
stood, and both my predecessor and
myself have been placed in the posi-
ton Of being compelled by the terms
of this resolution to submit statements
to the legislature based upon estimates
Of the needs Of the several departments
and institutions without the benefit of
the supervisory investigation that was
intended to be created at the time that
the resolution was adopted. The lack
Of supervision Of these estimates re-
suited not only In making the state
ment furnished by the comptroller
source of confusion to the memhers of